Horses ability to learn when its in their interest to do so

[0ldmare]

Just made me smile.... yesterday evening for the 1st time this year I put out some hay for the horses. Today they are at the gate neighing everytime they saw me at around 5pm.

Soooo - it takes a couple of years of consistent repetitive training and they have a passable level of schooling.

But within 1 day they can tell the time and remember that hay is going to appear.

Now if only I could figure out a way of schooling them using food rewards and harnessing that huge untapped IQ I would have a bunch of GP dressage neddies (probably winning without a rider being needed) and I'd be as rich as the High Church of Parelli

 

[Chico Mio]

Ha! That struck a chord

Ari has been here less than a week and he already knows the routine and I'm sure FB has a watch hidden somewhere. They are both in the corner of the field watching the front door from about 1.30pm (hay at 2pm) and then again at 7.30pm for bedtime at 8pm!

I clicker train and food is an amazing motivator.

 

[chestnut cob]

Yup, that sounds about right!!

It's definitely only when it's in their interests... mine is fed on the trailer nearly every day and he still only goes on when conditions are exactly as he wants them to be (ie, not in the dark at 4.30 so we can go cubbing this morning

). He's also worked out that if he's being loaded at feed time, it means it's only dinner time and he won't have to actually travel anywhere in it, just eat his tea then go out in the field

 

[sav123]

At one yard I worked at, there was a pony we called the Union Rep, as he knew exactly what times they got hayed and fed, and would call out a 15 minute warning, then 10, then 5, and would then get very vocal if it was even slightly late!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

My coblet gives me 'reminders' for feeds and hay - no chance of much of a lie in round here!! The yelling gets louder and longer if she feels she is being ignored......

 

[0ldmare]

[ QUOTE ]
Yup, that sounds about right!!

It's definitely only when it's in their interests... mine is fed on the trailer nearly every day and he still only goes on when conditions are exactly as he wants them to be (ie, not in the dark at 4.30 so we can go cubbing this morning

). He's also worked out that if he's being loaded at feed time, it means it's only dinner time and he won't have to actually travel anywhere in it, just eat his tea then go out in the field

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh wow he really is clever working all that out!

 

[Shilasdair]

I would also like to know, why my horses are stiff as boards when asked to bend even slightly round a 20m circle, but can turn right round and scratch their own bums in the field?
S

 

[spookypony]

[ QUOTE ]
I would also like to know, why my horses are stiff as boards when asked to bend even slightly round a 20m circle, but can turn right round and scratch their own bums in the field?
S

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a very, very good question, to which I would also like to know the answer!