For those who/have clicker trained

LaurenBay

LaurenBay

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A friend of mine gave me a clicker and whistle combined. I'm thinking of using it at the yard. I've never done anything like this before. But I do believe there are a couple of problems of Rubys that it will help. Such as standing still to have her bridle put on. And I would love to teach her to come to call, since every weekday I have to trapse around her field looking for her ;)

What have you used it for on your Horse?
Did it help?
Would you use it again?

Thanks
 
I am currently using clicker training on my pesky appy yearling.
Our 1st lesson was stretch which worked almost instantly. I used this exercise to both 'charge' the clicker and train stretch.
We then progressed to spin and it took about 3 minutes for her to get it.
We are now working on fetch. She runs after the target when its thrown,picks it up(having stamped on it!)I click......and she drops the target and spins!:rolleyes: I now plan to use clear vocal and visual signals to help us separate the tricks.
I am reading Ben Hart's book on clicker training. There is a lot about the history and science,but there is also alot of use-able information,including a section on how to use a clicker to teach a horse to stand still.Well worth a read before you start.
 
Like you plan to - I've used it to 'tame' some of the ASBO behaviour.

Started off using it to get him to stand to be groomed, worked really well. Now going back to using it because with his winter fluff he's got arsey again, especially having his belly brushed. Also working at the moment on training him to put his head down for the bridle (as my shortarse mother can barely reach his 17.2ness at normal height, never mind when the head goes up!)

Have also used it to train him to pick up his feet on command - very useful as I struggle with back pain and he has huge heavy feet ;) to stretch left and right, and now training stretch down, and to pick up his feed bucket on command, which will turn into him giving me his feed bucket on command... instead of throwing it out of the stable and usually hitting someone in the head with it :D

The only thing it didn't work for was to train him to be still for me to get on. The *******s figured out a nice way to get around that one.

I really enjoy it, as does he and I honestly think it's done quite a lot for our relationship - just spending time with each other doing stuff to work his brain that's enjoyable but he gets immediate 'results' from. He was fairly slow to pick it all up at first but now he picks up 'tricks' very quickly :)
 
I have used the clicker when my mare was on box rest for 5months. I don't have to use the clicker now for things I've taught her, I just click with my tongue:) I taught her I few silly things really - I stand in front of her and say "say no" and she shakes her head, I point to her leg and she will hold it in the air, I ask for a cuddle and she will cuddle me with her head and I've taught her to catch a tea towel.
 
wow fetch sounds good! hehe.

Thank you, I am interesting in the standing still bit! she doesn't like standing still for her bridle to be put on (teeth have been checked and bridle fits well) she is fine if other Horses are in, but if a couple are still left out grazing, as soon as her headcollar is off. She's off :rolleyes: Also I do a lot of in hand walking with her, she isn't keen on standing still then either. Which is a pain as I have to wait at a lot of junctions! And as I mentioned above. Come to call would be brilliant!
 
I've used it to train a clipper phobic to stand still and have his legs clipped. Worked an absolute treat - the leg that needed to be clipped (treatment reasons) was rooted to the spot by the end of the training - he wasn't moving it for anything ! :)

I use it with my current boy just for a bit of variety and fun - touching targets, moving away from me to a target at a distance, playing football, doing his carrot stretches to a target not directly to the food etc. Tonight though we will be commencing 'calmly accepting a syringe in your mouth' training because he's having GastroGard and I can't have him throwing his head around, getting upset and making life difficult for both of us every morning for 6 weeks!
 
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I have used it to teach lateral work, I can now have him move sideways whether I am in front of him or the side via a verbal command or signal. Go back from verbal command, full length of field if I require it. He is unbacked as only 2 so I am trying to teach things I will need later on.
 
I use it on my dog. Make sure you know how to charge the clicker before you start using it - this is a very important step in the process and not one that can be skipped or rushed. Also make your timing is good as this is also key to catching the behaviour you want. Remember that you must treat every click - even if you clicked by accident, as otherwise you will weaken the conditioned association between click and treat. :)
 
I've been using it to "bombproof" my incredibly nervy 6 year old. He used to flatten himself against the far wall of the stable at the very sight of a carrier bag but now I can rub them all over him. It worked so quickly - I'd previously just been trying to get him used to a carrier bag by making him follow me around with it, leaving them in his stable, etc, but the clicker gave us a dialogue and he picked up on it so quickly that I'm convinced he'd done it before.

ETA: it was Shawna Karrasch who inspired me to try it. I believe she's been unwell lately.
 
I CT....... and you can train almost anything really with CT whether its termed a "trick" or the "really useful stuff" like standing still, lifting feet up, lowering head, lateral work, spanish walk, transitions, waiting nicely in stable and not rushing out, etc etc etc.

I used it origionally to get a really fearful horse into a different frame of mind and to motivate her to want to work with me ;)
 
Thank you everyone for your replys.

I am really excited to give this a go. I also plan to use it to get Ruby over her fear of small places so that in time she will load into a trailor. I plan to lead through jump wings pushed together etc first though.

Shawna, If you are reading this. I hope you get better soon!

I will keep you all updated with how I get on.

Thanks again :)
 
Ooh, I might have to try clicker training with Ned, to get him to lift his legs up. I can get his fronts up with a bit of trouble, but he HATES anyone going near he back legs. Perhaps if I can get him to lift his fronts up on command, there's hope for the backs.
 
Clicker training for something like a phobia can be a long process, so I would start with something simpler. I would also read about the principles before you start work, so there's less chance of getting it wrong and thus becoming demotivated. I'd highly recommend hartshorsemanship.com which contains lots of info and also shaping plans, too. :)
 
Don't worry Fransurrey. I won't ask her to do this straight away. Probably in the summer now.

I wanted to get some easier basic problems sorted first.
 
A book to recommend:

Clicker Training for your Horse, by Alexandra Kurland.

I've only done a very little, but the first thing I was taught was to do away with the clicker, and use a tongue sound instead (not quite the normal tongue sound, more of a slurp, so I don't do it by accident at other times! :o ). That way, I'm not juggling a clicker and reins and access to treats.

I've used it to de-spook wacky-looking fancy-dress costume bits, and for a bit of in-hand work. It seemed to work very effectively, but I definitely want some lessons before I try any more! I've heard of people using it to help train everything from de-spooking, basic handling, silly tricks, to advanced lateral work.
 
LaurenBay said:
Thank you everyone for your replys.

I am really excited to give this a go. I also plan to use it to get Ruby over her fear of small places so that in time she will load into a trailor. I plan to lead through jump wings pushed together etc first though.

Shawna, If you are reading this. I hope you get better soon!

I will keep you all updated with how I get on.

Thanks again :)
Click to expand...

I agree wholeheartedly on training other things first before phobias.... if you dont then you can "contaminate" the reward. Unfortunately Taz was just soo scared of everything when I got her :( I had little option and had to take it soooo slowly at first.

I would suggest as well as the jump wings you could try wooden things like reinforced pallates or pieces of board to walk over to get the sound element ok. This is a see saw so also has a movement element.

mayagility011.jpg


If she is clautrophobic you can also do things like covering her in tarpaulins / sheets .... gradually getting to the point where you can cover her head

or do some tunnels

mayagility027.jpg


This all builds up trust and you can get to the stage where you can do this if you want

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/tazzle22/?action=view&current=clipoftunnel.mp4



...... loading in a trailer should be a doddle after that :D :D :D :D


annielusion ...... CT is just so great for feet :D . They actuallypick up and hold their own feet up ;) ..... well I use just one finger to keep the foot up if its for a long period as its fairer imo ;)


Like every good training system planning is the key LaurenBay ;) .. and getting the basci essentials soooo firmly embedded before you move on no matter how tempting it is to move on to the more "showy" stuff, you will never regret getting the basics firm !!!
 
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