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from Maid Mairain

from Ole Miss

EagleGirl's Clicker Club Training Column

The last couple of columns were devoted to teaching our ponies to fetch.  We
talked about the various steps involved in the teaching process.  We also
briefly mentioned the fact that not all ponies are inclined to fetch, and
that some of them might not enjoy it at all.  So, if you want to "play" with
your pony, how do you know what "game" to choose?

One option is to ask around and see what games other people are playing,
pick one that sounds good to you, and set about analyzing it and figuring
out the steps you need to take to teach it.  This method can work really
well for a lot of people.  Sometimes a trainer will have such a rapport with
an animal that the animal is willing to try pretty much anything the trainer
wants, just because the animal enjoys pleasing the trainer so much.

But what happens if you pick a game or activity that your pony really,
really does not like, or is not well-suited for?  If you persist, you might
eventually succeed in teaching your pony to "play".  But will your pony
enjoy it?  Possibly not.  Is it worth it?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  If you are
attempting to teach your pony something that is not necessary for him to
know, and he, well, hates it, you are not building on the good relationship
you already have.  In a case like this, it might be advisable to drop the
game and choose something that your pony will enjoy.

So how do you pick something your pony will enjoy?  Remember the key to
success in clicker training.  OBSERVATION.  Observe your pony.  See what
sorts of things he does on his own.  Then see how you can incorporate those
things into a game, trick, or other activity.

When my mule and I finished the 30-Day Training Challenge, he was ready to
do something else.  He really enjoys doing things, and I think he enjoys
trying to figure out what I am going to do next.  Sometimes I can actually
see him second guessing me, and he will offer a behavior I have not asked
for.  If your pony has some behaviors that he seems to enjoy or find easy,
then start with those and see what transpires.

We have a platform in our pasture; my husband made it out of a wooden
palette.  It is large enough that a mule can stand on it.  It is pretty
close to the fence, and I noticed that my Welsh mule will step up on the
platform so that he can get closer to me than my Appy mule.  So I decided to
build on this.  I walked out the gate and over to the platform.  When my
mule walked up, I moved over and gestured to the platform.  He moved towards
it, and right before he lifted his hoof to step on it I said, "Up!"  The
instant both hooves were on it I clicked.  Now, if he had not been already
stepping on the platform on his own, I would have broken the behavior down
further, and begun with clicking the instant he shifted weight off a front
foot, then lifted, then put one foot over the platform, then one foot one
it, etc.  But since I knew he was going to do what he has been doing and
step up, I just waited until both front feet were on the platform.

After I treated him I petted and praised him.  Then I stepped back and
waited for him to step off.  He stood for a long time, and I kept waiting.
When I saw him ready himself to move, I said "Down".  As soon as both front
feet were on the ground, I clicked.  Again, had he not been doing this, I
would have broken the behavior into steps as explained earlier.  But, I knew
he was coming down, so I just waited until he was there, then clicked.

We did this several times.  "Up."  "Down."  "Up."  "Down."  "Up."  "Down."
"Up."  "Down."  He pawed a couple of times, so I thought we might as well
put that on voice cue.  I chose the word "Tap", probably because it's the
first word that came into my head, and I didn't have time to think about it.
So I took two fingers and tapped him very gently on the foreleg, and said
"Tap".  He pawed.  I clicked as soon as his hoof touched down.  We repeated
this a bit on his right side, then I moved to the other side of the platform
and worked with the left leg.  He tried to paw his right foreleg, but I kept
working until he was pawing his left one.  I wanted to make sure that he did
not confuse this with "Lift for me," which is the voice command for him to
lift his foot so I can hold it and pick out his hoof.  So I worked with
"Lift for me" a few times, grasping his leg and holding it, then clicking to
reinforce. 

I noticed he tended to stand, quite nicely in fact, for a bit before getting
down, so I worked on putting that on voice cue as well.  After he stepped
"Up" I clicked and treated, then waited.  I said, "Stand", and waited, then
clicked and treated.  I gradually lengthened the time before I clicked, then
I started stepping back just a little.

This whole process probably took ten minutes or less.  It would have taken
much longer had I been starting from scratch.  But since I was just putting
cues with something he was already doing, he caught on quite rapidly.  He
had a lot of fun, I felt like a fantastic trainer, and we both ended up very
proud of ourselves!  Now, I do understand that he just makes me look good,
but I can be pleased that I am able to read him and work with him.

You can do this with your pony too.  Just look for things he is doing
already, then see how you can put them on cue and incorporate them into a
larger activity.  Be sure to think through things, and make sure that you
are not teaching something that could be negative.  For instance, you might
not want to teach your pony to rear or open a gate, because he could do this
when he isn't supposed to.  And of course, be cautious if you teach him to
"tap" or "paw", because someone could be standing in the wrong place
sometime, and get hit with a hoof.  Just imagine how pleased and proud you
will be when you invite your parents into the pasture or back yard to watch
your pony go through your very own obstacle course!

Until then, happy clicking!
EagleGirl

Harley the Horse Cartoon
by Nat2

Hero Horses Club

Please vote for the horse you think deserves an award.
The award can be made by a member (I can hire one)

Horse #1 - Smooch by Hope

The first horse Smooch is a cute Grey POA Gelding about around his 20’s. Smooch Is completely blind. He was a therapeutic riding pony. He was so trusting and dependable that nobody knew for awhile. Then when it was found that he could not see, nobody wanted him. So a man that worked at the center took him. When I met him, I walked into the stall and, holding out my hand, said “Hi, Smooch boy.” He looked a blind, look but one full of wonder. Then he went on eating and trusted as if he trusted and accepted me. When his owner called his name he gave him the most loving, trusting look I have ever seen from pony. His owner told me that he is so trusting that he can ride him every were. So I think Smooch deserves the award for faithfully giving his best years in life to help disabled children and for loving and trusting his owner.

Horse #2 - Appaloosa Horse by Hannahxx

The second horse I know a 25 fully blind appaloosa and I ride her. She is a legend. She can walk, trot, canter and gallop. I love her to bits.

Member Photo Gallery

from Misspippy

The one of me riding: Me and Slew in the indoor arena practicing our dressage test. This was the Intro B test(Walk,Trot.) Our show is May 1st, its my first show on him, I am very excited.I will send in some pics of my show after. Sorry for bad quality, it was taken from my phone, and its a snapshot from a video.

The one of Slew & me in bunny ears: I had to dress Slew up for Easter! We filled his eater basket with treats, and he had his entire nose in it! It was very cute ^_^

Thank you CPP! You rock:) -MissPippy

Member Art Gallery

from Kaitlin2010

Kaitlin writes: I AM HAVING A CONTEST!!! I AM ENTERING IN 3 DRAWINGS IN THE DRAWING OF THE WEEK CONTEST! THEY EACH HAVE ONE HIDDEN WORD IN THEM. THE WORD IS, TOAD, THE FIRST ONE TO W-MAIL ME AND TELL ME WHERE IT IS, WILL WIN 2 CHOICES OF ITEMS FROM THE GIFT CATALOG, PLUS ONE OF THE DRAWINGS. THE DRAWINGS ARE OF A BARREL RACING HORSE, A FOAL BEHIND A FENCE, AND A BUCKING HORSE. THE OTHER ONE THAT I AM SENDING IN OF THE HORSE WITH THE WINGS IS-NOT-FOR THE CONTEST, I REPEAT, IT IS NOT FOR THE CONTEST. . Good Luck PPs!! Kaitlin2010 :D

 

by PintabianDreamer

 

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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This Issue's Cross Country Course Winners:

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Pony Pal Thoughts for the Day:

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~ PicassoGirl

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