What treats do you feed when doing ground work?

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Hampshire

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I am very interested in doing some horse agility when I get my new horse as I can't ride for a month or so. What would people suggest as a small treat to use when my horse "gets it right" as a reward? It can't be too big as it will distract from continuation of the movement but obviously something that will present itself as totally irresistible to him / her.
 
I stopped using them with mine as we did ground work to establish that my space isn't her space, but with the treats she was a bargy old sod!! Instead I make sure I verbally praise her - when she eats her tea I say 'good girl' so that she associates the words and tone with something good, then when something goes right, or at least she trys to understand something new then I can praise her without her going 'ohh food, let me barge your pockets for more'!!
 
yeah i had started really simple agility work using treats and my horse completely lost focus on what he was doing and all his attention was towards the treats! when i start doing it again im going to do it without any treats
 
I use Badminton High Fibre Complete Nuggets. Picture: giant-sized horse cubes! Ideal for keeping in your pocket as a discrete treat and a lot cheaper in the long run than buying small packets of 'horse treats'.
 
with my one pony i can only use carrots as anything smaller and i lose my hand but i only use them if needed, i try to keep all hand treats away from him as he can be a bit 'aggressive' with food.
for my other 3 though i use polos, grass nuts, cubes pretty much anything that i can put in my pocket and i don't have any problems with that.
 
I clicker train. I don't feed treat every time. But the feed treat I use is a bucket of herbs. Horse gets to stick her head in and take a mouthful when given the cue.
 
the only treats my horses get are what they find included in their feed. I am totally against 'treats'..they are horses, not dogs and as such (imo) dont associate 'treats' with 'well done'. Any carrots or dandelions given to make ME feel good will be placed in the manger.
 
One of the horses i look after at work required a treat!
When turned out he would rear and spin before galloping off (headcollar and rope often attached)
He now waits for his treat after standing nicely to be undone.

Carrots chopped into sticks are the cheapest by far - Horse treats are madly expensive i think.
 
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