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by Kelsey1999

by matthewthebest

EagleGirl's Clicker Club

Clicker training is a wonderful philosophy for training an animal to do just about anything.  It is just what many fearful animals need to overcome their fear so they can start developing a good relationship with people.  It is great for working with equines to teach them ground manners, ground work, riding, driving . . .  you name it.  While clicker training is terrific for teaching animals to do all the things that they need to do, it is also a fantastic way to have fun with your pet.  And that is the subject of this column.  Clicker training for fun! 

I am fortunate to be a member of an email group for people who own and/or love mules.  Well, a few weeks ago someone had the bright idea to do a training challenge.  Several folks expressed an interest in it, and it was decided that anyone who wanted to participate would teach their mules to fetch!  The Challenge was set to be 30 days long. 

Today is Day 16 of the Training Challenge, and I thought I would tell you how we are doing.  I am working with both my mules.  My little Welsh mule LOVES this challenge!  Yesterday he not only went over to the bone (I borrowed a rope bone from our dog) and picked it up, but turned and walked a few steps towards me then moved his head so I could reach the bone.  He has come this far in only a couple of weeks.  Of course, he has been clicker trained for the past two and a half years or so, and he really likes working with the clicker.  Actually, he probably really likes the treats he gets after the click, but I also truly believe that it is pleasing to him to receive approval from me. 

My Appy mule is not enjoying this at all.  She readily grabs anything I hold in my hand, and is to the point where she will pick her toy up if I drop it in front of her, but she doesn't always go to it when I toss it, and she has not gotten past this point so is not anywhere near giving it to me.  I actually realized yesterday that she really is not enjoying this, so I am going to let her stop, and I will find something else for her to do that she does enjoy.  She seems to enjoy the toy though, so I may just take it out and let her play with it if she wants. 

So, how do you go about teaching your equine to fetch?  Well, first of all you OBSERVE your equine.  Observation will tell you what your pony's tendencies are.  If your pony is grabby, like my Appy mule, you can probably skip over the first step.  My Appy reached out and grabbed the target the first time I held it up; this is standard procedure for her.  She grabs first and checks to see what she got later.  If you have a pony that is like this, be sure to decide what your "word" is going to be before you get started.  I started out with "Ta-a-a-ake it", to be sure to differentiate from "Touch it".  This way you can teach your pony what he is and is not supposed to take with his teeth.  Also, be sure that whatever object you choose to work with is easy for your pony to pick up.  I started both my mules on a sturdy cardboard tube from a roll of foil.  Then I switched to a squeaky bone for my Welsh, and a Jolly Ball for my Appy.  My Welsh mule could not pick up the bone, so I "borrowed" a rope bone from the dog.  It is much easier for him to pick up, so the dog now owns the squeaky bone.  My Appy mule is having a hard time getting to the handle of the Jolly Ball, which may be contributing to her lack of enjoyment of the whole process. 

If your pony is not grabby, then you will start with the first step - targeting.  Hold up whatever you choose to have him fetch and ask him to target it.  See how he does.  Once he is targeting it, then you can hold it against his lips.  When you touch his lips with it, click and treat.  After a bit, you can gently press it in between his lips - click and treat.  Then you can wiggle it a bit while you press it.  Eventually his lips will part.  If you continue to gently press it between his lips and towards his teeth he will eventually separate his teeth.  When he does this and the target touches his teeth, click and give a jackpot.  You want him to know this is what you want!  Continue working until he is actually taking the target in his teeth. 

Once he is taking the target readily from your hand, you can start moving your hand downwards.  Have him take it from you lower and lower, until you finally can lay it on the ground.  Once he is taking it from the ground, you can start putting it a bit farther to the side so he has to move his head to pick it up.  Then move it a bit more so he has to move his feet. 

If he picks it up and holds it, that makes it easy for you to take it from him.  If you want, you can "backchain" this behavior.  This means that you will reinforce behavior that is at the end of the process.  It is a good idea to have a "word" for this too.  I am using "Give".  If your pony is not holding the target, that is okay, you will just keep moving forward one step at a time.  You will gradually drop or toss the target farther and farther away.  At first you will click for any step towards the target, gradually waiting longer and longer until your pony arrives at the target and touches it.  Some ponies will already be used to picking up the target, so they will pick it up when they get there.  Just observe your pony and see if you need to click for just moving towards the object or touching, or if you can wait and click for picking it up.  You might need to click for an in-between-step of putting teeth on the target. 

If you have a hankering to teach your pony a fun game, then playing fetch may be just what you were looking for.  So take the next couple of weeks, pick a target/toy, and go out and have some fun with your pony.  We'll talk about the remaining steps in the next column, and I'll let you know how far we got by the end of the Challenge. 

Until next time, Happy Clicking! 

EagleGirl

Member Photo Gallery

from myhorseluv

These are our cats,Fluffy in the front, Ri-Li in the back, Zack on the right and Pasty on the left. 

Zack jumping through a hoop.

from AlexandraAlways

from Britnie

Last weekend(March Thirteenth), the head trainer put on a clinic. I was able to ride in the afternoon part of it on Sunday; A wooden pallet was put out, with "wooden waves" after it. I'm sure no one expected the baby horse to go over it, but guess what? Yuniya was among the brave!

from Poalover

Horses Coco, HardRock, Seymour, and me

Bear

Doc

Member Art Gallery

by Amanda Ellen

by Tjacko3

by Nat2

Here is another Harley cartoon!

by Cory101

 

Dear Pony Pals Send in your photos, stories and drawings for our contests. e-mail them to Contests@ClubPonyPals.com or mail it to: Club Pony Pals 16654 Soledad Canyon Road #382 Canyon Country, CA 91387 USA If you want a bookmark make sure and include a mailing address where we can send it. Please include your user name and the email address you used to register in your letter, too. Webmaster

 

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Pony Pal Thoughts for the Day:

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____________________

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~ Captainpony274

_______________________

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~ Poalover