Teach to Touch

Part 2 in Begining Clicker Training with your horse.
By Georgia Bruce

What do I need?

A target this can be any bright object like a gumboot small traffic cone or ball.
A clicker
A horse - that knows how to "look away".
A bag of treats
A rope halter and lead.

How do I start?

Stand facing your horse with the horse onthe other side of a fence stable door or wall.
With your clicker in one hand and your lead rope and target in the other hand offer the target to your horse to smell. As soon as your horse reaches towards the target "click" then wait for your horse to look away and then give it a "treat".
Offer the target to the horse again, as soon as the horse reaches toward the target "click", "look away", then "treat".
Keep repeating until the horse is touching the target consistently, try to click when the horses nose and the target are touching, the timing is important because it tells the horse exactly what behaviour gets the "treat".

What next?

Keep repeating the process untill your horse is consistently touching the target straight away. Then try and keep up with your horse!! They will get very quick at the touch, treat game. Make sure you click, treat for every touch. If you accidentally click, wait for them to look away then give them the treat anyway. Take the target away when you are finished.

How often?

Short frequent training sessions are the best method for teaching a new task. 5-10 minutes a couple of times a day will get you and your horse going well.

What now?

So now your horse touches your target every time straight away Congratulations! You are ready to move on to the next lesson "back off".