DIY Target stick for Horse Training

A target stick is such a great tool in clicker training. Read on to make your own safe and sturdy target stick. It\’s really easy so you have no excuse to not at least try it out.

With a target stickĀ you can teach a horse practical anything.Ā ReadĀ Best basics:Ā TakeĀ targeting to the next level if you want some tips for target training.
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Supplies

  • Floater
  • Bamboo stick
  • Duct tape
  • Glue gun

Target

I choseĀ a hard plastic floaterĀ which IĀ foundĀ in the boat section of Canadian Tire. The floater has a hole in which you can put a bamboo stick. I chose this floaterĀ for severalĀ reasons. It is a hard plastic soĀ horses can\’t get a grip on it with their teeth (safety), it is highly visible, very durable and it is lightweight. The target stick in the pictures is used daily and with many, many different horses. I made it years ago and it is still in super shape!

Stick

You can buy bamboo sticks in a garden center or in the gardening isle in a hardware store. Take the bamboo stick in your hands and try it out: hold it horizontally, point it up and down to get a feeling for length and weight. Make sure itĀ feels good in your hand. If the stick is too thin or too long it\’s hard to hold for a long time. Some bamboo sticks are a bit thicker on one end, that would be the bestĀ end to use asĀ handle.

Tip: buy the floater first and bring it to the garden store so you buy exactly the right size stick: the one that fits in the hole of the floater. It works best if the target is already stuck on the stick without glue.

Glue

I used a glue gun to glue the target to the bamboo stick. You can use any kind of glue that is suitable forĀ the materials you are using and is non-toxic. My floater fit perfectly with the bamboo stick, but I glued it anyway. I wanted to be sure not to lose the target in the middle of a training session or take the chance the target will fly away whenever I am waving the stick in the air. I don\’t want to poke my horse or myself in the eye.

\"\"Duct tape\"_targetstick_\"

I used duct tape to prevent the bamboo stick from splintering or splitting. Some horses like to biteĀ the bamboo stick. They are allowed to investigate it, not to eat it.Ā Duct tape makes it less temptingĀ for them.
Duct tape is available in all colours and prints which makes it fun.

Instructions making your own target stick

Glue the floater on the stick. Let it dry. Put tape around the stick and you\’re good to go. To make it more fancy you can glue aĀ (golfstick) handle on it too.

Let me know how your target stick turned out and if you have any tips. Thanks.

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\"Sandra
Sandra Poppema, B.Sc.
I teach horse people to build trustĀ andĀ confidence in the relationship with their horses,Ā so that they getĀ resultsĀ in training theyĀ are looking for and to get that soul-to-soul connectionĀ with their horses.

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