Building Confidence Hacking Out with Clicker Training - Spooky Horse, New Place, First Time XC Jumps

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3 жыл бұрын

Behind-the-scenes view of how we train our horses when we're out hacking and dealing with real-world scenarios.
All of our training is done using positive reinforcement, or clicker training. We aim to keep the horses feeling good and enjoying the things we do with them. Both horse and human need to happy about the exercise in order to have a positive experience together. Sometimes that means that we take things slowly to build the rider's confidence or skill and sometimes we change plans to work at the right place for the horse. This builds the best connection ever and means that your time with your horse is always fun for both of you!
We took India and Heather to a woodland with some xc fences in it. My plan had been to jump India over XC fences for the first time but, for some reason, she was quite anxious and spooky when we unloaded. I walked with her for a while to help her settle - walking together, targeting spooky objects and exploring from the ground, is a great way to connect with your horse and help them to calm down in a new or challenging environment.
Later on, I was able to mount and we found some tiny logs to introduce the horses to cross-country jumps. Heather isn't really up for jumping yet, so Rachel worked on some confidence and body-awareness building exercises over the logs. India did really well jumping logs for the first time.
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#horseclickertraining #positivereinforcementhorsetraining #rewardbasedhorsetraining

Пікірлер: 21

@wirepuppy 3 жыл бұрын

They are both really good riding over grass without pulling down the whole time. Whereas both of them immediately started grazing when they were unloaded. Well done!

@ConnectionTraining 3 жыл бұрын

We've worked a LOT on this one, especially with Heather who is, errrm, very into food!

@sidilicious11 3 жыл бұрын

That was the most relaxed trailer unloading I’ve seen. What beautiful place you have to ride! I also used CT and love it.

@celinebnnelykke629 Жыл бұрын

Thanks a million, so good to see and really helpful for myself!!

@ConnectionTraining Жыл бұрын

You're so welcome!

@JenniNellist 3 жыл бұрын

I am a Heather fan, definitely ❤️🐎

@venlakirahvi 3 жыл бұрын

That's life, nobody is always at their best. I totally agree that slowing down when the horse needs it makes the overall progress faster! Plus I feel it deepens the trust between you and your horse.

@emilieguillon-equitation421 3 жыл бұрын

Rachel I sympathize. Sometimes it's just hard to climb on and you should get your own back and film Heather when she doesn't look so élégant 😀😀

@passionatehorsemanship3334 3 жыл бұрын

That was great! I am going on a group trail ride tomorrow. And my new horse is anxious away from the barn and he is not used to long trips. So watching this really helps me want to connect with him so he is heard and I will listen and if he isn't ready I will listen. Thank you so much! I am just getting into positive reinforcement training.

@dreamzofhorses 2 жыл бұрын

I wish we had “trailers” in the US like you have in the UK. They seem so much simpler, comfortable and safer as well.

@chloebailey7036 3 жыл бұрын

That looked fun. It was great to see the two horses at different emotional states and how they both ended up relaxed.

@felicitytoad 2 жыл бұрын

🐎

@gemmahackney806 3 жыл бұрын

My horse is the same with going in to the woods unfortunately I was on him out alone and he just wasn’t sure that everything was ok and turned around very quick (napping) nearly had me off and just wouldn’t stop and claim down. I manage to get off but he just wanted to get to the yard.

@shevhunter986 3 жыл бұрын

What type of saddle does heather have on please - looks very comfy thanks - brilliant video

@ConnectionTraining 3 жыл бұрын

She is being ridden in a free n easy. It's a panelled saddle. Very hard to find a good saddle for her since she has such a flat back, but she seems very happy in this one, though it does slip very easily since she's barrel-shaped... They are also good because they can be adjusted a lot to ensure they fit year-round. However, we're always keeping our eyes open for better options in all regards, and a well-fitting saddle changes everything.

@flaviahermo249 3 жыл бұрын

Once the horse is used to, for example, going over a trunk, do you keep rewarding him for doing it? I’m just starting training my filly with positive reinforcement and we are going out on trails together (not riding, just walking on a lead rope) and im rewarding her curiosity and bravery over obstacles and other stimulus that could scare her. Once she is used to them and have gone through them a couple times, I’m I supposed to keep rewarding her for doing it??

@maddalenahylton 3 жыл бұрын

I really want to ride my gelding using positive reinforcement but I’m too worried about poisoning cues. Is it true that you aren’t supposed to squeeze then when they go forward treat? Even if I can’t do that I would love to just bring food and Periodically feed him when he doesn’t spook at something, stops when I ask ect. Is that doable? I’d love to incorporate it into my trail riding. Could you please make a video about riding with +R?

@ConnectionTraining 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Lena, great questions and a great idea, I'll do that! I use leg cues when I ride - my horses all respond to squeeze for forwards, one leg on to go sideways etc. I also teach and use rein aids, both bitted and bitless. The key is more about how the horse feels - are they relaxed and understand the cue? Then, great! use it! Or, do they get tense, anxious or resistant? If so, then it needs a little work on that cue and behaviour to find some positive emotions. I also always aim for 'better not perfect' or 'connection not perfection'. It's real life, so perfection is impossible to achieve. You'll nearly always start out with a messy behaviour, some confusion, some tension, especially when you're working on a problematic area. That's totally normal! But we want it to be improving in a process which is fun for both of you. So, yes, you can certainly start marking and rewarding when you ride for moments when your horse responds well to your cues or a certain situation. You'll find some areas improve drastically just doing that, whereas others will need a bit more work and maybe some re-training. You'll find out through the process :-) Oh and a note on poisoned cues - they are any cue or behaviour that is associated with negative emotions by the horse. In +R training, they are often shown when the horse does something for the food but doesn't feel good about it, so you get that conflict (eg following a target but also pinning their ears). Because we train from an emotional perspective rather than a behaviourist one, this is much easier to avoid: Is the horse tense in some way? Yes, let's change something! Or is the horse relaxed? Yes, then we're ok! Or is the horse less tense/more relaxed than they were? Yes, then we're on the right track.

@maddalenahylton 3 жыл бұрын

Connection Training thank you so much!

@epona9166 3 жыл бұрын

Idk about treating when a horse doesn't spook. A horse not spooking is something I'd just be glad for but ignore! In my experience, what the women were doing in this video, having their horses target something that looked scary, is HUGE. I do that with my horse on the trail, especially if I'm alone. Horses don't like to go out alone, but if they can look forward to playing games on the trail, they are more willing. My horse is, at least. I do it with one-off things that look scary, and then I also do it with certain permanent things on a given trail that we always target. A mailbox, a sculpture, a big rock, etc. He will walk right up to [whatever] and target it, and it's something that he decides, not me. And something they said in the video which bears underscoring is that if a horse looks askance at something, the second you ask them to target it, they relax. They correctly figure that it isn't going to eat them, and over time their confidence in you -- that you will take care of them --automatically builds.