Wonder Pets All Animal Training

01/08/2024

Happy pony birthday to Tamiya, the only pony we have that doesn't have a recorded birthday.

31/07/2024

This video is from a couple years ago when Sparkles first came here showing the difference before and after a little bit of training to take oral meds.

28/07/2024

And that's a wrap! Thanks to Bex and everyone who attended and made these Positively Together clinics and amazing learning experience for everyone! Can't wait to do it again!

17/07/2024

Almost one week out and we have had a participant place become available in our sold out Multi-species training workshop with Bex Tasker from Positively Together (NZ) here in beautiful Kandanga, Qld.
This workshop is all about honing your observational skills as a trainer by training a variety of different species as well as having fun with like-minded people and cute creatures!
More info can be found here https://fb.me/e/2ZdjaXCFT

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16/07/2024

Pedicure day in the sheep paddock and the only one on their backside is me!

13/07/2024

If you want to learn a little more about our awesome clinician who will be teaching here in 2 weeks time, check out this out.
Can't wait.

07/07/2024

There's nothing like a little added motivation :D

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06/07/2024

I was planning to document a bit of Miss Kelly's training sessions on here, but my phone and computer are currently not talking to each other very well.
The last week we have been getting started with some basics like settling in, target training and self haltering as well as a little exploring around the property.
Today we tried a bit of shaping on to a raised station. What a clever pony!

06/07/2024

Equine specialist questions whether the animals’ behavioural needs are being met and says capital may be overwhelming

04/07/2024

Introducing Miss Kelly. She is here for a couple months to begin her training journey. She was bred and raised locally and had never seen a sheep before (it's cattle country here). I will be sharing more of her new adventures over the next few weeks.

26/06/2024

I love this video, lovely training, engaged and adorable trainee. And it's only a month to go until Bex Tasker is in Qld! Want to refine your training skills? This will be the perfect opportunity.

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25/06/2024

Love to have your thoughts on this… anything to add?

19/06/2024

Opps I put them in the orchard to mow the grass, thinking the pumpkins weren't that ripe yet so they would leave them! Wilbaa was not the only culprit this time. Will I ever learn? :D

17/06/2024

Does feeding treats cause horses to bite or become aggressive?

I have sometimes heard from people that if horses are fed treats they will bite, nip or become aggressive. In fact, it is not treats that cause this type of behaviour, it is unpredictable, erratic training and handling.
Nipping, biting etc can occur in horses that aren't fed treats at all when they are subjected to stressful, punitive and unpredictable environments or handling.
Not having their needs met, insufficient forage, not enough room to move or no suitable companions can also manifest as unwanted behaviour. Pain is another factor that is also often overlooked. Much like ourselves, our animals can be much quicker to snap if they are in pain, stressed out or frightened.

As my main interest is training with treats, this will be the focus of this post.

When we use treats to train animals we are setting up a contract with the animal that they will receive treats under predictable conditions. Changes in these conditions need to be small enough that the animal will still be able to figure out how to access the treats. For example: I want a pony to stand still while I walk away instead of following me, first I will give her treats while I am standing next to her, then I will give her a treat and immediately take a step back while she is chewing then I can mark her and step back before she has a chance to move. As she realises the game is just to stand still and wait to be given treats, the length of time I wait until I mark and give her a treat increases gradually, and the distance I move away can be increased also. If I suddenly walk off and expect my horse to stay without building up in little steps she would have no idea what to do, which may result in the incorrect behaviour, which would not result in a treat. My pony would be confused as she has no idea whatsoever of how she can get that treat, which leads to frustration which is generally expressed in the form of unwanted behaviour.

Markers are very important and take some practise to use effectively. A marker or bridge is a signal given to the animal that the treat is about to appear. With horses, we generally want them to stop and wait for the treat to come to them when they are given their marker. Often these markers are a sound, like a clicker or a certain word. It is super important with horses that the marker is used before the trainer reaches for the treat or the horse quickly learns the hand movement is the predictor of the treat. The horse starts to focus more on hands and begins to get frustrated because the hands aren't a reliable predictor of the treats. This can result in unwanted behaviour.

Alternating between treats and punishment, especially in an unpredictable manner, can also result in confusion and frustration which, you guessed it, can lead to unwanted behaviour!

Living conditions are essential for ensuring successful training, if the horse does not have adequate forage, freedom and friends this needs to be addressed as does any pain.

Because eating is comforting for horses, and something they they do for the majority of the day, using treats correctly can help them overcome fear, frustration and the unwanted behaviours that can come with it.

16/06/2024

The privilege of being around horses is a great opportunity for kids to learn about compassion as well as responsibility. When we look at behaviour as communication from the horse (or child) it is not only much easier to change the dynamic, but it also puts us in an empathetic mindset towards them.

Consent is present in all forms of human, and animal interaction. It’s a feeling that comes from voluntary agreement (made without coercion) between those with decision-making capacity. Creating the conditions for consent is a skill that gets better the more you practice.

15/06/2024

Chloe has been getting herself prepped and ready for another Ag show tomorrow. Pony life goals are a little different from human life goals. :D

10/06/2024

Winter is upon us and it's getting cold, but don't that get you down. Come warm up you brain and your clicker hand by celebrating midwinter with Bex Tasker (NZ) in Kandanga for one of 2 amazing clinics! Hone your skills with a variety of animals at our 1 day multi-species workshop or do a deep dive into building an amazing relationship with your horses for the weekend equine focused clinic.
https://fb.me/e/21iW7aHOR
PS If your hands are still cold by the end of one of these clinics you can warm them up by snuggling some sheeps!

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25/05/2024

If we foster compassion and curiosity in children as to why the pony is or isn't doing what they want we will raise amazing problem solvers who don't need to be meaner or scarier to get the behaviour they want from their ponies.

Why do we teach kids it is acceptable to hurt their horses?

We would never countenance them kicking their dogs or pulling on a piece of metal in their dog's mouth. And if there were doing that it would a huge red flag.

But that is exactly what we teach kids to do to horses.

In my past life I was certainly guilty of telling kids who were worried that kicking their pony or pulling the piece of metal in its mouth would hurt it, not to worry about it and kick or pull harder.

Now I did always make sure they released those pressures straight away the pony responded, but that doesn't excuse the fact that my advice was never ethical.

The instincts of those kids to not want to hurt their horse was right.

If we think about kicking their sides, no horse stands idly by when another horse is threatening to kick it their body- they move out of the way quick smart. Yet somehow we seem to think kids booting horses in the sides doesn't hurt. Maybe it doesn't hurt like a kick from a horse, but if it didn't cause at least some discomfort the ponies would always completely ignore it.

What are we doing teaching children to hurt their horses in order to get the horses to do what they want?

Is it because unlike a dog that yelps when kicked, ponies generally don't ? We also train kids to ignore the signs their ponies do send- like ear pinning, tail swishing, head tossing and mouth gaping. Instead, we tell kids that these are signs that the pony is simply being naughty. And often, that the pony therefore deserves the yank, the kick or being struck with a whip.

It is fantastic that Pony Club Australia is providing parents and instructors with evidence based advice about how to train without the use of pain so lets hope in the future that images like these will disappear.

https://pixabay.com/photos/horse-horse-race-equestrian-helmet-1413604/

24/05/2024

Behaviour is communication.

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16/05/2024

I was at an Agricultural show yesterday, I was sad to see how strongly aversives were applied to many of the horses, to the point of causing obvious pain. Even at the ringside. I don't know if I just witnessed some really harsh handling or whether this is normal, I am quite far removed from the horse show scene.

On the other hand, my child was warned by a steward before his first class that he was not to feed his pony treats in the class. Considering the class mostly involved standing still, I am not sure it would have made any appreciable difference for the pony to have a snack or 2. :D

Wouldn't it be nice if horse events included a component of horse welfare in the judging criteria?

12/05/2024

When called from a distance Sparkles comes in "hot" as my other half says, full speed and with much enthusiasm. She's not super coordinated, and the brakes are generally deployed a little late for for the job at hand, as well as the freakishly wet conditions. She has made some massive sacrifices to avoid hitting me when she has totally misjudged her abilities and the surface conditions. Don't get me wrong, it is scary as to have 400+kgs zooming at you with inadequate braking system, I brace and close my eyes. Sometimes, I don't really don't think she has the proprioception to avoid hitting me. I am not sure dodging will help though. She has bashed into gates near where I am standing to avoid banging into me. She is a bit unco, but as a social animal, it is not an advantage to her to injure or upset her allies by smashing into them.
It is so easy to react aggressively when you are fearful, and with horses we are often taught to defend ourselves pre-emptively with aggressive behaviour to ensure they "submit" as horses are dangerous. Fear begets fear, it doesn't address the issue

03/05/2024

I love this! As easily applicable to horses, sheep, guinea pigs and everything else!

Kristi Benson, Special Correspondent to CAP, always writes the best posts. I was looking back at one of her archive pieces that considers the ways in which we're the same as dogs and the ways in which we're different, and I thought you might enjoy this quote. It's something dog trainers get very good at.

01/05/2024

The park nearby provides the perfect opportunity for pony sprints!
It also has very tasty grass, which is a handy way to save on treats :D

Music credit: Barry the Badger by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com very cute :)

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01/05/2024

"The laws of reinforcement are powerful tools. But the rule book is far more versatile than some people have supposed, in fact more versatile than some people would like it to be. To be using reinforcement is to be involved in a process of continual change, of continual give-and-take, of continual growth. One becomes aware of the dualistic, two-way nature of this communion. One becomes more aware of others and, inevitably more aware of oneself. It could be said that training is a process that requires one to be both inside and outside of one's own skin at the same time. Who is the trainer and who is the trained? Both change and both learn."
- Karen Pryor - "Don't Shoot the Dog"

More aware of others, and inevitably more aware of oneself. Ain't that the truth? I certainly feel my experience as a trainer has made me a better friend, a better mother, a better human. Working with horses is the ultimate personal development program, I think. It's a road with no end, where we can learn continually for our entire lives and still have so far to go. I have had a number of clients in their 70's and 80's who are lifetime horsewomen and would freely admit they would need to live all their years over again before they might even begin to learn all they wanted to learn about the horses they spend their lives loving. And as it is impossible to truly develop our communication with and understanding of horses without also understanding ourselves better, so it goes on. Positively Together https://buff.ly/3vMSoda?

Bex from Positively Together will be holding workshops in NSW 8-9th June and Queensland 20th July. https://buff.ly/4aLwV2Z

29/04/2024

Getting enough exercise for the little ponies can be tricky, but I think we might have a solution here :D

28/04/2024

Only 2 days left to snaffle up the last available participant place in this awesome clinic with Bex Tasker (NZ) at the early bird price!
The early bird discount for fence sitters finishes at the end of the month too, and in the current economic climate every penny counts, so don't miss out.
I am looking forward to this so much!
https://fb.me/e/4UQQL5m9z

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27/04/2024

Time is running out for early bird tickets for both of Positively Together's clinics in Kandanga, QLD this July! Multi species 1 single day workshop, or the 2 day equine clinic the following weekend.

Discover the power of positive reinforcement - more trust, more willingness, more confidence, more motivation, more JOY!
Hone your skills and get your geek on with our multi species workshop or join the equine clinic with your equine partner and discover the magic.

https://fb.me/e/2ZdjaXCFT

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17/04/2024

We have the fantastic Bex Tasker (NZ) coming to the Mary Valley this July! We have almost filled up the participant slots, so be in quick. I have a feeling this clinic will be sold out before the earlybird pricing ends.
Prepare to be blown away by the confidence, motivation and willingness your horse will offer you! Come and join us at beautiful Kandanga this July for a fun weekend of learning with your horse, in a supportive and safe environment.
Ever wondered what it’s about? Would you like to know more?
Positive reinforcement produces horses that are confident, happy and motivated to learn and play with you! Worming, riding, liberty, hoof care, you name it - with clicker training it's all just a fun game they're keen to be part of. The focus at all times is on building calm connection. I will teach you how to use food as reinforcement, not a crutch or a bribe.
At Positively Together clinics you don't just learn "how to train" your horse - you learn about calming signals and how to better communicate with your horse, how your unique equine learns
best, and how to enhance the mutual joy and FUN in all your interactions.
Learn practical, science-based training solutions and strategies for building magical, trust-based relationships between you and your horse. Suitable for all ages and stages.
https://fb.me/e/54z7o6HLa

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02/04/2024

I had a pretty fun training challenge yesterday, loading an untrained donkey onto a horse float for his new owners to take home.
It reminded me how much my horse training priorities have changed over years. In my twenties being able to catch a horse and put a halter on it was really important, it was the key to unlocking all the other behaviours I needed, like standing for the vet or trimmer, even to be saddled or bridled with some horses.
Since I switched to using positive reinforcement, the halter is not part of the key to getting behaviours, instead I am looking for the animal to be feeling comfortable, safe and interested in trying what I ask. This approach is complemented by arranging the environment to keep things safe and help guide the behaviour (like the plastic chairs lining the edge of the ramp).

Luckily, Waffles the donkey is very friendly, interested in both food and people. He was soon walking on, standing calmly inside and backing carefully off at our request like he'd been doing it all his life! He was an absolute trooper during the drive eating his hay, then backed off the float calmly at his new home. As he wasn't halter trained, and had had a previous bad experience with a rope around his neck, we opted to do all loading and unloading at liberty.