A clicker can be a very affective means of horse training, based completely upon positive reinforcement. While most training methods develop your pet horse by creating discomfort and the reward for the horse is to move away from that discomfort is the reward, clicker training is nothing like that. In this manner, the horse does not have to fail repeatedly to succeed once. The correct behavior is rewarded and the incorrect one ignored. Essentially this creates in the horse a renewed desire to learn.
To get started all you’ll need is a clicker, treats and a container to hold them. The first step is to teach the horse that a click means that a treat is coming. For several sessions, just click the clicker and treat your pet horse. These sessions should be short – no more than five or ten minutes. Always leave them wanting more. From here move on to target training – this is exactly what it sounds like. Present the horse with a target – anything you can easily hold and the horse can easily reach. Every time the horse touches the target with its nose, click the clicker and treat. Reward the horse for effort, as well. If the horse doesn’t touch the target, still click and treat for motions toward the target or even just looks.
The next step is following the target. Rather than holding the target directly in front of the horse’s snout, now hold it to the side. Eventually this will be a means to get the horse into any trailer or stall. It can also be a point of focus while you are tending to the horse for grooming or shoeing your horse.
Remember to train your horse in short 5-10 minute sessions. This will keep your horse fresh and eager. Avoid rewarding the incorrect behavior. Pawing for your treats, for instance is not a behavior worthy of a reward. Also if you treat too quickly after the click, your horse can become more demanding. Equestrian training can seem like quite a challenge, but you don’t need a horse trainer to get the basics down. Clicker training can be an invaluable tool in your efforts at horse training.
