Clicker training with a purpose

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If only I had realised before that clicker training is good for more than just little tricks! The pony and I have played with plenty of games before now and I know he learns fast but I've always done it as a bit of fun, not as proper grown up training. But having sorted his ulcers, sacroiliac and various issues I realised that I was still fighting years of incorrect musculature and movement patterns. I'm an okay rider but clearly not amazing or he would never have developed these incorrect movement patterns (he goes incredibly hollow and bent to the outside in canter, this is on the lunge or at liberty as well as when ridden on a long rein, so a well ingrained habit and associated musculature). So although he is improving daily I wanted something extra I could do to aid the canter without my riding habits interfering. So I thought I would see if I could use clicker training to encourage him to stretch, as I know he will sell his soul for a pony treat and some praise!

I started asking him to drop his head by placing my hand on his neck. Then I added the same cue whilst we were walking around in hand and added a verbal cue. Then trotted in hand with head lowered, then moved him away to lunge at liberty around me dropping his head to the voice cue. Blow me after just 5 very short sessions spread over 10 days he is cantering laps in a lovely open frame with head lowered and flexed nicely around the circle, without so much as a rope in sight! I know this is daft and shouldn't be a big deal in a horse his age but for us it's yet another massive improvement in 2016. On session 4 when I first asked for canter he brought his head so low he was right on the forehand and was tripping over his own legs, today in session 5 he has already started to figure out to shift his weight back a little to balance himself whilst keeping soft and relaxed over his back. I'm really hoping if we can keep this going in a couple of short sessions a week he will strengthen up no end. So I'm super happy! He also picked up travers in hand today at the first go, having just watched the straightness training video last night. I swear he's the smartest fastest learner I ever met. Where other horses take a few sessions he just seems to 'get' it straight away.

I also had the nicest compliment from someone who was watching me work him, which was that my horse has a really happy air about him all the time and she could see how hard he tried during the whole session. Made me smile for hours!
 
That sounds fab!

I need to spend some time watching the ST videos as ridden work is becoming increasingly hard at 25 weeks pregnant! I have the same issues with incorrect working (probably caused by me and a bad saddle) and think his back muscle looks uneven atm.
 
Yes he certainly has a fabulous mind (when being used for good and not for evil!), I've not had any dealings with PREs before getting him but it sounds like he is pretty typical. My sister has two Connemara crosses who are wonderful and much more level headed when out and about but in comparison they seem very slow to learn and don't have his incredible desire to please. They are more workmanlike in their approach to life whereas my little PRE treats life as a giant game, he's much more emotionally sensitive!. If I can just keep him sound and healthy then we might just conquer the world next year...or at least a tiny bit of it!

Stencilface, I've only just started fitting the straightness training into my training but it's really nicely set out and gives me things to do whilst I'm lacking an instructor who i trust.
 
I know someone who clicker trained a horse to do piaffe. Only she realised that maybe something wasn't quite right one day when the horse stood on one diagonal with the other diagonal held up in the air and looking for his "treat." Not sure what the final outcome was.

Well done, OP, that is a great achievement.
 
I have a clicker that i might use to do useful things with, did you treat with it at first or just use verbal praise? He's very treat oriented so I could see it working although think he'd stop to look for the treat if one wasn't forthcoming!

I'd love to teach him Spanish walk as a game, and feel it might help open his shoulders up. We haven't got it yet, but I probably need to do close together sessions don't I so he has time to process.
 
Do you have a link for the straightness training? I'll be bringing my mare back to work in the spring and I'd like to do some in hand stuff and clicker training with her before I get on her but I'm not sure where to start!
 
stencilface said:
I have a clicker that i might use to do useful things with, did you treat with it at first or just use verbal praise? He's very treat oriented so I could see it working although think he'd stop to look for the treat if one wasn't forthcoming!

I'd love to teach him Spanish walk as a game, and feel it might help open his shoulders up. We haven't got it yet, but I probably need to do close together sessions don't I so he has time to process.
Click to expand...

SF can I suggest you read a bit more about clicker training/watch a few good videos before giving it a go so you understand how the rewards work in relation to the click? If you use food rewards it is perfectly acceptable for them to stop and wait for the payment after hearing the click, though when using it during movement you want them to work on a slow downward transition and not slamming the brakes on. One of the most important parts of clicker training with horses (possibly more so than dogs for example) is the "treat delivery", this can make or break a training session. Actually the stopping for the payment can be incredibly useful in a well trained pony - I have stopped several potential incidents developing by a well timed click - click for a scary log wagon coming towards a newly ridden pony and instead of running she stopped and turned her head round to me. Likewise a spook that was on the verge of bolting was steadied with a click which brought her focus back to me and then voice to bring her to a halt in order to reward. It is immensely powerful when used well.
There are several good books and videos, happy to suggest some if you want.
You do really need to understand the principle properly though before using it otherwise you might end up another unsatisfied person blaming the method without realising that you don't understand it well enough to put into practice. It is so much fun and so incredibly useful that it is worth it though!
 
KatPT it is awesome to read your success, clicker training really can be such an incredible tool and communication aid, it's just us as handlers limiting it! My guys have been brought up with a clicker and it has made them lovely ponies to work with - very different from each other, but lovely.
My gelding usually enjoys toys and games more than serious work, but this year he was ready for more grown up stuff so I thought I'd try teaching him to shoulder target my hand. He picked it up so quickly, and has never forgotten it - I can walk up to him in the field now, having not done it for weeks or months, and ask for a target and over his shoulders come. Amazing feeling when you realise you are really working with each other isn't it!!
I do think it shows as well, others notice how much happier and keener my ponies are.
 
dollyanna said:
SF can I suggest you read a bit more about clicker training/watch a few good videos before giving it a go so you understand how the rewards work in relation to the click? If you use food rewards it is perfectly acceptable for them to stop and wait for the payment after hearing the click, though when using it during movement you want them to work on a slow downward transition and not slamming the brakes on. One of the most important parts of clicker training with horses (possibly more so than dogs for example) is the "treat delivery", this can make or break a training session. Actually the stopping for the payment can be incredibly useful in a well trained pony - I have stopped several potential incidents developing by a well timed click - click for a scary log wagon coming towards a newly ridden pony and instead of running she stopped and turned her head round to me. Likewise a spook that was on the verge of bolting was steadied with a click which brought her focus back to me and then voice to bring her to a halt in order to reward. It is immensely powerful when used well.
There are several good books and videos, happy to suggest some if you want.
You do really need to understand the principle properly though before using it otherwise you might end up another unsatisfied person blaming the method without realising that you don't understand it well enough to put into practice. It is so much fun and so incredibly useful that it is worth it though!
Click to expand...

Dolly Anna have u any recommendations for a good place to start reading up? Would love to try with my 2
 
I guess looking back I've done a fair bit of what is essentially clicker training but without being aware of it (so I'd use 'ja' or 'good' instead of a click). He's pretty much the smartest horse I've ever met, although that may only be because I spend so much time with him vs any others. He got Spanish walk in 3 sessions, same with side pass away, side pass towards, rein back to voice when I'm nowhere near him, bow (although I don't do that anymore as he didn't enjoy it), shoulder in, travers, lines up to a block (or trampoline!) at liberty so I can get on with no tack, rides reinless with pretty reliable steering, so I guess a few useful things amongst the games. I won't even pretend any of this stuff is classically correct but he is a very light responsive horse which is all I need, but if I can add some straightness training wisdom to it I can hopefully help to strengthen and supple him. I use treats but he will sell his soul so if I'm not clear then he will run through his full repertoire of 'tricks' to figure out the right answer, you can see him actively working it out. He doesn't like being touched so a scratch or a pat is no motivator for him. I'll see if I can get some video of him this weekend so you can see it versus a before video.
 
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