Good horses?

[Grumbledor]

Flipping the coin on the post below (hope you don't mind shilasdair) what do you do to praise your horse for good behaviour?

Norm's favourite thing is to be scratched so this is generally what I do when he does something well ridden or on the ground accompanied by 'oh what a good boy' comments. I must confess to the odd titbit too!

 

[sally2008]

Mine gets a scratch and voice praise too, and occasionally, if he's been exceptional he might get a food treat which I always carry, just in case.

 

[MizElz]

I have a saddlecloth with zip up bags either side, and I always fill one side with treats for Ellie when I go out for a hack. If she walks past something scary, or even just as a matter of course if she is being good, I lean down and give her a treat

She also loves a good scratch, but that isnt a reward for good behaviour, its more a matter of course, she demands it all the time! And there are always plentiful polos and herby cubes on offer

Oh, and the Likits *rolls eyes*

 

[amandathepanda]

My JA pony expected an icecream with a flake in it every time he won a class. He would dig his heels in by the icecream van until I got off him to get him one!

 

[dianchi]

polos and neck scratches!

 

[Grumbledor]

PMSL Panda, thats great!

 

[AnnaandStella]

I don't really like treats as there's some very nippy horsey on the yard who EXPECT a polo for coming to you in the field. No siree.

I give altoids (nice & small) when Stell's done something REALLY good, like a big jump or stood quietly at the scary mounting block, but it's never an ALWAYS.

She gets a rub at her withers & a "GOOD girl!", or sometimes one or the other.

 

[Shilasdair]

I praise mine pretty much constantly - so maybe 95% of what I say to them will be praise. I direct them so 'stand' and 'back' when I need them to, when they obey, I praise them.
I also usually have treats in my pockets...broken up into small pieces as they are huge for some reason...and will reward them for certain behaviours...so being caught from a lush grass paddock will earn them a treat. As I treat them, I praise them and pat them, sometimes give them a scratch.
With my two youngsters, they have to keep improving to earn treats...my 3yo gets a treat for less than the rising 4yo...I keep upping my demands.
My old TB gets spoiled though - she gets a treat if she asks for one (which she maybe does once a day), and I drive my OH mad by giving her easy tasks - 'Breathe! Good girl, have a treat'

(although he does the same!).
In my defence, she's 19 now, and never really puts a hoof out of place.
Of course, if any of mine gets pushy for treats, it finds itself on a ban for quite a while...
S

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
My JA pony expected an icecream with a flake in it every time he won a class. He would dig his heels in by the icecream van until I got off him to get him one!

[/ QUOTE ]

Classic!

My New Forest was partial to a cheeseburger, and wouldnt let me rest until I had given her at least half of mine after a class. She wouldnt touch it if there was even a trace of ketchup in it, though!

 

[Scarlett]

I reward with the odd treat from the hand when being ridden, especially when hacking out to reward or distract them in certain situations. Neither of my horses has become nippy because of this, I think they both understand where and when they will recieve a treat and that they actually have to do something to get one!

Other than that they get lots of praise and pats when good.

 

[bex1984]

When ridden Murphy really listens if you use your voice to praise him. I make a big fuss of him when he gets something right, patting him, stroking his neck and telling him what a good boy he is and he does pay attention.

He regularly gets a pat and a "good boy", even for the little things, like picking up his feet for me when I pick them out, putting his nose in the headcollar for me when I fetch him in.

If he's been good when ridden he gets a herby treat after I've put his tack away. And he always gets something when he loads on the trailer.

 

[Tia]

My treats are scratches, kind words and release from pressure; no edible treats are given to mine.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

My youngester only gets a treat when she has done something particularly good, my older horse who has 'whicker trained' me gets a 'well done for existing' several times a day. But they both know, one hint of pushiness and no treats for them!

 

[vennessa]

[ QUOTE ]
My JA pony expected an icecream with a flake in it every time he won a class. He would dig his heels in by the icecream van until I got off him to get him one!

[/ QUOTE ]
We have a little welshie that used to have to walk to and back from a local show. On the way back we always stopped at the ice cream van to get him an ice cream. He goes in style now but still gets an ice cream

 

[Starbucks]

Mine get polos for treats at shows and I normally give Badger a carrot or a biccy after a ride, or I give them all one if they look cute!

I bet my mum hates it when I come because I feed all her digestives to the horses!

 

[Weezy]

No edible treats at all, just fuss and voice praise

 

[jumpthemoon]

My horse likes having his ears pulled

Give him lots of pats and rubs and vocal praise. My mare likes cuddles and loves a good groom - any form of attention is appreciated by her

I only really give treats when doing carrot stretches, or they tend to anticipate a bit too much...!

 

[Sarah1]

He gets lots of praise - a nice tone of voice, a good scratch or a pat on the neck. I try not to give him tit bits as 1. he's a fatty! & 2. when he was younger we had issues with him nipping for treats if you gave them him too often, resulting in an almost total ban!

 

[Skhosu]

treats, praise, release of pressure, etc.

 

[suestowford]

While I'm riding he gets wither scratches and verbal praise. If he's been consistently good throughout the ride he will get an apple at the end of it but this is given on the ground not from my hand as he used to be a bit mouthy and I try not to encourage nibbling.

 

[Theresa_F]

Most of the time I do praise my boys and have to confess I do speak to them like large dogs/small children.

For ultimate good behaviour Cairo adores a scratch and large oatmeal treacle cookie. Chancer loves a nose kiss and face stroke and the treacle cookie is good. He also loves a can of lime diet coke at a show as a special special treat.

They all get a treat when I go home at night - one minty cube each apart from Cairo who has huge naglets - proper sized big treats for a huge clydie gob.

They also love cuddles and affection of any sort.

 

[Donkeymad]

Scratches and voice praise. They may get something edible in a feed bowl after they have finished working and cooled off.

 

[YorksG]

I give treats from on top, for standing still for mounting, always have since the old Appy who had to be trained to stand still. Treat at the end of a ride, from the ground. If anyone become snatchy then treats removed/reduced for a while. They do seem to learn that they do not get them if asking. Also loads of scratching and voice rewards.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I used to ride out occasionally with a woman who was madly in love with one of the riding school horses - a big coloured cob who'd started life as a stallion. She used to lean forward in the saddle in canter and feed him giant Mars Bars as he zoomed along!