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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
 United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Nov 2010 : 10:59:34 PM
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I'm curious! The dark wet nights got me thinking of things I could be doing with Sunny, to keep us both entertained while we wait for spring! Has anyone had experience with this, good, bad or indifferent..what do you think?
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Claire & Sunny x
http://sunnyandclaire.blogspot.com/ |
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angelarab
Platinum Member
Wales
2876 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2010 : 08:30:23 AM
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i'd like to give this ago too, or any other ideas i am rubbish at chess so thats out  |
 "Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."
www.northwalesarab.co.uk |
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
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mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2010 : 09:11:25 AM
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I use clicker training in everything i do. It's a simple, stress free, exceptionally effective method of training. And no, it absolutely does not make your horse mouthy , In fact exactly the opposite.
Ros |
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
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Fee
Platinum Member
2601 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2010 : 8:46:41 PM
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Don't know anything about Clicker, hopefully you don't mind a novice observation and question.
I would worry about the amount of treats she fed. I give mine treats periodically but if they get too much they start asking all the time and Polka and Inka can get demanding. Does this happen with this method of training?
Fee |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 07 Nov 2010 : 9:16:53 PM
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Just been looking on the SMAART site, am going to get going on this.
Ali was a bugger for biting, I dont think it was because I give treats, I do think it was a stage he was going through. Have been non clicker training him!!! When I put a treat in my hand, he touches my hand then moves his head away, I praise him then give him his treat.... he is so much more civilised! Really pleased as he was a right little monkey, with nipping, not being polite when picking out feet etc etc, felt I was alwaYs saying no.
So much more positive.
Can see it will be helpful with getting ready to back, but would need more direction going forward. |
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mazey
Gold Member
England
501 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2010 : 4:47:13 PM
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Hi Fee, Re treats and mugging. I was worried about his too as I have a mouthy young gelding. I basically taught him what Debs says above - so he had to stand and turn his head away from me and then he got clicked and treated. He learnt pretty quick that he didn't get a treat when he turned his head to mug. It has been really good way to work with my boy as he was getting a bit resentful about negative re-inforcement via parelli etc methods.
Check out the SMAART website.
Lisa I seem to think we have met somewhere before!!!!
Trudi |
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Zareeba
Bronze Member
62 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2010 : 6:13:26 PM
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Hi,
the thing to remember with clicker training (as with any type of training) is that you need to understand the principles behind what you are doing. The clicker is not a method in itself, it's only a training tool which, properly used, helps you to be more precise in what you are asking. And a very good tool it is too! (I never used to think so, until I found out more about it). I've used it on all our horses, including our young stallion Rigel who learnt in a flash what the clicker meant. I'd certainly recommend
Alexandra Kurland's book Clicker Training for Horses, but perhaps before you read that I'd have a look at 2 books by Karen Pryor which will explain the principles more clearly: Don't Shoot the Dog and (a real must in my view) Reaching the Animal Mind - a fantastic book that I think everyone involved with animals should read (there's a fascinating bit about how she trained a wolf using the clicker). Also try Knowing Your Horse by Emma Lethbridge. You shouldn't have any problems with mugging if you get the timing right - which the above books will help you to do.
Good luck! |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2010 : 7:54:22 PM
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Just ordered the CTFH book and a clicker!
On major economy drive (AGAIN) so Zareeba which of the other 3 would you recommend me to buy 1st???
Thanks x |
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
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Zareeba
Bronze Member
62 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 9:04:21 PM
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| Both the Karen Pryor Books are great but as you're getting CTFH I'd go with Emma Lethbridge, as she explains the principles behind it all so clearly. I met Emma this year at the Equine Behaviour Forum's Scientific Symposium where she gave a great talk about equine learning. She sent me a brilliant Powerpoint presentation on the subject called 'Improving the Horse-Human Relationship Through Understanding Equine learning' - it's not specifically about clicker-training but it summarises very neatly the main principles behind it. If you would like a copy in PDF format I'm sure Emma wouldn't mind as she made it freely available to people who attended the Symposium, and I think it would complement her book nicely. If you'd like a copy perhaps you could pm me with your email address? |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 11:04:41 AM
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We have just started clicker training with the virtual help of Amanda from SMAART horse training
I was worried too about the treating/mugging thing but it's amazing that once they learn the rules they will not go in your pockets anymore and if they try they don't get anything so will go look for the target and get their click/treat that way instead.
Here's our experiences so far:
Day 1: A little too ambitiously I thought I'd start with the syringe as the target. Probably a bit too difficult so we didn't get very far. Mush still confused about pockets/hands/treats/clicks.
Day 2: Used an old hunter stick with big shiny blob on the end as the target and eureka - we had lightbulb moment!! Touch the shiny blob and owner gives treat...hmmm says Mush who wasn't convinced yet.
Day 3: Showed the stick and he remembered the game straight away, first try touched the shiny blob. Moved target around and he follows around the yard like a dog. Small attention deficit periods but otherwise very happy horsey who wasn't even convinced about going back out in the field, thought the treat game was far more interesting...
Let's see what we can do tomorrow...
Must say, clicker training makes you very good at multitasking (leadrope, horse, target, clicker, treats, and just 2 hands!!!!!) and I warn you - it's very addictive for both owner and horse.  |
West Sussex |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 11:16:21 AM
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| Shoot me down if you must!! But isn't clicker training more about the handler knowing when to reward and being qiuck to spot that moment. I find I can reward with my voice and get the same results. I've always felt uncomfortable bribing horses with food, a treat is a treat. It doesn't have to be earned in my stables. Of course all my horses have lovely manners so they always deserve cuddles and treats. (sorry, am I bragging too much?) |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 11:22:39 AM
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Yes, in principle you can use anything as a reward. Many horses are just as happy with a rub as a treat so you should use what works with your horse. It's definitely all about knowing exactly when to reward, and it takes a bit of refining before you both understand the technique (I'm a complete beginner!!).
Quoarabian - it's great to know that your horses have lovely manners but not all of us have horses that do so for us this is another tool in our boxes when training them to overcome old problems and issues. |
West Sussex |
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 1:03:30 PM
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When looking at bribery, this takes place before the desired behaviour. e.g holding a bucket full of feed at the top of the ramp which is luring/bribing your horse into the trailer.
With Clicker training, the treat comes after or simultaneously with the desired behaviour as a reward. The horse is working from a cue and if he responds to that cue, he gets a click and knows that a treat/reward is coming.
The timing and delivery of the treat is very important, which is why you have to learn the theory of it all before going out to your horse armed with a clicker and treat.
The good thing about CT is that the horse has a choice. If he offers a desired behaviour he gets a reward. There is no punishment, it is all about positive reinforcement.
With this in mind, the horse is more likely to offer that behaviour again. This would then assist you when building in good behaviours e.g standing still at the mounting block etc...
Here is a video that might be of interest....
http://barnmice.ning.com/group/bodylanguage/forum/topics/rewards-and-dopamine-what |
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Rozy Rider
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4545 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 1:26:12 PM
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My niece has just started running a theropy called EAGALA....EQUINES SUPPORTING PEOPLE.. dont know anything about it but it sounds interesting. She's located in Stourbridge and helps people as well. I think..
but Clicker training was a firm favorite of hers for training her horses and she was good at it too.
When she visits me she has a go at my Arab who thinks she's wonderful..
Sue |
Sue
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 1:35:50 PM
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Lisa that was a really interesting link, thanks for sharing. How fascinating that a 50% reward rate increased the dopamin levels by so much! Alexandra Kurland's analogy about the jackpot machines now makes so much more sense to me!!
You can definitely tell that the excitement starts in the horse when the game starts, not when they get the first reward. I'm fascinated... |
West Sussex |
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 1:48:47 PM
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Tabita,
so true about the excitement....my mare has learned that the clink of the metal dustbin lid is clicker time! It's where I keep the treats and clicker
She will literally drop everything to come and play.
She is also reluctant to end our sessions
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saddlebred
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1706 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 9:21:29 PM
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| I am interested in this.... although made me laugh this week because my friend (who is a qualified dog trainer) has been clicker training his new puppy..... that is until puppy ate the clicker this weekend |
Based Bewdley Worcs |
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Clicker Training?
