Training With a Twist Positive Reinforcement Horse Training

08/15/2024

I just have to say....THIS is some DAMN GOOD Soda!. I was shopping at HEB a few months back and saw this JONES Cane Sugar Soda.. it was the label that caught my eye.. each bottle has a different picture on the label.. Anyway, I bought a couple of Green Apple Soda and some Cream Soda.. Anyway, the soda has just been sitting in my fridge because I just wasn't in a "soda mood" but i was tonight! Lol!

BOTH flavors are REALLY GOOD! If you're interested in trying it, head on in to HEB!😁👍🌹

07/30/2022

I'm sharing some great tips on what to do incase your horse gets injured...

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR AN EQUINE EMERGENCY?

There’s never a good time to get hurt, but horses (and kids) seem to have a special knack for always choosing the least convenient time—and the most spectacular ways—to get injured. As a horse owner, you must know how to recognize serious problems and respond promptly.

Regardless of the situation, it's important to remember these points:
1. Keep the horse as calm as possible. Your own calm behavior will help achieve this.
2. Move the animal to a safe area where it is unlikely to be injured should it go down.
3. Get someone to help you, and delegate responsibilities, such as calling the veterinarian, retrieving the first aid kit, holding the horse, etc.
4. Notify your veterinarian immediately. Be prepared to provide specific information about the horse's condition, and other data that will help your practitioner assess the immediacy of the danger and instruct you in how to proceed.
5. Listen closely and follow your equine practitioner's instructions.
6. Do not administer drugs, especially tranquilizers or sedatives, unless specifically instructed to do so by the veterinarian.

Preparation will help you stay calm in the event of a real emergency so be sure to not skip this step! By acting quickly and promptly, you can minimize the consequences of an injury or illness. For more tips about emergency care, ask your equine veterinarian or visit https://aaep.org/horsehealth/guidelines-follow-during-equine-emergencies

06/16/2022

I saw this on another post and thought it was good info to share.
Horses have a lot of subtle body language that, at times, is hard to pick up on ,but knowing this may give you a bit of insight as to what to look for when you are working with your horse.

Also, as with puppies, if you acquire a very young horse, it's best to start training and creating the bond at that time. Once you have created that bond and gotten the training in, don't get rid of your horse because you may be getting rid of the best horse you've ever had.🐎😊👍

http://9thus.spalding-labs.com Dr. Robert M. Miller explains why horses act and react the way the do. This video discusses the ten traits every horse inheri...

05/12/2022

I've always been curious about the " meaning" of the sworls on a horse. I found this post to be interesting so Im sharing it on here.😊🐎

05/04/2022

01/02/2022

Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year Jan 1, 2022! I hope you all get whatever it is you desire and be wealthy and healthy and happy in the months to come!😊🐎🎉😊🐎🎉

12/19/2021

Ken Ramirez is a wonderful animal trainer. I have been to a couple of his seminars and it was very interesting! I hope you enjoy this video I came upon. 😊

12/13/2021

So if you guys remember, back in November I was teaching Quince to go " IN " the round pen for his food.
After the 3rd or 4th session (in November) , he learned it.
Here is a quick clip of him going " IN" the round pen for his alfalfa.
He was slightly resource guarding the food from Phantom (as you can see from his body language and how he has his ears).
I had to reposition myself on the other side of the gate so that Quince could "confidently " go in and not worry about Phantom coming for his food.🤦‍♀️😄🐎⚘(Sunday, December 12, 2021) 2:26pm
I had to turn the video off once he was in so I could give him his food😊

12/13/2021

The new Facebook/Meta rule starts tomorrow where they can use your photos. Don't forget the deadline is today! This could be used in lawsuits against you. Everything you've ever posted is posted today - even messages that have been deleted. It doesn't cost anything, just copy and post, better than regretting later.
Under UCC Law Sections 1-207, 1-308... I am imposing my Reservation of Rights...
I DO NOT ALLOW Facebook/Meta or any other Facebook/Meta related person to use my photos, information, messages or messages, both in the past and in the future. This statement I inform Facebook/Meta that it is strictly prohibited to disclose, copy, distribute or take any other action against me based on this account and / or its contents. This account content is private and confidential information. Violation of my personal life may be punished by law.
NOTE: Facebook/Meta is now a public organization. All participants should post a note like this.
If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you don't publish a discharge at least once, you'll automatically allow the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your account status updates. NOT ′′ share ′′ but ′′ copy + paste "!
Their new algorithm is chosen by the same people - about 25 who will read your posts.
Consequently:
Hold your finger anywhere in this post and a copy will appear. Click on Copy. Then go to your page, start a new post and place your finger in an empty field. ′′ Insert ′′ will appear and you will click on it. This will pass the system.
I'm not giving Facebook/Meta permission to share my information posted on their website. PHOTOS, CURRENT or PAST, PUBLICATION, PHONE NUMBER OR POST... Absolutely nothing can be used in any form without my written permission.

11/19/2021

Thurs. Nov 18, 2021.
I went out to feed the horses today and Quince always tries to sn**ch some food before I have placed it down or put it in the food bin/bowl.
To fix that problem, I have taught Quince the word AWAY, using positive reinforcement and giving him his alfalfa or grain as the reward. My Reward Marker is the word " YES" instead of a clicker. (It's just easier).
As you can see, Quince has his ears back and is giving information through body language to Phantom and Ajax there in the background to NOT come near " His" food...
He was being respectful and is giving me the correct behavior eventhough he would rather not for fear of the others coming for the alfalfa.
As soon as he was far enough away, I said " YES!!" and his ears perked forward because he Knew he did something Correctly and his Reward was the alfalfa. 😊🐎⚘

11/07/2021

I was feeding the horses and I was trying to get Quince to go through the gate.. he was holding water in his mouth and let it fall out as he was trying to figure out what I was asking him to do. He was even biting the fence and trying to get to the grain by sticking his head through the fence.(he was trying to figure it out..lol)
Quince thought that if he went in the opposite direction of what I was asking, that he had figured out what I wanted, but Phantom was watching and paying attention and figured out what to do... animals learn from watching eachother..its all about body language..
(Nov. 6, 2021 Saturday)

05/23/2021

Calling the horses to come for their hay. 🐎😊
I had whistled(i didn't get that on video) then I said HERE! The moment I saw Quince pick his head up and look, I marked it with YES... as the others looked and began to come, I marked it with YES and kept using encouraging words and energy to get them to continue to come my way for their alfalfa, which I had already put down for them.😊 (Sunday, may 23, 21)

03/07/2021

I bet there are folks out there that didn't know this....the more you know 😊🐎⚘

The Horse asked researchers and equestrian federation representatives for their takes on the new FEI rule banning shaving of facial vibrissae, which are sensory organs commonly called “whiskers.”

11/23/2020

https://m.facebook.com/354177414687623/photos/a.354389364666428/680763815362313/?type=3

GOING IN CIRCLES

When horses roamed the plains, they did exactly that: they roamed. They drifted along, grazing and mostly walking in straight lines. When horses worked for a living, they continued to walk those straight lines, pulling a plow from one end of the field to the other, pulling a milk wagon from one end of town to the other, or pushing cattle from one end of Texas to the other. As they transitioned from work animals to recreation vehicles, they generally continued walking, jogging, or cantering in reasonably straight lines, going from one end of a trail to the other.

Of course, not all work or recreation involved strict, straight line movement. They were asked to cut cattle, which often required them to work laterally, with sudden starts and stops and jolts and jerks. They were asked to perform military/dressage maneuvers, with significant lateral movement and transitions. They were asked to foxhunt, which required them to work over fences and around obstacles. They were asked to participate in sport, such as polo, which again required stops, starts, bursts of speed and lateral work. And, of course, they were asked to race, which required speed, but generally on straight line tracks or long ovals.

As they transitioned into show and competition arenas, however, they shifted away from straight line activity. We changed the game and asked them to become focused athletes and runway models. In doing so, we put them into smaller and smaller spaces and asked them to perform more and more patterned behaviors. Basically, we put them into patterned, repetitive movements—mostly in circles... little, tight circles. And they started to fall apart, experiencing more and more issues with joint problems, soft tissue injuries, and general lameness concerns.

We blamed their failures and breakdowns on bad breeding practices and poor genetics; we blamed their failures on bad farriers and inadequate veterinarians; we blamed their breakdowns on poor training and conditioning, poor horse keeping practices, bad nutritional practices, and any number of other things. And, while none of these should be disallowed, the fact remains that we changed the game and put them into those little, tiny circles and repetitive activities. So, let’s look at equine anatomy, and specifically, let’s look at that in relation to athletic maneuvers and activities.

First and foremost, the horse is designed to be heavy on the forehand. We fight against that concept, asking them to engage their hindquarters, to “collect,” and to give us impulsion. And they’re capable of doing so… but they’re not designed or “programmed” to sustain such activity for any length of time. When they do this in “natural” settings and situations, they’re playing, they’re being startled or frightened, or they’re showing off. None of these are sustained activities.

Likewise, when they do engage, they’re generally bolting forward, jumping sideways, or leaping upwards. And they're typically doing that with a burst of speed and energy, not in slow motion. Ultimately, their design is simply not conducive to circular work. Each joint, from the shoulder to the ground is designed for flexion and extension—for forward motion, not lateral motion. In fact, these joints are designed to minimize and restrict lateral or side-to-side movement.

09/26/2020

If you were ever curious as to how to recoginse fear in horses, this link has some Great video examples with explanations telling you what body language you are seeing!
Its worth a look!😊⚘🐎

09/01/2020

Incase you were ever wondering how much weight your horse can/should carry, check out these weight calculators that will give you a Safe Estimate.
You NEVER want to overload your horse because that is when health problems begin.🐎❤😊

Use this calculator to work out your horse's weight carrying ability. User friendly, easy to understand and backed up by the latest research.

07/05/2020

Have a safe July 4th🐎❤🎉✨🇺🇲🎇🎆