Baby coblet trick training, day 1.

[Sparkles]

Having the amazing guy local to us who normally helps us with some of the colts, giving me a course on stunt training. So, Sparks is our volunteer naturally!
Truly amazing bloke...if any in my area has any horses with any problems....seriously, give him a bell. He can do anything with even the most flightiest horse.

Today was his first time doing anything. Lying down we started with. He did lie down, and remained there quite happily. Obviously, to start with, was a bit 'Erm, I have a rope round my foot'...but didn't stress out at all, other than wave his foot round a bit as you'd expect! It's funny, he gets down and then after a moment he's like 'Oh actually, whilst I'm here, I do love a roll!' then has a couple of good rolls, then just stays there, not phased in the slightest and just either carries on nibbling hay or just snoozing there quite happily. He was so chilled about the whole thing, I was there with him still loose led down; fussing him, hugging him, sat on him, sat next to him leaning on him....he's just like 'Alright, I'm cool with this, whatever Mum!'


Love him! Can't wait too see him improve over time...eventually to the point where hopefully, he'll do it with no ropes/etc, just a little specific touch and voice command.

[For anyone who doesn't see the point in 'tricks'.... I'm intrigued by it and have always wanted to get him stunt trained for when he's older....so poo you! No offense! I find the whole thing amazing as it's not something I've done. There's no 'forcing' involved, none as much as any other part of anything you do with them on a daily basis anyway. ]

Very excited to see what the future has in hold for him! Planning on getting him taught to do Spanish walk, etc. He seems to enjoy it anyway! [Ok...I do ]

Video


http://youtu.be/MHOFlbbJ2Lc

 

[ebonyallen]

Well Sparks never fails to amaze me. Great little video, please keep us updated on how it all goes. ~Back in the summer had a chap out to sort ~Ebony out with a few issues, and it was fantastic how they work with the horse. Sparks is such a sweetie.

 

[BBP]

Where is this chap based? Mine does Spanish walk (his favorite) and bow but I'm not experienced enough to progress to lie him down without stressing him out.

 

[Sparkles]

Thankyou! Words can't even begin to describe how much that little colt means to me. I love him more than anything.
All the horses love that guy, he's just amazing with them. He's got all the time and patience in the world for any horse, regardless. I wish I could be like he is with them.

I'm Wiltshire

 

[unbalanced]

Where is this chap based? Mine does Spanish walk (his favorite) and bow but I'm not experienced enough to progress to lie him down without stressing him out.

I taught mine to lie down by mirroring - no ropes (I have seen it done with ropes but personally, like you I don't think my timing would be good enough to do it without stressing her out). I started by taking her in the school when she wanted to lie down anyway (to have a roll), and you can cause them to want to roll by getting them either wet and sweaty. When they start to paw, you mirror the pawing. When they look down, you look down. When they go down, you sit down. For a while that's it and keep doing that until you are leading not following on the cues - takes a while but it does work - you can also use mirroring on partners and bosses Then you start to move in and reward lying down before they roll with your horse's preferred form of positive reinforcement - my mare likes food. Now she lies down when I start pawing the ground and looking down.

OP - I love your horse. He is really cool.

 

[Sparkles]

Thankyou!

Never heard of the mirroring method! Interesting to read thankyou.
He's well used to having ropes all over him...one thing I made sure of with him - had put them round his legs previously and left draped over him flapping etc [though not for teaching anything as such] just to get him so if he ever got loose with reins hanging or caught in fencing, he wouldn't panic over it in theory.

 

[BBP]

Mirroring sounds fascinating, thank you. I guess I have dine similar in the past but not followed it through til he understands. I don't mind the rope idea as I've seen it done properly, but I know my timing isn't good enough. He likes a good roll in the school so once is is fixed again I will have to try this and see what happens.

 

[Sparkles]

I hope it goes well! All the time he's not stressed about, will carry on this way....should he have an aversion to it, then we'll try a different approach I'm excited to see where he is in a year.