Panda: A Clicker Trained Assistance Horse, of Course

Watch the amazing miniature horse Panda as she is trained to become an amazing assistance animal! Alexandra shows us footage from Panda's ... all » first training session and we are able to watch as Panda grows and learns to become a trustworthy partner.

From Alexandra Kurland's DVD HORSES: An Introduction To Clicker Training. http://www.clickertraining.tv

"Clicker training" is the popular term for the training or teaching method based on what we know about how living organisms learn.

Research has shown that any creature—whether a dog, cat, dolphin, parrot, fish, horse, llama, or person—is more likely to learn and repeat actions that result in consequences it desires and enjoys. So clicker trainers provide consequences desired by their animal in exchange for actions or behaviors desired by their trainers.

We call these consequences "rewards" and the process is called "reinforcement." Clicker training, therefore, is a positive-reinforcement-based system of training.

First widely used by dolphin trainers who needed a way to teach behavior without using physical force, operant conditioning (the scientific term for clicker training) can be and has been successfully employed with animals of all sizes and species, both domesticated and wild, young and old; all breeds of dogs and puppies, cats, birds, leopards, rats, rabbits, chinchillas, fish, and more.

Clicker trainers who learn the underlying principles have at their disposal a powerful set of tools that enable them to analyze behaviors, modify existing methods for individual animals, and create new methods where none previously existed. This flexibility allows the tools of clicker training to be re-invented in new forms that work in a range of situations, and for an infinite variety of animals.

The same principles have also been applied to training for athletes, dancers, skaters, and other people. Called "TAGteach," this form of training uses a click as a marker signal to teach precise physical motions quickly, accurately, and positively.

More information can be found at http://www.clickertraining.com

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• clicker
• training
• miniature
• horse
• assistance
• guide
• blind

[smilinwiebke]

I think it is too early to start training a horse aged less than a year. Considering that these miniature horses can live 30 years and more, it would not be that much a loss of time to wait until its at least 2 years...

[Lindabejb]

Is it a Fallabella?

[alvorada]

One of the major advantages is a horses lifespan - miniatures in particular can live 1/3 longer than domesticated large breed horses. That generally means 35+ years. Not only are horses one of the most intelligent mammals on earth, they can be trained at a very young age and have a long, successful service life. Compare that to the average service dog life, at least half that, and it becomes more worthwhile to train a service mini.

[ManzanitaCrow]

My cat has plenty of 'intelligent disobedience' but it's not in my service :-) What a lovely, clever pony!

[Orcaberbrandy]

Fantastic.

[milliesos]

waw amazing

buy why use a pony

[darste2]

Panda is house trained. She rings a bell when

she needs to go out. And, she does have a stall for normal overnights when she's not working. You house train them just like you do children.

[horsekimmie]

i love it

[DoctorDick71]

Interesting idea, but how do you housebreak her?

[MCRtheblakparade737]

I have a mini, Jaffa Cake. She can do so much, like nod yes or no, bow, dance, (not really) and so on. I never teach her if she doesnt want to be taught though, i dont force her to do anything. Sometimes she gets into the house! (!!!)

I think they are great guide animals and tracerace is so wrong.