Teaching your horse "tricks"

[Nakita]

Hi all

Was just wondering if anyone has any good sites or books with info on teaching horse tricks. Since Emma is only one I'd love to just have a bit of fun and teach her a few tricks, think she would love it & pick it up very quickly!
I'm sure I once seen in Kelly Marks or Monty Roberts book how teach your horse to bow?

 

[BobbyMondeo]

There is a really nice video on HorseHero about teaching your horse tricks

found the link for you http://www.horsehero.com/39906

 

[Show Girl]

Don't know of any books, but have taught mine a few tricks:
Jock will give you a snog (literally) if you ask, as long as he gets a mint, if you ask him if he's a good boy he will lift his off side front leg up again for a mint, if you undo the bolt on his door and ask him to 'push the door open' he will which comes in handy when struggling with wheelbarrow !
Dexter is a bit thicker so will only do kisses for a mint, but he does get his tongue out whilst heading straight for your lips !
Lou Lou is only a baby really, but we are starting to learn 'kiss' she will now put her nose up to you when you ask - a year ago I wouldn't have wanted my face anywhere near hers I'd have been savaged !

 

[Nakita]

Lol thanks
Well I'm not sure, I googled it & really everything requires treats & I have refrained from giving Emma any treats :\ Maybe I will practice my trick training on my shetland first ...
Shetland doing a spanish walk - could be interesting

 

[Dogstar]

Don't teach your horse to 'shake hands'- if he/she is like my horse they will spend the next 16 years knee capping you and you will regret it- a lot!

 

[Llewellyn]

Hey my ponies always learn some tricks. Hehe! Pushing open gates on hacks etc.
However I would advise not teaching your horse to 'beg'.
A pony I used to have to work with was taught to point its foot when it wanted a treat. Ye was great for dinner guests to come and laugh but everyday when the little darling did it got some cracking bruises on my foot and legs. Especially in the lorry, stable or anytime you couldn't jump out of the way in time.

 

[Crazydancer]

Don't teach your horse to 'shake hands'- if he/she is like my horse they will spend the next 16 years knee capping you and you will regret it- a lot!

I second that!! Tried to teach my ArabxWelsh to spanish walk, after an argument with my then b/f who was teaching his Andalusian....said my horse was equally as clever. Har har. Yup, since then, whenever I ask him to do something, and he's not entirely sure, up flies a front leg....... and still doing it over 10 years later.....

 

[Crazydancer]

One trick that was worth teaching though was to back-up for treats.... stopped him being bargy, and now does it when I say 'ask nicely'!!!

 

[tallyho!]

How much????!!!!!

 

[NeedNewHorse]

Yep, I taught my mare all the tricks shown on the horsehero website posted ealier in the thread. I also brought a book of amazon, recommended by someoneo on here. It's really good, I have took my mare to grad a hanky from my back pocket!! Love showing people this, but then I am quite sad!

It's great fun, especially in winter when the school is frozen and there is little else to do in the evening, so I will start again this winter with some more.

x

 

[Dizzyblonde99]

I like youtube, there are quite a few nice videos on there showing you tricks I taught pony to bow for a treat

 

[cyberhorse]

Teaching kissing is easy and it is a good trick which does not become a pain. I agree with leaving the legs alone I started trying to teach my gelding Spanish walk (only in the school not in the stable) he is now a pain when you try to put his boots on as he thinks it is "helpful" to lift his legs. Can also get you cracked in the face by a large knee. Would never do it again!!

A good "trick" which is actually only just good manners is teaching them to wait with an open door/for feed and giving them an OK command to release. Won't look as fancy but REALLY helpful.

 

[Bills]

Be careful with the 'bow'
We had a mare on our yard that used to bow in hand and while being ridden, it looked great BUT when she was being nappy on the road (which was all the time) she would just drop down into the bow! It was not only very annoying but really dangerous! She used to just do it without warning in the end! Nightmare!

 

[Enfys]

www.imagineahorse.com

My bibles:

lAlexandra Kurland - clicker training for horses. VERY informative and interesting book.

You can train your horse to do anything-Shawna and Vinton Karrasch

Trickonometry. Trick training by numbers, literally. I can't remember the name of the author offhand.

All good books, heavy on the safety aspect, and deal with general training and behavioural issues as well as 'tricks'

We trick train our horses from the moment we lay hands on them if you think about it really. Nothing complicated about it at all.

Have fun.