Positive reinforcement training has rocked my world.
I'm so thankful for all my hard earned knowledge that was pushed to the limits due to my total resistance to clicker training. I was fine with food rewards as long as they were kept outside of the training ring and never on my body.
I got to know the horse. Through lots of struggle - mostly my own. A little bit of collateral damage to the horses? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes, for the horses too.
A couple years into my deep dive of the positive reinforcement world and I was questioning the importance of my Pair Bond Training. Was some of my original work redundant for me now?
A couple years more and now I know the value of Paor Bond Training is absolutely relevant and for me it is still the integral foundation before all training. Positive Reinforcement Training and Clicker Training included.
This little video is of Posie accepting her syringe like an absolute super star. Thanks to Positive Reinforcement, and an undercurrent of Pair Bond Training.
I taught her to put the syringe I'm her own mouth first but here I demonstrated how she handled the syringe being administered more traditionally.
I'm keen to teach more in 2024. I will share learning opportunities in the upcoming weeks and months on various topics.
Trailer loading with friends part 2.
Flames well on his way to the leagues of Larkin and Spirit.
This little herd knows the routine!
Grass time is done for the day, more again tomorrow!
A Sunday dose of completely consensual affection.
Breathe in the love.
A couple minutes of the horses being horses at the waterholes.
The Buckskin is my stallion, Pyrite.
He and his herd of mares and colts live across from our boarder herd.
For those of you (like me) concerned about Chaos getting enough water, don't worry, he came back for more 😉
RUNNNNNN! THE SNOWBLOWER IS HERE!!!! MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!
Most of us with horses and livestock have extra work to do when the snow comes down like this. Whether they're inside a barn or outside with shelter.
I always do the following:
- top up water troughs
- make sure water heaters are working properly
- put out additional hay where the wind is blocked, but still in the open (not typically in the shelters)
- check all the horses to make sure they are coping well
I'll elaborate on the last point.
1. I check for snow coverage. If their coats are covered in snow they're most likely warm. If it's melted, why? Are they struggling to keep in warmth? Or have they been standing in the shelter long enough to melt the snow from their backs?
2. If the snow has melted I further check the coat. I part the hair in a few areas to make sure the hair near their skin is still dry. If it is they're most likely warm. If it's not, on goes the cooler and blanket to wick the wet away. Depending on the horse the blanket will then stay on, or be swapped to a different one until the weather allows for the horse to be naked again.
3. Are they shivering? If yes why? Have they been standing in the shelter for too long without eating? That usually only applies to Kyanite and Pyrite here. If so I put hay out in the shelter for those two. Often that stops the shivers.
4. How is their posture? This *usually* only applies to horses with wet coats - not snow covered coats. Is their topline looking good? Or is their back clamped down with their head thrown up? If it's the latter then I blanket the horse to prevent the negative implications of holding this poor stance while muscles are held tight.
It's easy to hide away in a blizzard.
Thanks to the horses I have to forge ahead in it anyways, and I love it!
So quiet and beautiful.
Ahhhhhhh 😍
Pretty Prancing Ponies
❤🧡💛
Curious Colts Cruising
Round the Riding Ring
Enjoy a minute of gentle horseplay 😊
Buckskin: Pyrite, 11yr old stallion
Perlino: Spirit, 6 month old colt
Bay: Igneous, 4 month old colt
My aim was to film our entire session. I guess my phone isn't use to the cold yet 🤷♀️ so here's the first couple of minutes.
Anyways, here Igneous is learning more about haltering and leading.
This is his second session with the training rope.
My aim here is to stick heavily in the positive reinforcement quadrant while helping Igneous learn about following pressure. Even pressure that he might create be suddenly moving to the end of my rope.
Igneous was born on September 14th, so he's almost 3 months old, and I am using scratches as reinforcement. I have not used any food with this foal for my own experience and experimentation.
Spirit was taught much the same way, but reinforced with food. So far both boys are well adjusted and learning fast with little difference between the two of them in their behaviour around learning.
What do you think Igneous is watching for to know to walk with me? What cue could he have decided was the green light to move with me?
Talk about good timing! 😹
Wait for it...
Slow and steady wins the race.
We're having so much fun perfecting our horseback archery skills.
We have surpassed my goals for this season. Next year will be SO MUCH FUN.
30 seconds of peace from Pyrite's herd.
Let's play pops!
@blueeyed_spirit
