Charlie is usually unfazed by everything, but in the last few days he's been very reluctant to have his fly mask put on. I don't know why, except that about a week ago he was bitten by a horsefly right between his eyes (when the mask was off at night) and it seemed to bother him. This morning he was a complete monkey and wouldn't even let me put the mask on when I had him haltered. He flung his head about and wrenched away, and afterwards he wouldn't let me near his front end (though still presented his bum for scratches).
I really really don't want a headshy horse so I thought some clicker training might help. I've only done one clicker session with him before, 3 months ago, when he learned to turn his head away for a treat. When he heard the clicker - he turned his head away! Great memory, Charlie, but not what I want today.
He moves a lot and very quickly, so it's hard for me to get the timing right and catch him doing the right thing. He was so reluctant to have me touch his head that I had to put his halter on (which he allowed easily, oddly) and even then it was a struggle. I had to hold the halter and the clicker with one hand and approach with the other. But he got the idea! Within no more than 10 minutes he was allowing me to put my hand on his forehead, click and reward him.
I left it at that for the day because he was beginning to look tired and he was licking and chewing. But I am pleased that he responded positively to the clicker. I didn't try to put his mask on, I think that will have to wait and be built up to.
It's quite a business dealing with him as he is quick and strong and doesn't realise how little I am compared to him. But I am not frightened of him the way I was to start with, I think we know each other better now.
I really really don't want a headshy horse so I thought some clicker training might help. I've only done one clicker session with him before, 3 months ago, when he learned to turn his head away for a treat. When he heard the clicker - he turned his head away! Great memory, Charlie, but not what I want today.
He moves a lot and very quickly, so it's hard for me to get the timing right and catch him doing the right thing. He was so reluctant to have me touch his head that I had to put his halter on (which he allowed easily, oddly) and even then it was a struggle. I had to hold the halter and the clicker with one hand and approach with the other. But he got the idea! Within no more than 10 minutes he was allowing me to put my hand on his forehead, click and reward him.
I left it at that for the day because he was beginning to look tired and he was licking and chewing. But I am pleased that he responded positively to the clicker. I didn't try to put his mask on, I think that will have to wait and be built up to.
It's quite a business dealing with him as he is quick and strong and doesn't realise how little I am compared to him. But I am not frightened of him the way I was to start with, I think we know each other better now.
