How many treats a day?

I don't give treats everyday, I tend to use them as an occasional reward. Maybe after standing well for the vet or the farrier, or clipping or something that deserves a thank you. I also use them for bribery if required, I had a nappy pony who was transformed if we stopped for polos frequently out hacking, and also to help loading onto the lorry.
 
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DabDab said:
Most muggy behaviour I've seen develop irl has been as an upshot of using treats as a distraction. So horse is impatient with farrier, and instead of asking them to stand quietly and then giving a reward when they respond to your request, treats are just sort shoved under their nose while they are still knobbing about, to try to get them to stand quietly.
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Absolutely this.
Horses are pretty clever - they soon learn a way to get treats - and it is the responsibility of the handler/rider to work on their own timing, understanding and feel to use treats as rewards. No different in philosophy to giving a scratch for work well done and all training. It does take concentration and skill from the handler to use the system well though.
 
milliepops said:
PAS my muggy one has obviously had a very chequered history so I don't know what her earlier handling was like. I have 3 others that aren't like it, so I very much think it is her, rather than me, that is the cause ;)

She can get so excited about them that she will nip you by mistake, whereas the one in the stable next to her is the most delicate careful horse despite being equally food oriented. Agree that it's definitely something you can improve though, Miss Chompy is looking quite pleased with herself about learning to wait patiently and then she gets the goodies :)
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So, mp, you have decided to teach Miss Chompy (lol), the correct way to behave, i wonder why others refuse to do that.
 
Tbf it's literally in the last week that we've seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Obviously I have never treated her if she's been pushy etc and have always been mindful of when she gets a treat to suit me rather than her. I try hard to not reward any bolshy behaviour, yet she would still lose self discipline now and then.

but I really think the clicker training has made the penny drop. I didn't expect that, perhaps the same applies to other people too?
 
I give them the odd apple or carrot when I feel like it-usually in lieu of an actual feed. Don't use them for training because I doubt my timing is up to it but don't much care what others do. its easy enough to teach a pony not to mug and both of mine are pretty polite. The little fattie Exmoor I had was a lot cheekier and a bit nippy when I got him, he was very quick to learn though and again taught to not mug until some muppet down the road thought it ok to feed him over the fence.
 
milliepops said:
but I really think the clicker training has made the penny drop. I didn't expect that, perhaps the same applies to other people too?
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I have heard of it making the difference with two very tricky horses-both of which were with pros and still difficult. I believe in it but too lazy to get into it. I am a big fan of using shaping plans though. Glad its working for you!
 
That's a good point MP - I have a friend who trains dogs at a rescue centre and uses a clicker. I asked whether she thought the clicker was an essential part of what she does and she said that it was more for her than the dog, because it helped her stay really consistent day after day, even when she was feeling lousy and distracted or whatever.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I do wonder about those people who say their horses get nippy/muggy if they are hand-fed treats. I have always used treats of some kind or another to encourage desirable behaviour. Every horse we have ever had has fully understood that it is the human who is in charge of the treats. We have had plenty of food oriented horses but they have always known to be polite about treats.
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Mine wouldn’t dream of mugging me for them but the presence of them is all he thinks about if he knows they are there. A previous owner taught him to lift a front leg and ‘ask’ for a treat so if head bobbing doesn’t work he will revert to that. I’ve owned him for 9 years now and he’s never been rewarded that way so it just shows how ingrained some things are. He does do the most amazing carrot stretches whilst loose so there are some benefits to having a food obsessed horse.
 
When I catch mine in he gets a treat before and after halter is put on. He used to be difficult to catch so I like to make sure that every time I catch him he gets a well done.
 
Denzel can be quite muggy with treats but I think previously treats were a distraction rather than a reward so it's taken some getting used too and I will freely admit to not being disciplined enough in the early days and will still sometimes lapse into "just because" and my timing can mean that I inadvertently rewarded negative behaviour - but it's all a learning curve! I did attempt clicker training but only really managed to get "look away" nailed and didn't take it any further, maybe I'll reattempt it when he comes back.

My current favourite treat if we're in the stable for stretches is a lick, otherwise he can lunge for the food instead of a gradual movement.
 
milliepops said:
but I really think the clicker training has made the penny drop. I didn't expect that, perhaps the same applies to other people too?
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Clicker training made the penny drop for me! The horse was already paying attention - I had to catch up, and it improved my timing and feel. However, I was taught by someone who was very very good at it, and they had me practice observation and timing away from the horse before I was let loose on my very clever Welshie!

Would always advise anyone new to the concepts to learn to do it properly, think very very carefully about what you use it for.
 
Catching and turnout gets a hay cob. Apple or carrots for stretches after working. But as noted, it depends on the horse and the response. If any mugging behaviour starts treats are stopped pronto so as to avoid creating an issue.
 
My Irish boy only has a treat after being in the school. After a hack, no. He cottoned on to this very early....and of course, my old boy gets one at the same time but I'm not a believer in treats generally. In my experience it leads to bad behaviour.
I do give them a carrot in their bucket feed though....which gets eaten first!
 
My adult Connie gets a mint after being ridden unless he is awful other than that they don’t get anything. My other is a 2yr old gelding who is obsessed with his mouth so absolutely nothing treat wise
 
I do give treats. Both ponies get one as a parting gift when all work is done and they are untacked and about to be turned out. They expect it and I know that look they give me and they are good at waiting for it. I like the Spillers Meadow Herbal treats as they are easy to keep and easy to give and the ponies stand there with dreamy eyes licking their lips for a good few minutes.
I don't tend to treat while riding as I found that as soon as my hand goes to my pocket the pony stops and a nose comes round! However, I do have a lovely steep hill to climb on the farm where I keep them and regularly ride up to the top and then we pause and admire the view and he gets a treat. It was useful for my fitness work as I started to ask for a canter as we got to the top and as he got fitter I asked for the canter earlier and earlier and he was happy to oblige as he knew what he would get when he got to the top!
 
I don't give treats. She has hay ad lib and a handful of chop at night with some vitamins.

Her reward is the release and to feel secure and confident that she knows what she is supposed to be doing and secure that she believes that what I ask is going to be easy for her to complete.
 
WandaMare said:
I don't give treats everyday, I tend to use them as an occasional reward. Maybe after standing well for the vet or the farrier, or clipping or something that deserves a thank you. I also use them for bribery if required, I had a nappy pony who was transformed if we stopped for polos frequently out hacking, and also to help loading onto the lorry.
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I always use treats - the Bailey's fibre nuggets. We used to buy them in a tub but now buy the 20KG bags instead as it works out cheaper - they are exactly the same product so we just save the tubs and re-use them.

. I use them mainly after a ride as way of 'thanking' my horse for being good. Or using for neck stretches which I try and do at least every second day. Also everyone on our row gets a herbal treat every night by my friend (after being initially being okayed with the owners of the horses), mine included. I also treat mine, her horse and her sisters horse on leaving the yard. None of the horses mug us for a treat, they know they would get told off if they did although I can read mine like a book after 15 years together and know straight away when she wants a treat just by looking at her 'looking at me in a particular way'! She is also respectful of the command 'wait'. She will wait patiently for you to get a treat out of your pocket. She will also lift her head from her snackaball and 'wait' whilst you do up her hood or her breast strap of her rug and then carry on when you say 'okay'. Its all about training. That was my late father, that was. He used to give her commands by a gruff tone of voice, but by God did it work!

I used to give liquorice sticks, or strong mints but my EDT warned me about her teeth so use fibre nuggets instead. I know someone who gives her horse 3 or 4 packets of strong mints a day and its come to no harm and doesn't mug her for treats either. Its how you enforce things. Giving treats doesn't mean your horse will become dependent on them or attack you for them either!
 
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Mine gets a few of those herbal sticks that come in the £6 tub when hes caught as hes tricky to catch.

He has apple and carrots in his feed

He isn't technically supposed to as he has Cushing's but he has one of the mini likits occasionally as he enjoys them too much to deny them to him.

He also has most of his evening allocation of nuts in his treat ball.

He doesn't mug you for his feed or treats though- if he did he'd be told off.
 
He is also banned from ever having Swede as both times hes had it hes gone more neurotic and Welsh than normal no idea why!

He adores pears too so gets them every so often.
 
Crazy_cat_lady said:
He is also banned from ever having Swede as both times hes had it hes gone more neurotic and Welsh than normal no idea why!

He adores pears too so gets them every so often.
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isn't it funny, they are all individuals -none of mine will eat swede.
My welsh bites apples perfectly in half, and then in half again, and again.. she's very good at sharing. The WB would yomp them down in one go :rolleyes:
 
I usually give a polo as soon as the horse has finished work and I've dismounted. Rose gets a polo if she stands when I have got on as this has been a bit of an issue with her. I use the command "wait" a lot, so turning out I ask them to wait whilst I take the head collar off and then I'll often give them a herbal treat but not always, they also get something (usually) if they come to the gate when I call them as it saves me walking across the field. Little Fatty would mug me for treats when he first came but he learned "wait" very quickly and it made him a much nicer person to be around. Rose does sniff my pockets but isn't rude about it so for now I'll keep treating.
 
milliepops said:
isn't it funny, they are all individuals -none of mine will eat swede.
My welsh bites apples perfectly in half, and then in half again, and again.. she's very good at sharing. The WB would yomp them down in one go :rolleyes:
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Millie (the new mare) doesn't like parsnips, picked all the bits out of her feed. All of my horses have loved plums and we pass a tree on the way back from the arena so when they have fruit we often stop for a snack. I also stop to pick blackberries out on a hack but i'm as keen on any type of fruit as my horses seem to be.
 
I buy a bag of pony nuts and use three of four nuts as treats at a time. It works out a million times cheaper and healthier than constantly buying Polos and apples.

- I give a treat after I get on (he now stands like a rock and associates the block with a positive thing rather than being a fidget!)
- After he's worked
- When I'm working on desensitising him to the clippers

I taught him that he only gets a treat if he moves his head out of my space. So if he wants a treat he'll look the complete opposite way to where I'm standing. It look about five minutes to teach and is very useful :)
 
SpringArising said:
- I give a treat after I get on (he now stands like a rock and associates the block with a positive thing rather than being a fidget!)
- After he's worked
- When I'm working on desensitising him to the clippers

I taught him that he only gets a treat if he moves his head out of my space. So if he wants a treat he'll look the complete opposite way to where I'm standing. It look about five minutes to teach and is very useful :)
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This absolutely ^^.

I give treats for specific reasons;

- After I get on (to encourage standing still)
- After hard, good work.
- When turning out if he's been in a while (so he doesn't shoot off dangerously when released).
- When I check them once a day if they're out in one of my "wilder" fields (so I don't have to go find them!)

The procedure is always the same, he has to step back and look away, then I put the treat on the ground, then I tell him he can eat it. I never hand feed. This is with my current food-obsessed lot (ex food-agressive cob and young daughters rescue pony who is not "nippy" and I want it to stay that way), with my old mare I wasn't so strict on the "treat giving" process and would occasionally hand feed.

Teaching the stepping back and look away is really handy as it carries over into other things, for instance if I'm moving the electric fence when strip grazing they will tend to do it then too rather than trying to get through the fence and being a pain.

As regards what I use, it depends on the context. If its just a quick treat, a small piece of apple or carrot, if I want them to take a bit longer then anything really (half a swede, half a banana, a piece of pear..). I would never give a whole carrot or apple to mine but they are both sugar-sensitive.
 
I also have no problem with treating, despite my horse being the mouthiest horse in the world.

I turn two out together which means they both have to turn in unison so I can close the electric fence. They then wait, have their headcollars removed, the bottom strand of fence fastened, and a mint. They both wait patiently, accept the mint and then amble off. If one doesn't wait for a mint, I don't go after it.

My horse hates having his forelock brushed so I routine offer a couple of fibre nuggets so that he lowers his head. He gets them, I brush forelock and if he's spectacularly still, he might get another nugget.

They both get a mint after working, usually as we dismount on returning to the yard. This has the benefit that my horse will follow my friend into the yard and "park" himself at his tie-up point while I shut the big gates behind us.

They then both get a mint when we turn the lights out and leave for the night.

Both of them will occasionally check pockets but neither is particularly persistent or pushy. My horse was a proper biter when he arrived but, other occasionally being slightly too enthusiastic when receiving a treat, he is generally polite and gentle when given one.
 
Mine don't get treats every day - in the winter at least. They will have something when they've earned something - either when I finish riding or they've behaved (particularly the more bolshy one) to be clipped etc. I tend to use the Baileys treats that come in a big bucket. The latest bucket has lasted about 8 months so far (for 3 horses) which shows how few I use. They do get a few more in the summer because they live out on 18 acres and it's easier to get them to come to me than vice versa. The treats tend to make that happen. One shout and they're on their way. It also means they'll stand to be checked over without me having to put a head collar on or tie them up.
 
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