Clicker training method to halt and to stand still

[kymw90]

Im using clicker training and it's going really well!!!!


Can anyone give advice on a good method for training halt and just standing still?? I don't think my Jenny is quite understanding what she's being clicked for and clearly it's my timing and method being a bit messy lol

 

[tazzle]

great fun !!!!

sorry but will start with questions

what have you done so far with her clicker wise


are you trying to do it when riding or from the ground ( it's usually best do it from ground first)

..... also are you free shaping or using "aids" like a halter

have you got her target trained or doing mat work

does she already walk "with" you



all relevant questions ... as there are different ways to train the same thing

 

[kymw90]

Ok well we're fairly new to the clicker stuff... she know a click means treat and is target trained with a dog toy and now picks it up and shakes it... She's caught onto clicker training so well it seems to have helped her understand not all humans are untrustworthy.

On the ground with a halter she halts when I am beside her and she walks happily with me.
Off the halter she wants to be with me but fights her suspisions. She's getting better all the time since last year.

I'm backing her so when I have been schooling her she is walking she walks but does not stop and when I long reign her she also will not halt.

I use pressure halter for long reigning and a bitless bridle when I get on and will continue to be riding bitless with her. She on the whole is extremely responsive with it so I see no reason to put her on a bit. Just need some tidying up and of course we need to learn to stop and stand else we'll be out and around the trail in a matter of seconds

I've had her a year, she was a very human shy donkey as she had previously been left in the field to graze and brought in only to be seen by the farrier. Used natural horsemanship methods to gain trust. Now at the right time in trust to get on her and make that bond stronger.

 

[tazzle]

Ok well we're fairly new to the clicker stuff... she know a click means treat and is target trained with a dog toy and now picks it up and shakes it...

ok cool trick ....... but maybe now the toy can be kept just for that trick as you might want to use the target later to teach other things like loading and not want her to actually do anything with the actual target

She's caught onto clicker training so well it seems to have helped her understand not all humans are untrustworthy.
great that.s one of the reasons I started it waaaaaaaay back when


On the ground with a halter she halts when I am beside her and she walks happily with me.

ok so if she already does this one option is to click immediately she stops and hopefully before the rope comes into effect .... this will make the connection for her. If it takes pressure on the rope to halt her try to click before you release the pressure so the reinforcer changes from the negative reinforcement ( neg is not "bad" just in case you are still getting to grips with th eterminologym it just means take away )... to a positive one. Cnce she has made the connection she will prob start putting in quick stops


Off the halter she wants to be with me but fights her suspisions. She's getting better all the time since last year.

sounds as if you making progress so another option might be to not bother yet re the halts ........... if you get her first to be happy and rewarded for her being near you then following you I think that might be the first step. If you are clicking her for having her head / neck (or whatever you choose) by your side then once she learns that click means treat she will prob stop anyway to get the treat . Once you can walk around a bit with her happily there then stop and she will prob again stop anyway cos she knows that being in that place is "good"...... and to reinforce that stop you click and reward I'm backing her so when I have been schooling her she is walking she walks but does not stop and when I long reign her she also will not halt.


I use pressure halter for long reigning

the only caution with using a pressure halter in the same session as clicker is that it can be easy to apply an adversive level of pressure inadvertanly and create a "bad" association with the click especially with a horse just being introduced to clicker.....could you not use the bitless bridle for long reining too?


and a bitless bridle when I get on and will continue to be riding bitless with her. She on the whole is extremely responsive with it so I see no reason to put her on a bit. Just need some tidying up and of course we need to learn to stop and stand else we'll be out and around the trail in a matter of seconds

we have ridden / driven in a bitless bridle for 11 years

I've had her a year, she was a very human shy donkey as she had previously been left in the field to graze and brought in only to be seen by the farrier. Used natural horsemanship methods to gain trust. Now at the right time in trust to get on her and make that bond stronger.

depending on what you mean by natural horsemanship it will depend on whether it will work with clicker.......... I use very light negative reinforcement and exercises from one NH trainer .... there are many examples of NH trainers / principles / levels of punishment that would most definatly poison clicker work

These shy horses can really come good given time and good handling