Horse Tricks, online???

[lawgirl]

Does anyone happen to know a good web site that has horse trick training issues on it? I know there is a lot of books out there, but I wanted to see a few first.

Thanks everyone

Wendy

[galadriel]

http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/ looks to have a number of tricks on it. Their writeups look pretty clear and well-written.

If you're just looking for pictures of the tricks themselves...I was out taking just that kind of pics yesterday ;) with my little mare.
http://www.galadriel.shaftnet.org/horses/10-13-2004/tricks.html

Kat's currently learning "bow" but already knows "kiss," "hug," "nod," and "don't beg" (along with an assortment of other verbal commands like "stand" and "walk/trot/canter/whoa/back" and "tuck" [give to the bit] and so on). Trick training is fun.

I had my husband shoot those pics so that I can eventally write an article on trick training for my site--not particularly extensive, just a "this is a fun thing to do with your horse" article. I hope I'll get to that article sometime soon...

[lawgirl]

gala,

Thank you very much. I skimmed through the website you gave me, didnt find anything as of yet, but saved it to will look when I have more time.

My gelding knows how to do "no" and I have been working on the kiss one, if you have any hints for me, would be appreciated:)

I want to get into all of them, but its tough to find a place to learn how to do them.

You have a wonderful day, and your mare is beautiful!

Thanks again

Wendy

[fair~filly]

Try Here (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ImagineaHorse/) Allen is the king of the trick training world :) .
He'll answer any questions & there are some great pics of the more advanced stuff.
I taught mine to kiss, back up & lower his head....all by command & reward.
My friend works with horses trained in circus high school...you should be able to see her pics on my site here (http://uk.msnusers.com/cf8k73k2lh28qh2p4tfobko851/natasokastud.msnw) . She'd be only to pleased to offer some advice I'm sure.

F~Fxxx
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Horses are US© (http://horse.notlong.com) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[lawgirl]

Thank you very very much, I will check those out!!! :) :)

[galadriel]

Thank you! I adore her and think she's the most gorgeous thing on four legs.

Trick training is like any other training: give the horse the appropriate cue, then show him what you want him to do. Sometimes that involves prompting, as with the bow. Sometimes that involves just repating the cue until the horse makes a move in the right direction, then rewarding immediately. That's how I taught the "don't beg."

I've used the same method with every command I've taught, from "stand" to "stretch" to "5-4-3-2-1-GO!"

[JOJOBA]

Hi :)
Reading this inspired me to go have a look for places where I could learn to teach my horse tricks, and in a search I came across this (http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=28165) other NR thread on the subject.
xxx

[lawgirl]

Gala,

Thanks again, I have been working with him as far as tricks. The biggest thing that common sence tells me is to be sure that I follow through with the comand and reward, however, at the same time not allowing him to "beg" via performing when not ask. That is a common problem that I see when visiting others who have taught tricks. Like I had posted in the other thread, I went to a ladies barn to look at her horses, and because she always used treats to train, they were begging via what they had been taught.

You can imagine what it looked like to walk into a barn with 5 horses, one "smiling" teeth showing, head bobing. One shaking its head back and forth back and forth, another up and down up and down, the other pawing at the ground. I looked like she had a barn full of mentally challanged horses!

I do not want to make the same mistake. I want Sonne to know that he will NOT get a trick by begging with a trick, to me it is the same as nudging, getting into my space, or nipping.

To me, this is the hardest part of trick training and the most neglected area. You can spoil and have a reverce affect and promote inappropriate behavior, if done incorrectly.

What do you think? Would love to hear your opinion on this, as you know, the trick thing is new to me.

Wendy

[galadriel]

Originally posted by lawgirl
The biggest thing that common sence tells me is to be sure that I follow through with the comand and reward, however, at the same time not allowing him to "beg" via performing when not ask.

I agree with you 100%. I commented on just that concept here:
http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41797

That thread, I believe, was initially instigated by YOUR thread, this very one ;)

[lawgirl]

Gala,

Thank you, I had missed your other post, however, re-visted to see what you had wrote.

Looks like we are on the same page, I have read many of your posts, and one thing that I do admire is they seem to all be informative with a lot of common sence, I appreciate that.

Ditto on your once comment (I wished I would have thought to quote it:( ) But Sonne does have a tendancy to shake his head no when I approach, but does not do it to anyone else, so I am still working with him on that.

While we are on the (sorta) subject, another thing he does with me and no one else, is when I stand in front or beside, doesnt matter, he will nudge me gently and then rest his head on my knee or up against me. Any idea what that means or what he is doing? Kind of a dumb question, and not knowing the horse, maybe difficult to answer, but it cam to mind.

Thank you again.

Wendy

[galadriel]

Thank you; it's very sweet of you to say such nice things about my posts.

One of the most delightful sights, when watching horses, is to see them snuggle. They'll be nice & relaxed--not grazing, just sort of half awake--and one will put his head over the other's back. That one will rest his chin on the other, or just hang his whole head across, and stay standing that way. It's relaxation, comfort, and security.

I believe it's the same thing when my horses reach over to me, and rest a chin on my shoulder or press a nose against my chest. I find it heart-melting when a horse feels secure and comfortable enough, with me, to express it that way. Sounds to me like that's also what your horse is doing :)

[lawgirl]

Gala,

I think you are right, I think he gets relaxed around me mor than anyone else for some reason. He certantly has a personality distinkly his own!!! I had a friend feed him and Major one day, he when he seen him coming to the barn (this friend is a familiar face to him, my friend rides him often and feeds for me on occation) Sonne went to the corner of the correl and put his nose up against the wood, and just stood there!!! He was actaully mad, pouting because my friend was there instead me!!!

PS, your very welcome!

May I ask where in FL you reside?

Wendy

[galadriel]

I always feel very flattered when a horse is willing to snuggle with me. It is such an uplifting, happy feeling :)

I had a boarder whose horse would get VERY grouchy when she went on vacation. Sounds rather similar to your guy, pouting because you didn't show up.

I'm in North Central...why do you ask? :)

[lawgirl]

Gala,

My best friend is down there, she flys back and forth every other week, between Fl and here in MI. Her husband was a police officer up here and is now down there. She I beleive is in the Ocala area, but they have moved their 5th wheel, so I could be wrong.

My husband and myself are thinking about brining some of this good MI hay down that way, it sounds as though you guys pay an awful lot for decent hay.

Did you get my IM regarding b-day? lol

Wendy

[galadriel]

Ooooh...you got good hay at reasonable prices?

My TB's can't handle the local coastal :( Had two colics last year before I gave up on it (one hospitalization, bleah). Baffling, 'cause they did fine on fescue before we moved to FL--there really isn't much different in the fescue we were feeding there and the coastal here. But nothing else GROWS here (well, peanut, but that's way too rich for them).

[lawgirl]

Gala,

Yes, that is what we are working on! Shannon (my girlfriend) could not believe the hay there and the prices! Up too $14.00 a bale for good hay??!!!! Outrages! I couldnt imagine how you keep a horse with those prices! She said the boarding fees are skyhigh too, but probibly because of the hay prices!

Why dont you IM me and we can talk more about that.

Hope your feeling better.

Oh and by the way, I finally got a chance to visit your web site, I loved it, and the pictures :)

Wendy

[ladora Flood]

Hi Wendy,

The best group I know of is http://www.imagineahorse.com

Allen Pogue is wonderful!!! You will learn so much!! My horse does about 25 tricks, from sitting up to retreiving. LaDora