'Trick training' and the like...

Jackson

Jackson

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Looking on the baileys website, they had this video on their video page.

Okay, aside from the awful music, you could say it was entertaining.

I had never actually seen a horse doing tricks before. Heard about it, been fairly against it due to all of the treat feeding and striking out, etc, but not actually seen it in a video like that. I would never, ever teach mine to rear... but dare I say it... some of the things done in that video looked quite fun :eek:

I mean.. the horse in the video looked a bit embarrassed/fed up/bored, but I can imagine that adding a few 'tricks' in to a groundwork session would give a horse something new to keep it interested... Teaching to stand on the pedestal thing, or at least put o hoof up could be a challenge!

But again there are the reasons why I never liked it in the first place... what do you think?
 
If the horse is relaxed and happy I've got nothing against it. I'm not sure when it became a rule that horses were for riding, but there are other ways that people enjoy their time with them and doing some tricks is one of them. I know some here will pour scorn, but honestly, as long as horse and person are happy together I don't think there's much to criticise.
I have some friends who use clicker with treats as training aids (I don't), and they don't appear to have any problems with their horses striking out at them, or with getting accidentally bashed about while "tricks" are performed.
 
I have to say that as an example of "trick training" I do not find it entertaining or pleasant to watch at all, not because of the "tricks" but because the horse is held tight and does not look relaxed into the moves .. the intention of the handlers seem more to keep in time to the music than to let the horse relax and perform.

as to the tricks....

... the jambette / spanish walk is a classical move that many would not consider a "trick" ... and might even be insulted at the suggestion.

I would not teach a rear either as you have to have it very very reliably on cue so its not offered as and when..... and make sure its not a cue someone might accidetnaly give.

I dont think the teaching of "tricks" or the use of treats ( whether used in clicker training or not) cause any problems if managed correctly........and can be very useful in helping a horse how to learn , to think and to have some fun . It can also be useful before ridden work is begun, to enhance groundwork, to keep horses mentally alert when not ridden etc etc etc.



It is my opinion that the word "tricks" is a variable term ........ the definition of what constitutes a "trick" or what constitutes "high school movement" or that constitutes "grand prix dressaage" can be a handful of jelly :D :D :D
 
Well I'll stick my neck out and say that my pony is trained to do almost all of those tricks (I won't specify which) and I was amused by the video, though it was a little inelegant (horse held tight / lots of rope waving etc) - would have been infinitely better if the horse had been at liberty. I prefer training at liberty - there's not feeling you're forcing them into it! I haven't had problems with any of mine performing tricks unasked for...
 
I have a goal of teaching my horse to pick up a crop from the floor. He loves having things in his mouth anyway and I think it will be a realy useful skill so if I drop my stick I dont have to get off!
Watch this space :)
 
smiggy said:
I have a goal of teaching my horse to pick up a crop from the floor. He loves having things in his mouth anyway and I think it will be a realy useful skill so if I drop my stick I dont have to get off!
Watch this space :)
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Haha! that's a great one..

Tazzle, I can't watch your video on this computer, but I will come back and do so when I am on another!

Hmm, JFTD, that was another worry of mine. But if your horse doesn't randomly bow down, or whatever for attention/to evade something then I don't know...
 
I can honestly say he has never bowed when I've been riding or handling him without being asked...

bow2-1.png


During training, if he doesn't understand what I'm asking, he will offer something he does know how to do, but never in an aggressive / pushy way, and he's never done it when I've been handling normally / riding / jumping... But I guess it depends how clearly you train and how well you define training sessions :D
 
Jackson said:
I would never, ever teach mine to rear...
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Sorry, but this bugs me. There is nothing wrong with teaching a horse the cue to go up - if a horse is taught correctly and understands his cues then he will not rear unless asked to do so.

In my opinion a horse that rears should be taught to go up. On cue. especially if it is out of high spirits - I automatically take it as read that the usual mantra has been chanted and checked - tack, teeth, back, eyes, rider, history blah blah blah

My mini started rearing up and striking out before he was gelded, I taught him a cue and now he only does it when asked. I had an arab that would rear at you, same result.

The only problem with selling on horses that have been taught 'tricks' (isn't that what it all is anyway?) is that they have to go with an instruction manual and preferably a DVD (or whatever is currently appropriate) as well.
 
what the difference between teaching a horse to bow and say, piaffe? turn on the forehand? and, in fact, a rear is FAR more natural to a horse than most dressage moves..
 
Roo knows a few basic tricks, but he only does them on command and only for me. Tellling him to wait for his dinner and only go over and eat when told "OK" could be seen as a trick or the fact that on the lead rope he matches my speed exactly stops immediately I do etc without using the lead rope at all to indicate what I want, but this is just considered as basic manners so I do not get barged or stood on. However I taught them the same as I taught the tricks it is just an extension of groundwork, he does not distinguish them. All of it keeps him thinking.

I do not think "tricks" are necessarily wrong you just have to consider any probs they may cause before teaching them. He kisses me good night and then waves when I close his door - he never does this unless I am actually leaving. I taught the wave as someone had previously tried teaching him the start of Spanish walk from the ground and I got tired of him snatching his legs up when trying to put his boots on so put a command on it, which very successfully sorted it.
 
Enfys said:
Sorry, but this bugs me. There is nothing wrong with teaching a horse the cue to go up - if a horse is taught correctly and understands his cues then he will not rear unless asked to do so.

In my opinion a horse that rears should be taught to go up. On cue. especially if it is out of high spirits - I automatically take it as read that the usual mantra has been chanted and checked - tack, teeth, back, eyes, rider, history blah blah blah

My mini started rearing up and striking out before he was gelded, I taught him a cue and now he only does it when asked. I had an arab that would rear at you, same result.

The only problem with selling on horses that have been taught 'tricks' (isn't that what it all is anyway?) is that they have to go with an instruction manual and preferably a DVD (or whatever is currently appropriate) as well.
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Agree with this. It also irritates me when people say its dangerous to teach them to rear, its not like a horse isn't already capable of going up. Its the same as any other behaviour you train. I actually have one that goes up on cue, he was using it as an evasion, I never feel unsafe or like he's going to go over.

Its like anything in training. If I had a horse that evaded by going backwards, then I'd make it back up, you take control of a behaviour and they'll realise they can't use it against you.
 
JFTD said:
I can honestly say he has never bowed when I've been riding or handling him without being asked...

bow2-1.png


During training, if he doesn't understand what I'm asking, he will offer something he does know how to do, but never in an aggressive / pushy way, and he's never done it when I've been handling normally / riding / jumping... But I guess it depends how clearly you train and how well you define training sessions :D
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Is this just not another way for a Highland Pony to not do any work!!!!!
 
I didn't like that vid, but have no problems with "trick" training if the horses and people are happy. I don't really understand why some regard it so differently to the other training we do with horses, such as for riding or driving.
 
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