Positive Reinforcement Training- Horses with Food and Ground Manners

Positive Reinforcement Behavioural Training
I use a Clicker Toy, Treats and Simple Body Language to teach my horse new behaviours

When Coco first came to live with us, he was unwell, very emotional and had no body weight.
In short, he was an extremely abused horse, physically and emotionally.
Coco's past had taught him to fight for his food, that human interactions were not nice, which understandably, left Coco with very little 'ground manners' and a defensive attitude.

Coco used to barge past and over us, charge our other horse and aggressively mug the feed we were carrying at feed time.
It was not nice to be in the yard with him at certain times and in fact it was quite dangerous.
I had to think of a way to 'help' Coco gain some confidence, so he could learn some Ground Manners
I decided to teach Coco two new separate behaviours
1/ Head Down- be calm and stay focused
2/ Step back out of My Space Please -- keep an arms lengths of space between us
Once Coco had learnt both behaviours and learnt cues for me to ask him for the behaviours, I then 'combined' the two seperate behaviours to make one new 'chain behaviour'

Enjoy watching Coco as he 'demonstrates' his new learnt chain behavior and what a difference Positive Trainings has made to his life, for the better !!
As I am approaching the gate to enter his yard, already Coco is 'offering' to me, his head down while in the same moment, he is backing 'away' from the gate to give me room to enter.
He is now using his 'very nice' Ground Manners.
At feed time, yet again Coco offers me some beautiful 'ground manners', he steps back to allow me to bring his dinner 'peacefully' into is stable
Coco truly is becoming a pleasure to have around and a joy to interact with.
With a little planning and a 'lot of Positivity', you can teach any horse to overcome 'any' unwanted behaviours...
The joys of Clicker Training :o))

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Horses
• Positive
• Clicker
• Thoroughbreds
• Manners
• Rescue
• Retired
• Head Down
• Feel
• Liberty
• Ground Work
• horse
• jumping
• riding
• pony
• stand

[twilightingX]

I have always been told hand feeding treats to a food aggressive horse is a very bad idea. Is there a way of teaching a horse to not be food aggressive without hand feeding treats?

My new mare is off the charts food aggressive! Although its not aimed at me she will knock anyone in her path out of the way to get to the food. She is 17hh so it would be like being rammed by a tank if I ever got in her way. All her field mates in her old field had torn rugs from her biting them. She also ear pins

[abirdslife]

@twilightingX Thanks for asking for help. My horse in this video is 16hh and he was also very food aggressive when we rescued him as he had been deprived of food.He has good manners now. I suggest to join this group where many clicker trainers can help with your questions. You can use the 'meal' as the reward. I have a link to my Facebook Page on my Youtube Profile page. Would love you to join us and there is a lot of help there, just simpy post your question. Cheryl x

[twilightingX]

@abirdslife I will taake a look. I willhave to join the group through my sons account as I don't have facebook :)

thanks x

[abirdslife]

@twilightingX you are very welcome !

[abirdslife]

@abirdslife just a note, treating horses during training actually creates fantastic manners around food with horses. The reason for this is- once a horse has learned 'why' he is getting a treat, he will also learn that no food will be given until 'he has done something to 'earn' that food (treat)'. hope that helps :o))

[MultiAnimalcrackers]

coco is very lucky to have found some one who can help him understand what he should be doing. fantastic job:))

[abirdslife]

@MultiAnimalcrackers Thankyou Kath, we are also lucky to have met Coco and learn some more from him :o))

[twilightingX]

@abirdslife I will take a look. I will have to join the group through my sons account as I don't have facebook :)

thanks x