Baited Stretches

[Flibble]

Hi one and all. Charlie and I have to do baited stretches as part of his physio and the idea is to get him to hold the position for a good few seconds.
I am in severe danger of losing part of my hand as try as I might I cannot get him to maintin the stretch without snatching his carrot and occasionally my hand. Didnt tuck my fingers away properly yesterday and ouch my finger hurts.

 

[Dottie]

My physio told me to poke the carrot through a polystyrene cup and tuck your fingers in the cup to keep them safe!

 

[Tiarella]

Use a horselyx lick - much easier!

 

[MissChaos]

Put it on the end of a stick!

 

[Brightbay]

I can never understand why physios/vets do this! It is what gives people the impression that hand feeding leads to biting... when all you have to do is train the horse to target the point you touch and hold, using clicker training. That way, they're not snatching at the food and wait until you click to eat their reward calmly with their head in "neutral" at the front.

 

[Shadow the Reindeer]

Get a carrot stick, start off with the treats and introduce the stick, hopefully at some point you won't need to give him the treats but still get him to do the exercises with just the stick..

 

[Flibble]

I can never understand why physios/vets do this! It is what gives people the impression that hand feeding leads to biting... when all you have to do is train the horse to target the point you touch and hold, using clicker training. That way, they're not snatching at the food and wait until you click to eat their reward calmly with their head in "neutral" at the front.

Ooh like can you explain what to do please while I still have 4 fingers and two thumbs.

 

[Spotsrock]

Mine will all do this without grabbing as they are encouraged to stretch and hold it for the treat but not given it till they are standing straight again.