Mylie's Clicker Training Journal

[lupinfarm]

I've been looking for a suitable method of training to work on groundwork with Mylie for a little while. Something to get her focused and comfortable with being around me as well as teach her some basic manners and 'tricks' that would proove useful in her day to day handling. Such things as Lifting her feet when asked to do so for the farrier or handler, lowering her head for bridling/haltering (and for exercises), walking correctly on a lead at an acceptable distance, being comfortable with being touched head to toe, nose to rump are all things I want to work on with my mare. Like most horses Mylie is motivated by food and unlike a lot of horses she is respectful when it comes to treat giving, she rarely tries to mug my pocket and usually keeps a nice distance when being offered treats (which is not so often!).

I did some research on trick training and natural horsemanship and decided I liked the idea of clicker training.

What is clicker training

Clicker training is a method of positive reinforcement meant to show your horse when he/she is doing something right. Most horses start off with a targeting game where the handler produces a targeting object (in Mylie's case a pink and purple dandy brush from her own brush box) and asks the horse to touch it with it's nose. Any form of touch is acceptable, be it just a sniff or a full on nudge. When the horse gives the desired behaviour you click your clicker and produce a treat as reward. If the horse does not give the desired behaviour or tries to mug your pocket you do not reward them. Most horses figure out pretty quickly that the only way they're getting that treat is if they tap the object, this makes you into a vending machine. With Mylie, if she tries to mug my pocket I make her take a step back applying pressure to her chest and asking for a back. When she does as told she gets a click and a treat. Not only is she learning to touch the target we're hitting another point which is backing up when asked.

This thread is so I can blog and give you updates on Mylie and my progress through clicker training. Enjoy.

 

[lupinfarm]

Day 1

Today was our first day with clicker training. I went down to the field after collecting my supplies (Dog clicker, Small horse treats, target object) and greeted Mylie by the gate. I held the dandy brush out from my body at arms length and when she sniffed it I clicked and attempted to give her a treat but she walked away. Her disrespecting me like this was not okay, and I called her back (she responds to her name) and I held the brush out again, she sniffed it, I clicked, she got a treat. We did this about 6 times, I had 6 small treats in my pocket. Everytime she got progressively better at recognizing she was getting a treat for touching the brush. Halfway through instead of touching the brush sniffed my pocket and I put my hand on her chest and made her back up, when she had done as asked she got a click and a treat. The next time I held out the brush she tapped it purposefully and waited for her treat, took it politely and then tried to mug my pocket again. Once more I made her back up and she got a click and treat for backing up when asked (With backing up we always associate the touch with the word backup, Mylie knows this command and backs up when you say back up and look like you're going to touch her). On my last treat she nudged the brush as asked perfectly, I clicked when she did it, and then offered a treat. At this point I was out of treats but was satisfied with her progress and left on a good note. I gave her a verbal, Okay we're done, and let her go back to eating hay.

All in all I think our first session was succesful. It was only about 5-8 minutes long but every minute is precious with training like clicker training.

 

[lupinfarm]

Day 2



11 A.M. Session

Length - 10 minutes

Goal - Targeting in front of her nose, and targeting to the side of her nose



This morning I went down to check on the horse waters and pick up Mylie's bale wrap. I started off by calling her to me. She hesitated a little bit I reassured her and she came right up to me eventually. We worked again on targeting the dandy brush in front of her, and she responded well. She made a slight move toward my pocket and I put my hand out and asked her to back up both times. I then got a few good targets out of her. I then asked her to target the brush to the left of her nose which she did, and then to the right and she did. I left on a good note and finished up chores.



3 P.M. Session

Length - 10 minutes

Goal - Targeting in front of her nose, targeting to the side of her nose, and targeting under her nose.



I went down to refill her water and decided to try out her targeting again to see if she'd learnt anything from this morning. I had her targeting the brush in front of her, and then side to side easily. To get her to target down I brought the brush from her eyeline down to underneath her nose near the bottom of her chest, she bumped it and was rewarded with a click and treat. I got her to target down 2 times and the 3rd time she looked like she was going to try to mug my pocket so I asked her to back up and gave her a good girl when she did as asked. At the end of our session I took the brush, put my hand on her halter, and brush her neck a little with it. I then left and filled up her muck bucket.



So far she is learning quickly how to target an object. I'll continue to target until the end of next week at which time I'll assess her progress and decide if we should move on a little.