In part 1 of this trilogy I talked about how my vision and use of \’timing\’ and taking emotions into consideration changed the way I train. In part 2 I mentioned how I changed the  way I use rewards now. There is another tool I now use completely different. It is my training journal. Before my reward-based […]
New Uses for \’Old\’ Tools in Clicker Training, part III Read More »
In response to The Daily Post\’s weekly photo challenge: \”Happy Place.\” As long as I am with my horse, I am in my Happy Place. It doesn\’t have to be riding, also sitting and watching my horse in her herd makes me happy, doing chores at the barn make me happy, training my horse makes
Weekly Photo Challenge: Happy Place (with my horse of course!) Read More »
When I started clicker training I had no clue that there was a whole science behind the use of rewards. I only knew about one primary reward: treats. I didn\’t know anything about \’primary\’ and \’secondary\’ rewards, how to use high and low value rewards to my advantage. Neither did I know about \’chaining\’ behaviours, I learned
New uses for \’Old\’ Tools in Clicker Training , part II Read More »
When I started clicker training I thought it was a pretty simple and forward concept: \’You bridge (click) the wanted behaviour and give the horse a treat. Make sure your timing is right. That\’s all you need to know.\’ Bridging and getting your timing right are both very important and it was an excellent start. I have
New Uses for \’Old\’ Tools in Clicker Training, part I Read More »
In response to The Daily Post\’s weekly photo challenge: \”Change.\” The changes in Kyra\’s coat are tremendous: her black tail has almost gone silver, just like her mane. Sandra Poppema Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Weekly Photo Challenge: Change Read More »
One of the most underestimated challenges of positive reinforcement training can be… people in your environment. It is a journey The journey to switch from negative reinforcement (most traditional and natural horsemanship methods) to positive reinforcement training (clicker training, on target training) is instructive and beautiful. It is not always a straight, fast or smooth road. It is often a
Peer pressure at the barn Read More »
We have all encountered times when we think \”Now what?\” at the barn. Maybe you have already reached all your equestrian goals, maybe your horse became sick and needed rest, maybe you got injured, maybe you just bought a young horse, or a senior horse… We all need inspiration if we don\’t know what to teach
5 Tips to Expand your Horse\’s Horizon Read More »
Maybe a better title is \”Parents and children in barns\”. It is so normal to teach children \”Don\’t run in the stables, don\’t pet strange horses and don\’t walk behind a horse\”. Does it help? I have seen so many times that parents, mostly moms, keep yelling the same phrases for years. Without results. Why would
Children and Horses Read More »
Have you ever had the experience that you followed your horses\’ lead and you found out something unexpected? A story One day my clients horse was very obstructive. He wouldn\’t let her mount, he kept walking away and when she finally managed -with a lot of patience- to sit down, he bucked. That was a bit
How to … Listen to Horses Read More »
In response to The Daily Post\’s weekly photo challenge: \”Beneath Your Feet.\” The assignment was to look down and capture the ground beneath your feet. I never made a picture from this point of view riding my horse. Thank you for watching. It was quite challenging because I made the picture with my phone. It was
Weekly Photo Challenge: Beneath Your Feet Read More »
