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What can clicker training do
for you and your horse?
 At Whole Horse, we believe quite
passionately that it is possible to make the veterinary
experience a positive one for the horse and the owner.
Despite the fact that they are prey animals, we too
often try to gain a horse’s cooperation through force or
restraint. This only creates more fear, and contributes
to a cycle where the horse becomes increasingly
difficult to handle for veterinary procedures.
We believe clicker training is one answer to this problem. Unlike
traditional horse training, which too often tells a
horse what they did wrong, clicker training is designed
to tell them what they did right. When a horse learns
they can make a choice to avoid conflict, that they can
make a choice that is right, it builds their confidence
and helps eliminate fear. In addition, clicker training
makes them think, and it is difficult for a horse to
think and act up at the same time.
Clicker training involves a small device called a clicker (there is one
in your packet) which makes a distinctive and quick
clicking noise. Essentially, clicker training involves
first teaching the horse that the click means “yes,
that’s right!” and then using the clicker sound to
reinforce desired behaviors. Through this method, you
can teach a horse to stand for shots, pick up their
feet, let you handle their mouth, ears, etc. You can
also use it to teach a lot of other things ( I have used
it to teach my mustang everything, including lungeing
and ground-driving), but at Whole Horse our focus is
specifically on the phobias and issues horses have with
veterinary procedures.
We have included a beginning lesson on clicker training in this packet.
It is reprinted from the “The Click That Teaches”, a
great website for equine clicker training. This is the
lesson that teaches the horse what the clicker means. We
would love to discuss clicker training with you. We also
offer clicker sessions for behavior modification related
to all veterinary procedures, either individually or in
small groups of a few horses. It is a beginner
clicker lesson for those who would like to try it with
their horse.
Here is the link
http://www.theclickercenter.com/2004/guide/guide00.php
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This is Brennir practicing
three of his tricks, bow, rear, and playing
basketball. |
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Denise Bickel DVM
Whole Horse Veterinary Services
Phone # 517-474-4050
Fax # 517-764-7710
3906 Seymour Rd
Jackson, MI 49201
EMAIL US
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