Clicker trained horse fetches stick

I taught Waltzer to fetch in three five-minute sessions of clicker training. He loves to figure out what I want to do and is motivated by treats and attention. Most horses are trained using only negative reinforcement training. I think trainers should also incorporate some positive reinforcement when they work with horses. It makes a horse want to please you.

This is my first video, so I welcome comments and suggestions.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• horse
• trick
• funny
• comedy
• greatstrides
• fetch
• clicker
• training
• clickertraining

[JOKEN11]

How did you get hin to learn to pick up the object? Me and my friend are wanting to teach her horse how to featch, and we can't figure out how to get him to puck the object up? can you give me any help?

[anuttama]

I use a technique called "bridge conditioning," and then break the training into very small segments, rewarding him when he understands each segment. For fetch it might be: puting his nose on the object, touching it with his teeth, grasping it with his teeth, holding it in his mouth etc. Waltzer learn quickly, but most horses can be taught fetch within 10 five minute sessions.

[Pirouette]

wow that was really amazing and reading through how you taught him is also really amazing.. awesome and great job!! really enjoyed watching this :D

[anuttama]

Thank you for your comment. Poor Waltzer had a fall the other day and couldn't put any weight on his left hind. Fortunately he started walking again with two days of stall rest.  I think he fell on his stifle.

[TouzokuKami]

Lovely horse ^.^ My horse has been trained to hug back when you lightly hug around his neck. He puts his head down around you. Kind of cute. I have a video of him but it's not as interesting as yours ^.^ did you use iMovie to make this film?

[anuttama]

Yes, I think we used iMovie. My friend has a Mac and did the editing.

[hyperfocus2011]

@JOKEN11 You start by treats in left or right jacket pocket, so he cant get them and an object of your choice in other hand. touch it to his nose and give him a treat and praise then hold it still about a foot from his nose repeat! Do it till you can drop it on a bench then to the ground! Have fun!

[MultiAnimalcrackers]

Fantastic work:))) my donk & mini pony love to play fetch now...am working on proofing the behaviour with many different items:)

[akyramoto]

Awesome. I've been clicker training my donkeys, they catch on VERY quickly!!! I need to teach them the fetch trick though!! Clicker training REALLY helped with foot work, got my little jennet to finally accept that it's ok for me to touch her feet!! It's been downhill from there, she's always interested in working now.

[firewolf101]

wow I cant even get my dog to look at a stick let alone go get it and bring it back to me. You have my respect for having a horse do it haha

[AphroditeAllure]

Hi! I saw him on dream horse and I absolutely <333 Him! Before I fall head over heels, how much is he?

[georgiabates]

thats awesome :)

he is so cute how he picks the stick back up when he drops it to hand it directly to you :)

very cool well done :)

[JOKEN11]

thank you!

[kittymcpherson]

Well worth 5 stars! Love it well done you!