Equine Clicker Training, reward-based training, ethical training, treat training, positive horsemanship
Mat training is one of my key lessons in positive reinforcement training. It is a very versatile exercise and a good base for more advanced exercises. Standing on a mat Standing on a simple puzzle mat is a fun exercise to teach your horse. The goal is simple:Â the horse has to stand with his two […]
How Mat Training Paid Off Read More »
How do you start positive reinforcement training with a horse that is already trained with negative reinforcement (traditional or natural horsemanship training)? Start with a \’clean slate\’ I would suggest start with some exercises that are totally new to the horse. Choose exercises (and cues) the horse doesn\’t know yet. You should make sure it is a new
Clicker Training: How to start with a horse that is traditionally trained? Read More »
Can you teach your horse everything he needs to know without using pressure in an aversive way, pain or threats? Can we really get rid of our spurs, tight nose bands, crops, training sticks, whips, martingales and other \’aids\’. Yes, you can! You can teach a horse something with adding an appetitive (something the horse
Force Free Horse Training: Is it possible? Read More »
Clicker training or positive reinforcement is based on a simple concept: adding something the learner wants (an \’appetitive\’) in order to strengthen a behaviour. What can possibly go wrong with a simpel concept of noticing (a tiny step towards) the desired behaviour – mark the behaviour (\’click\’) and  reinforce (strengthen) it by giving the learner something pleasurable? Theory versus
Pitfalls of Positive Reinforcement Read More »
The real name of this WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is \’Curve\’. When I think of horses and curves I think of all baroque horse breeds. Baroque horses Wikipedia tells us what baroque horses are: \”The term baroque horse describes a group of horse breeds, usually descended from and retaining the distinctive characteristics of a particular
Weekly Photo Challenge: the Baroque Horse Read More »
There is a huge misunderstanding about the word \’pressure\’ in the horse world. I hear people who want to start positive reinforcement training but they hesitate: \’How can I start clicker training my horse and don\’t use any pressure? Isn\’t that impossible?\’ Yes, training a horse without pressure is impossible, but let me explain the
Myth Monday: \’Clicker Trainers don\’t use Pressure\’ Read More »
easy recipe for your own healthy homemade horse cookies or horse treats. Perfect for equine clicker trainers
DIY Easy Healthy Horse Treats (sugar free) Read More »
In December 2015 I went to the exhibition \’Animal Inside Out\’ . It was really interesting to see all kind of plastinates of animals. They also had several horse plastinates. Amazing brain I was excited to see so many horses and horse body parts. All very beautifully displayed and very educational. What stunned me the most was
Fact Friday: the Size of a Horse Brain Read More »
All positive reinforcement trainers have heard people say: \’Training horses with food rewards makes them pushy\’. Some people even state \’dangerous\’ instead of pushy. Maybe you have said it yourself before you started using positive reinforcement (+R) to train your horse. You get what you reinforce In +R training you use a reward that reinforces the behaviour
Myth Monday: Training with Food rewards causes pushy Horses Read More »
I think I can state that all equestrians and non-equestrians know that horses eat grass. They are \’grazers\’. Perfect. Why do people tend to forget this as soon as they keep a horse in captivity? What are the consequences for the horse if we forget that they are grazers? Physiology of grazers Grazing animals are built to spend
Facts Friday: horses are grazers Read More »
