AJHORSE
Member
How many treats a day is acceptable?
What treats do you use?
Can carrots and apples be a healthier option for treats?
What treats do you use?
Can carrots and apples be a healthier option for treats?
Same here, I like haycobs. If we're not up to much, they don't tend to get treats, maybe a couple and a scratch if I'm just checking they're alive and feeling particularly altruistic hah. If I'm teaching them something or need a bribe, I feed them one at a time as needed to reinforce the behaviour I want.I use hay cobs as rewards and give them when I deem it appropriate. Many commercial 'treats' are full of sugar and rubbish.
Thanks, already got loads of books but also want to back up the info with peoples views and experiences! Thanks!Same here, I like haycobs. If we're not up to much, they don't tend to get treats, maybe a couple and a scratch if I'm just checking they're alive and feeling particularly altruistic hah. If I'm teaching them something or need a bribe, I feed them one at a time as needed to reinforce the behaviour I want.
I'm guessing you're young OP (just from the amount and content of the threads you're posting). You may find it helpful to get your hands on a few Horse Care Books/Manuals. Have a look on amazon, as you can get lots of very good book second hand for a couple of £. They're a very good source of information and handy to refer back to!
Well I'll admit I give treats 'just because'. The shetty is a bugger and always nosing my pockets so he doesn't get them very often, but it doesn't cause any issues with my mare. Most people I know give treats just for the hell of it tbh..
As a postscript, I went for a dressage lesson today with a trainer who competes very successfully at Grand Prix. I was watching the lesson before mine in which she was training her daughter who was riding one of their homebreds passage. The mare was trying hard and when she did well they would stop and give her a breather and a treat. To me it showed kindness and compassion.
Yes, I never really understand the 'I absolutely never give my horse treats' thing being so prevalent in horses. I'm pretty sure people aren't nearly so squeamish about using treats to reward dogs. I've met many an amazing horseman/woman who was never found working a horse either in hand or ridden without a pocket full of treats, so I've never really understood it.
Yes, I never really understand the 'I absolutely never give my horse treats' thing being so prevalent in horses. I'm pretty sure people aren't nearly so squeamish about using treats to reward dogs. I've met many an amazing horseman/woman who was never found working a horse either in hand or ridden without a pocket full of treats, so I've never really understood it.
Oh there are absolutely some horses that you can't use them with, and others that aren't remotely interested really, and others (like a couple of mine), where you have to be careful about how and when you use them (that's why I don't use apple for example, as it's too exciting - the treats I use are basically what they get fed anyway). But I find the culture in horses of never treating on principle rather than for a specific reason a little odd.I own a cob. If I had a pocket full of treats he wouldn’t be able to concentrates on anything else. I tried tricker training once, he got so excited about the treat that he pretty much went into a frenzy when he knew I had them and was unable to follow basic commands that he usually does. I always know if he’s been fed by hand because he’ll go straight for my hand when I arrive (he’s not the cleverest). It does mean that i have something that will always get his attention so if he won’t be caiught etc, but he’s not a nice person if they are a regular feature.
Yes, I never really understand the 'I absolutely never give my horse treats' thing being so prevalent in horses. I'm pretty sure people aren't nearly so squeamish about using treats to reward dogs. I've met many an amazing horseman/woman who was never found working a horse either in hand or ridden without a pocket full of treats, so I've never really understood it.