Giving horses treats

I treat liberally, although not usually in the field - more in training. With the youngsters, I praise and treat often to help them associate training with good things. Not had a problem from it. They are all fed in the field together though, and are aware of correct behaviour around food. All are mine, so they all respect me. Might be different in a yard situation.
 
I had always had great success rewarding with treats, until I acquired my current horse who was cut late so already predisposed to biting. Treating by hand is now completely banned and I reward him after work by putting treats / carrots etc. in a feed bowl so he loses the association.

He just got to the point where if he knew you had something, he would get quite sh*tty and domineering about it!
 
My old boy was a bit neglected, a bit bolshy (just came from anxiety) and a bit big to be pushing those boundaries. Lots of ground work made him a big lamb but treats for him were a very few and far between thing because he would be that pushy knock you over type until you made it clear he wasn't getting any more. I would do that because he was my horse and you did have to be firm with him but im not sure someone else would have. I didn't train him i only worked with what i was given when i got him so i can't say what he was let to get away with in the past.

The new lad is a polite boy where treats are concerned, he wont hold it against you when you have no more, but will do anything for a treat and it worked great for helping to calm us when we first moved home.

My little herd can become a little pushy in the group so i wouldn't let anyone treat them in a loose paddock situation bar me..but im quite happy to chase off the offender. But when im treating im not just giving them out, often i will ask them to step back or stand up (show stance) so its somewhat like working for it at least lol
 
My connie is bolshy, nippy and does this god awful teeth scraping thing against your hand if you hand feed him treats, so we try not to use them unless it's for a pre-determined purpose. However, a great deal of his nippy/scraping behaviour is simply because he wasn't trained properly in his previous homes. If he scrapes with teeth or nips now he gets a flick on the nose and the treat withdrawn and he's very quickly learnt that when I say 'nicely!' I flippin well mean it! I gave serious thought to cutting them out completely but he is so food motivated that training him using treats as rewards has been the quickest and easiest way to teach him anything new. We just need to remind him on occasion that he does actually have lips and not to go straight in with the teeth!
 
I have found treats useful in small bursts for training, things like standing still for mounting and not p**g off bucking as you turn out, or the beginning of clicker training. I find it makes for quick progress but haven't had rude horses as a result yet. Random treats by hand are a no-no though. It goes in a bucket with the feed if at all.
 
I had an Arab x Welsh pony who loved polos but he used to suck them. Never crunched! How do ponies learn that! He was a sweetheart. He wouldn’t wee in a stable either. Used to have to take him out for regular wees!
 
pistolpete said:
I’ve just been reading another thread where giving treats in a herd situation has caused an issue. I’ve always given treats to my ponies. Never caused problems. They’ve never bitten anyone or pushed anyone over. They have manners know the boundaries and obey my rules. Surely I’m not alone here? It’s not giving treats that is the problem it’s how the horse is trained surely? Or have I just been super lucky? I’ve treated three this way.
Click to expand...
I give mine treats - mare can pull me back to her if I stand outside within reach, gelding can get grabby but when he starts to i just bop him oin the nose and say gently, and only them he gets it.
 
milliepops said:
I treat most of mine liberally whenever i feel like it.
for my pleasure as much as theirs.
.
Click to expand...
Same. I wouldn't do it if it caused an issue and I would avoid giving treat in a herd, especially if I didn't own all the horses. But my two live out mostly and I feed them quite a lot of treats, mainly just before I leave as a "goodbye". The most I ever get is a very gentle nudge from the mare, or an enthusiastic licking from the gelding (but he does that anyway, he's like a large dog!). I do think there are some horsey personalities who are best not being fed treats (or certainly not hand-fed), i.e. anyone who has a tendency to nip or be a rude and pushy.
 
Both of mine were very eager to get out to their field, so I started 'gate' treats. They now walk quietly to the gate, through the gate, wait while I get sorted out and take their head collars off, then get their treat. Turning out is so much safer now. Same applies to catching them in. They know that if they come over and wait quietly while I faff about with head collars ....they get a treat. Treating's also helped massively with horses that won't stand still at the mounting block, loading etc etc. Treating certainly has it's place in helping to get horses 'on side'. Although, sometimes ( not too often) I give them random treats just because they're lovely.
 
i strategically "gate treat" my ex racer. when i first got him i was on assisted DIY and YO used to turn out in the morning. well, "turn out" is stretching it, he looped a rope round their neck and fired them into the field, so he quickly became quite difficult to handle. teaching him to turn around and wait for me to take his headcollar off calmly, upon which he got a tasty carrot, was a game changer and now he's 99% perfectly behaved at the gate.
 
silv said:
Same here, for my pleasure as much as theirs, have done so for 50 years with no problems. I would never do it in a herd situation though, that is asking for trouble.
Click to expand...
My horse is nervous and I find treats help with those types. But hand feeding pushy horses is a big no-no as that quickly escalates to biting and mugging.

Having said that , no one is allowed to feed or treat my horse without my say so and likewise, I won't treat other horses without permission.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top