| The process of a clicker training horse program uses | | | | and the treat motivation for the horse. |
| operant conditioning. The name of the training program | | | | The clicker is ideal for training liberty work or any horse |
| comes from the conditioned re-enforcer that is used | | | | behavior that doesn't require direct physical contact |
| (the click or other marker signal) paired with a primary | | | | with the horse through either body or equipment. The |
| re-enforcer (food or something the horse values). | | | | clicker is an ideal way to build your horse's confidence |
| This way the trainer can mark correct behavior with | | | | and change their attitude toward handling and riding. |
| the clicker and then use positive reinforcement to help | | | | The clicker provides you with a clear way to |
| the animal identify its correct responses. The clicker | | | | communicate with your horse and a positive way of |
| training horse program encourages the horse to take | | | | training horses that have emotional difficulties ranging |
| an active role in the learning process and provides a | | | | from aggressive to scared. |
| basis for the trainer and horse to have a positive | | | | When people think of clicker training they tend to think |
| partnership. | | | | of the free shaping method first. This is where you |
| For many their first exposure to clicker training is at a | | | | wait for the animal to perform a specific behavior and |
| dolphin show at the aquarium, a dog agility | | | | then click while providing a treat. This marks the |
| performance at the park or a trained animal in the | | | | behavior for the horse and makes them more likely to |
| circus or zoo. While this form of clicker training is | | | | repeat that behavior in the future. |
| fascinating and interesting, many don't interact with their | | | | The second type of clicker training horse method is |
| horses this same way. | | | | known as molding. This is when you physical put the |
| Often trainers don't require horses to work at a | | | | horse or a part of the horse into a position you want. |
| distance or to perform complicated maneuvers without | | | | For example, if you are teaching the horse to step on |
| being in contact with a human. In fact, most of the time | | | | a mat then you could place the foot on the mat |
| horse handling is going to require the contact of a | | | | yourself. This is helpful for horses that are calm about |
| human. So why is there a clicker training horse | | | | training and don't offer any form of behavior. |
| program and why does it work well for horse? | | | | Lastly, there is the most common method of clicker |
| Why Does It Work | | | | training with horses. Clicker training allows you to use |
| The best thing about a clicker horse program is that it | | | | the same aids of horse training that require direct |
| is extremely flexible. For most trainers you simply have | | | | contact with the horse, but you don't need to add |
| to add the click and treat to your existing training | | | | pressure in order to get the desired response. |
| methods. By adding these two things to your training | | | | This is an excellent way to teach horses to become |
| method you will make the lesson clearer to your horse | | | | responsive without needing to increase pressure to the |
| so that training becomes easier and the trainer can | | | | point that you or the horse are uncomfortable or |
| build behaviors in smaller steps. | | | | cause a negative reaction from the horse. The clicker |
| However, when you want to go beyond the basics a | | | | training horse method that you choose to use will |
| clicker training horse program will also help you to train | | | | depend on your unique and individual horse training |
| your horse in other methods that would otherwise be | | | | methods as well as the temperament of your individual |
| too difficult to do without the precision of the clicker | | | | horse. |