Throw back to Inca’s very first time wearing a saddle pad 🎉 Working with consent based training and a start button we can take the “fireworks” out of backing horses, there is no need for bucking, bronking or lunging horses when introducing tack - building a start button protocol can bridge the gap between languages and give the horse a way to say ‘stop’ and ‘go’ so we can avoid pushing them over threshold into explosive behaviours 👌#equinepositivereinforcement #equineclickertraining #consentbasedtraining #positivereinforcement #backinghorses #younghorse #clickertraining
It may feel like everyone has an online course, or lessons program…that’s exactly what the industry needs! Think how many riding schools and instructors there are in the area - the R+ industry only seems saturated because we are in our own corner but every one of us who has the skill, the knowledge needs to be sharing it with more than just the people who already have the skills and the knowledge. So be brave, put on that clinic, arrange to do a lecture or a demo, ask riding schools for they want you to do a trick training day because the horses need us to be brave! The more of us who are brave, the more accessible this way of learning becomes and the more accessible it becomes the more normalised it becomes. If you agree, the horses need us to be brave share this - you never know who needs to hear it to get them to take that final step towards starting their career!
The EQT Clicker Training App.
Have you been looking for R+ coaching?
With the launch of an App, Equine Thoughts is incredibly excited to announce we are taking our online coaching services to the next level!
https://equine-thoughts-app.mn.co
*Like Horses Do*
We hear time and time again “It’s how other horses treat each other”...this phrase- and more- that many of us are familiar with are used typically as a justification for driving out horses away from us.
⚡️Chasing them, getting after them and generally pushing them around-because that’s what horses do to each other.
⚡️and granted I cannot deny the man made problem of wide spread resource guarding.
⚡️But what I would ask of you is to think of two things:
1️⃣ What does my horse do with his pair bond/“best friend”?
2️⃣ Is the horse out there in my field that’s pushing all the others around, liked by the others? Do they have the bond that I seek with my horse? Or do those others fear going near him and avoid him for knowing the angry driving reaction he will have if they go close?
⚡️Horses and the horses that they have close relationships with spend there time together grazing, suckling, playing, drinking and sleeping.
⚡️They eat shoulder to shoulder and nose to nose and they play boisterously with one another.
⚡️They share positive experiences and look out for one another and most importantly, they are *always* in one another’s space!
⚡️The horse that drives them around “like horses do” they avoid- they don’t want anything to do with him because if they get too close they might get bitten. They don’t want to be bitten, they don’t respect him with admiration, but instead fear him.
Now I ask you;
What type of bond are you looking for with your horse?
We are not horses, we will never be, and our horses know that too, and so we need not communicate to our horse “like horses do” but instead spend the time to foster a new language between us both, with mutual definitions and mutual regard for one another.
//side note: if we remove the cause of man made reassured guarding (“dominance”) then what we see is horses using very small and subtle signs of communication, not
🖊I want them to know they have been heard,
I want them to know they have been heard and their ballad understood.
I want them to know they don’t have to shout, but can be quite as a mouse, and still be understood.
I want them to find freedom and joy,
learn how to play with a toy and be treated as kind as a dog would.
To run and jump and not worry about what the humans may say, instead feel free to play.
Not to obey but know that they have their say, in our two-way-convolute.
To feel like work is not work at all but instead a joyous free for all.
Express their ideas,
I want them to say no.
I want them to say no thanks, not now, how about this - and know their ideas are valid. Even embraced!
That he never again has to race, or be chased or do anything to his distaste.
But most of all I want them to know that they are understood.
What ideas has your equine had recently?
#TheTrainingBarn #EquineThoughts
~Bee is really starting to offer up ideas, which I love! I have left the original sound on so you can hear my delight, when Bex decided that going around is old news, what happens if I go over? -and bc I can now without the M4 in the background 😂~
*PURE JOY* I think there is a really important message inside the sheer joy that animals find in the simple things in life, they appreciate everything and see the best in everyone, even the most scared equine will trust a person again.
I think animals are far more in touch with the innate joy that the everyday brings and I plan to take a leaf out of these three’s book!
Talking of which Meet The Trio!!
I’m as excited to start working with these fellas as they are to come to call😍
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Also can we just appreciate the the hard-cored gate way at @jiveponyuk ‘s The Training Barn that you see here! It’s doing it’s good bit in the world wide equestrian vs mud war 😂🙏
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#TheTrainingBarn #EquineThoughts
*BACKWARDS* As trainers I feel we put a huge emphasis on progression and achievement.
🎉Look how far we’ve come, He’s learnt so much, this training method is highly effective.
🎉and yes I do believe progress is invaluable, the feeling of hitting goals and seeing your horse thrive and your training improve is like no other.
🎉But we mustn’t put weight so heavily on that side of the scale that we are afraid of taking a step back.
🎉Especially if you’re training to a time limit or for someone else, you feel like progress has to be made every session.
🎉but There is no shame in returning to the previous step or level.
🎉in fact I think it’s something that should be CELEBRATED.
🎉Because in doing so, in consciously regressing it shows you have noticed that your learner was struggling, that maybe you hadn’t made something as clear or something was missed on route.
🎉and THAT is something that should be applauded. You put your learner above your progression ego, you put your learner above your goals and most importantly you’re helping your learner succeed in the least stressful way you can.
🎉and I can almost guarantee that taking that step back, will speed up your training more than you could imagine!
🎉So if you see things aren’t quite going to plan, or if you’ve changed your context, take a step back and think; “what could I go back and address to make this easier? “
When have you had to take a step back and re-address the foundations?
#TheTrainingBarn #EquineThoughts
*BACKWARDS* As trainers I feel we put a huge emphasis on progression and achievement.
🎉Look how far we’ve come, He’s learnt so much, this training method is highly effective.
🎉and yes I do believe progress is invaluable, the feeling of hitting goals and seeing your horse thrive and your training improve is like no other.
🎉But we mustn’t put weight so heavily on that side of the scale that we are afraid of taking a step back.
🎉Especially if you’re training to a time limit or for someone else, you feel like progress has to be made every session.
🎉but There is no shame in returning to the previous step or level.
🎉in fact I think it’s something that should be CELEBRATED.
🎉Because in doing so, in consciously regressing it shows you have noticed that your learner was struggling, that maybe you hadn’t made something as clear or something was missed on route.
🎉and THAT is something that should be applauded. You put your learner above your progression ego, you put your learner above your goals and most importantly you’re helping your learner succeed in the least stressful way you can.
🎉and I can almost guarantee that taking that step back, will speed up your training more than you could imagine!
🎉So if you see things aren’t quite going to plan, or if you’ve changed your context, take a step back and think; “what could I go back and address to make this easier? “
When have you had to take a step back and re-address the foundations?
#TheTrainingBarn #equinethoughts
*MEET THE HORSE WHERE HE’S AT* I did just that Today and he offered trot for the first time!
🎉Bee reminded me of that lesson today: I had intentions and plans laid out, but something even better came from adjusting:
🎉As we are in such a new place and with the friendliest minis next door Bex was a little distracted.
🎉So I used these ‘mini distractions’ (😆) as an opportunity to practice our recall and gosh I was not disappointed; after trotting away from me to see his tiny friends that energy came back towards me in a trotted recall!
🎉I’m so chuffed with how well he’s taking this new school in his stride, the grumpy anxious Bee that I once had was replaced today by an eager, playful boy who was offering up his own ideas. From a horse who would sneer at me if I asked him to trot to trotting over when called, oh Bee you really are something😱
*Q+A: A BIT?*
Sometimes, we aren’t in full control over our horses lives and training, and that can be frustrating when we want to delve into different forms of training!
A client asked me what to do in regards to self bridling when the horse she can work with is currently ridden in a bit.
It inspired me to find these vids!
My answer?
🎁Include the bit in your training!
🎁If you don’t have the option to go bitless, that’s okay.
🎁You can work with the bit to counter-condition the value that it may have taken on.
🎁Here you see G, who had extreme fear of the bridle, to the point where you couldn’t get the reins over his head.
🎁A lot of addressing fear of tack is in eliminating the root causes, and the reasons that the tack has taken on an aversive value.
🎁Once that has been done, you can work on re-introducing the tack and showing them there is no longer a need to fear it!
🎁Using consent signals will speed that process up massively! I later introduced touching my knee with his nose as our start button in this activity.
🎁I’m yet to experience a horse having trouble eating with a bit on but that’s not to say it doesn’t happen! My advice there would be to go slower/smaller handfuls, if you can wait until they’ve finished their mouthful before repeating the loop and make sure the reinforcers are easy to chew! I typically use horse and pony nuts which are quite soft so easier to eat with a bit in😁
*TIME BUDGETING*
I was recently asked for advice on how to divide your time between
🐴Training R+
🐴Riding
🐴barn chores
Etc
When you only have
👎 the weekend,
👎 restricted amount to time to spend with your horse,
👎loads of goals
👎stables to do
👎grooming...the amount of things “to do” can be overwhelming!
It might feel like you want to hurry your head in the sand, or rush around and do a half job on all the jobs!
Now that’s not going to help you, the horse, or anyone’s stress levels 😉
So what can you do?!
You can -
👍Plan, Prioritise, and keep track! Breaking down your training into Thin-Slices will help you see how you can work towards them 5 minutes by 5 minutes.
Training times don’t have a set time!
In fact I’d recommend when you’re first starting out, the shorter the sweeter.
If you have an idea of the small steps you want to take on that day, it’s easier to fit them around the rest of your time at the barn, and you can even do more than one! For example if you’re teaching targeting, you can do 4 mins before tacking up, 1 min after taking up, and 5 mins once you’re back from the ride, the VIOLA you’ve just done 10 minutes worth of clicker training!
Keeping track means that you won’t be at a loss as to what to practice today, and will help you see how much progress you’ve made in short burst!
👍My favourite time to squeeze in some ‘Just being’ is after riding, or after CT-ing when you get back to the barn, spend some time saying thank you.
Does your horse enjoy cuddles, spend some time getting those good scritchy spots.
Maybe you horse doesn’t and in that case, give them some treats to munch on and squat down in the stable and just be.
Do you get bring your horse in and turn your horse back out? Sneak some time matching their footsteps as they graze.
Or maybe your horse had to stay in after you’ve been, then you can take them for a hand graze 😌
👍Address behaviours.
Are
Aliyah Woodland ABTC-ATI. Equine Training Instructor specialising in addressing training problems
