DO YOU GIVE YOUR HORSE TREATS?

If I'm doing some clicker training I normally treat with about 4 spillers high fibre nuts - I know I'm mean :) Also sometimes after schooling I might give her a sugar free polo.
 
Yes,the pony gets extra strong mints,but only if she walks into the yard and stands nicely.She sometimes plants and arses about,so she only gets a mint if she behaves.If she's worked hard and stands nicely to be untacked,she gets another.She didn't get anything tonight because she undid her lead rope and wandered up to the hay store whilst my back was turned.She's old and has learnt a few tricks in her time.
 
I confess I do spoil mine. My old boy has loads of treats coz he can act so hard done by and he manages to con everyone passing the door out of something. But I do try to give the youngster less. NOTE I do say try!:D
 
Rose the filly gets a treat for letting me pick her feet out, I don't usually resort to treats but needs must, at least it's stopped her trying to knock my head off as she did previously every time I even looked at her feet. And Roops my gelding gets secret mintys when we're away from the others in the field, it's our secret guilty pleasure and he's frightfully polite about it, being a very well bred boy.
 
I was always dead set against feeding treats but was introduced to clicker training and have changed my mind. My bargy, muggy horse is totally different. Better manners, doesn't mug and just more interested in everything.

I take everything back that I said about clicker, it makes sense when you drop your prejudice against it (and I was prejudiced) and really does make a difference. I found it difficult as I thought that I was doing my best by doing Intelligent Horsemanship, and I was with the information that I had, but this is better by a mile. The 'science' word put me off but it's really just common sense. I was doing things to my horse that I now regret. I realise now that I was teaching my horse to escape from the things that I did (pressure for example) and I was doing that by causing him discomfort. I was taught by IH was a reward but how can it be? If I'm uncomfortable it's a relief when it stops, I would never see it as a reward because it isn't. A reward is 'payment' for work done well or a try at something.

I never thought that I'd be singing the praises of clicker but it works and is better for us both.
 
Yes, my mare gets treats as and when I feel like giving her them. She is good natured with people and isn't nippy in the slightest.
 
Yes, mine get polos FROM THE HAND, even the youngster gets one and no more. I,ve yet to get any of mine nippy, so will continue to do so. They love their polos, will always be caught and are well mannered. I do this every day.....my mare I,ve had for 12 years, she would be mortified if I didn't.
 
Yes - my mare often has 'I'm not being caught' moments, so I always have a treat at the ready for fetching her from the field. I also use them for doing stretches with her, and as a reward after a ride. When turning the girls out they have a treat as I take their headcollars off, so there isn't the stampede away from the gate lol

Yes she is probably spoiled, but she has never got anywhere to nipping, and despite having treats body searching is not permitted

I think treats, as with dogs and cats, can be used carefully and to great advantage, as long as your horse understands there are still boundaries and personal space
 
Yes, I do treat after good behaviour on a ride but only treats designed for horses as polos contain laxatives and trebor extra strong are not suitable for vegetarians :/
 
Yes, yes I do . . . not all the time, not at the same time every time, and although he is a rummager he isn't nippy. I took him an apple this morning when I went to turn him out - a pleasant surprise for him - first time I've done that and I probably won't do it again for a while. He doesn't get them for coming to me in the field, nor does he get them when I turn him out - he shares a field with two other horses and I don't want to start fights/nor do I feel comfortable treating other people's horses. He does get just for being him (he's so wonderful don't you know ;)), and after a particularly good ride.

P
 
gosh i must be the only one that doesn't lol, my daughter has a mint lick for her ponies which she'll let them have for 5 minutes after a ride but that is it!! she used to want to give her old pony treats but he got pushy so we stopped them but i've never been one to feed treats, don't know why lol, perhaps i'm just mean, :o
 
I only give my boy treats in return for a stretch (carrot stretches etc), he gets quite nippy but find if he associates a treat in return for doing something he isnt quite so bad.
 
My horse gets them if he's behaved after a ride or schooling, and my youngster gets them along with our retired mares every now and again, or when they see the ridden one getting something!
 
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