Video: Clicker Training Beginnings.

AShetlandBitMeOnce

AShetlandBitMeOnce

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I have started to do some clicker training with Jacob so I thought that I would start a thread to track any progress with it. The hope is that it will both help manners, and is something we can do to entertain his (and my) body and mind briefly if the weather is vile and I can’t ride. I have never done it before and have been reading and watching YouTube videos on it, so I’m sure I’m not perfect but it seems to be working a little.. I can only do my best, so please forgive me!

Day 1: I ‘loaded’ the clicker noise in the stable. Click then treat and repeat until he knows that the sound means something good is coming.

Day 2: Again in the stable, I clicked for a forward facing head which was relaxed but attentive. Not in my personal space (work in progress) and not searching me for treats.

Day 3: This time we went into the school. I was working on him keeping out of my personal space when walking as we would when in a leading/standing type scenario. ‘Walk on’ was the verbal queue to walk with me, and ‘woah’ with an arm out is the queue to stop. He can be quite unaware of his size. I kept it very simple and just did this. I also reinforced ‘back’ which is something he already knows really, but chooses to ignore a lot of the time.

Day 4 (today): A lot of the same, this time headcollar-less. I also added in some ‘trot on’, more for my fun other than any useful purpose. I’m aware I don’t want to rush him, so I did very little. Small video below - it may appear that I click late on the ‘woah’ but I am clicking the woah once he is out of my personal space and relaxed, and he does take a step back to correct himself and is learning where he should be.

It’s just a little fun, but I’m shocked at how quickly he has taken it all on board - he is also super willing to work with me and remains focus (which will largely be food based, but I make sure he has his dinner just before so he won’t be desperate and frustrated for the fibre cubes I am using as a reward).

Does anyone else clicker train?

 
Great video showing the basics of it working. He’s listening to you, and thats what counts, despite it being because there is reward coming, it helps train him to listen, concentrate, and do as asked.
I know reward with food training has diverse views but ive experienced that its great to get a distracted animal to focus on you, repeated vocal commands help them remember what you want even when there is no reward, and eventually no rewards are required.
In the end i give a mixture of rewards for a job well done to any animal, petting, treats or something else that specific animal really likes, even after well trained, when no ‘treat’ is required.

He’s a lovely horse and he’s so lucky to have you!
 
Yes I have clickers trained .... the really important thing (which took me a while to understand) is that it must be progressive so eventually the click can be withdrawn. To be fair you look as if you have got that ... and it is a great video. Love liberty work it feels amazing!
 
Me, I play about in the field with my horse doing bits and pieces
He is clicker savey
I have just started training him to go round a barrel
We use a target, lid of a suppliment tub, I clicked and rewarded him for nose touching the target to start with, then I walked a few steps round the barrel holding the target out so he followed it then nose touched.
Yesterday we started working on me standing still and him following the target partly round the barrel
He is loose in his field so can bugger off if he chooses ?
So far he has chosen to stay with me and play
I can also chuck to target a few paces away and tell him to 'touch' and he will walk over and put his nose on it, maybe that's something you could try with your horse?
Little video from our first attempt at sending him round yesterday

 
Thank you - I'm glad it appears as though I am largely doing it in the right way!

TRECtastic said:
Me, I play about in the field with my horse doing bits and pieces
He is clicker savey
I have just started training him to go round a barrel
We use a target, lid of a suppliment tub, I clicked and rewarded him for nose touching the target to start with, then I walked a few steps round the barrel holding the target out so he followed it then nose touched.
Yesterday we started working on me standing still and him following the target partly round the barrel
He is loose in his field so can bugger off if he chooses ?
So far he has chosen to stay with me and play
I can also chuck to target a few paces away and tell him to 'touch' and he will walk over and put his nose on it, maybe that's something you could try with your horse?
Click to expand...

That's great, I was wondering whether, having so far trained him to be at my side, that I would be able to teach him to go off and do something, but this is a great shout. I'll have to find something for him to touch - I did a little with a green piece of card I had handy, on the end of a schooling whip, but I gave it up as it kept falling off :p
 
I clicker train. I love it! I've not done it consistently for absolutely ages, probably more than a year. Yet I took Bobs in the school this morning and ran through everything we used to do, and she'd forgotten nothing! I didnt even have a clicker so was using voice clicks instead. I'm going to do more of it with her. I find it the most amazing technique. It gets them on board, focused and listening but encourages them to work things out and offer up behaviours. Bobbie will often try and problem solve to work out what I want in every day life. with no clicker or treat involved. Thats the sort of horse I want. One who wants to work with you but can still think for themselves!
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
Thank you - I'm glad it appears as though I am largely doing it in the right way!



That's great, I was wondering whether, having so far trained him to be at my side, that I would be able to teach him to go off and do something, but this is a great shout. I'll have to find something for him to touch - I did a little with a green piece of card I had handy, on the end of a schooling whip, but I gave it up as it kept falling off :p
Click to expand...

You can teach them to do anything. Bobbie has a cue for stand where she has to stay still and not move her feet while I move about, and then another cue for come here, which means she comes to me and follows. Two conflicting things, but cued differently so she knows the difference. Its a very basic example, but so long as you break everything down, theres nothing you cant teach them.

I'm going to get her doing some spanish walk and bowing now. The cob I had previously used to do a really terrible, stumpy legged spanish walk. Shes a bit leggier so I'm hoping she will look a bit more elegant!
 
Leo Walker said:
You can teach them to do anything. Bobbie has a cue for stand where she has to stay still and not move her feet while I move about, and then another cue for come here, which means she comes to me and follows. Two conflicting things, but cued differently so she knows the difference. Its a very basic example, but so long as you break everything down, theres nothing you cant teach them.

I'm going to get her doing some spanish walk and bowing now. The cob I had previously used to do a really terrible, stumpy legged spanish walk. Shes a bit leggier so I'm hoping she will look a bit more elegant!
Click to expand...

The thought of a stumpy legged Spanish Walk made me chuckle, bless! Would be good to see a video once you have it underway!

Stand was something I was musing over this evening on the way back, that would be super useful, especially when we are doing gates when ridden - as we are not great at those yet. I am hoping the skills can be transferable fairly easy.
 
I taught it as its a vital skill for a driving pony, but its just generally useful. I also taught her to pick her feet up when I point at them, which saves my back when I pick them out
 
Thank you for sharing. I was, I guess, doing target training with Cam today. He is field sound, and while I like to do some liberty work with him, I am also aware that I don't want to make him move unless he is happy to do so, so have been doing some other stuff as well. I was using the big gym ball. Today he learnt that he needs to touch it with his nose and then he will get a single grass nut!! It took him a few minutes, but after 15 minutes I could move the ball a metre or so from him and stand in a different direction and he worked out he needed to touch it then come back to me. It's lovely how they cotton on, even if it is to get a reward for what they do. That said, that's how we work mostly too! :) xx
 
I’ve done a little bit on clicker training but confused how this can be used to full train a horse for riding.

I was reading up a little last night and it emphasised the use of R+ With no pressure and release. But to ride a horse you need pressure and release? Legs on/off, reins etc. Am I being thick haha? But I can’t see how you train a horse for riding without pressure and release.
 
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