(This collection of posts had been initially posted on instagram in June 2023. Discover me at: #alexandra.kurland.5)
Robin helps me demo the “contact the goblin” recreation. This can be a focusing on lesson that helps horses achieve quite a lot of confidence interacting with novel objects.
As all the time, I’m utilizing a constructional method, which means this lesson makes use of abilities that I’ve taught beforehand. I wouldn’t start by asking an anxious horse to comply with a goal as much as one thing that worries him.
That may be like having you contact a tarantula in alternate for 100 {dollars}. You would possibly do it. 100 {dollars} can purchase quite a lot of hay on your horse. You’ll contact the tarantula – actually quick and perhaps you’ll be flinching whilst you do it. You’re nonetheless afraid of the tarantula, however you touched the goblin and bought your hundred {dollars}.
That’s not what we would like for our horses, so the sport begins by having them orient first to plenty of objects that they’re already conversant in and don’t fear them. You’ll additionally start in environments the place your horse feels snug.
I’ve added a toboggan and a few cardboard containers to the barnyard. Robin is reminding us that turning your again on a goblin and strolling calmly away is simply as vital as approaching a goblin. I bear in mind years in the past watching a really daring rider pressure her nervous horse to face going through a scary mailbox. As quickly because the horse had his again turned to it, he shot off like a rocket. She was fortunate she didn’t fall off. Horses present us how vital it’s to take heed to them and to regulate our coaching to fulfill their wants.
Issues I like about this photograph: Robin is working at liberty which suggests he has the choice to depart at any time. Alternative is a vital a part of Fashionable Horse Coaching.
I like how relaxed he appears as he walks away from the goblins. He’s following each the goal and my physique orientation. He could also be at liberty, however that is additionally very a lot a lesson on main.
Every thing is related to the whole lot else.
Fashionable Horse Coaching – Be Artistic!
Good coaching doesn’t imply you might want to spend some huge cash on coaching tools.
I’m instructing Robin to place his nostril right into a loop fashioned from a vacuum cleaner hose. The hose could be swapped out for cardboard containers of various sizes and depths, pool noodles held in a loop, and plenty of different objects.
How does this enable you? Take into consideration all of the “garments” we ask our horses to put on. This turns into haltering, bridling, placing on an over-the-head blanket, accepting a grazing muzzle, and so forth.
The enjoyable of constructional coaching is you might be instructing part abilities that may then be used for a lot of totally different behaviors. It’s a really enjoyable and environment friendly technique to educate.
Fashionable Horse Coaching: Be Artistic!
Robin has realized to place his nostril down into many alternative objects, together with cardboard containers.
Now I’m utilizing backchaining to show him to come back to me from a distance to place his nostril right into a cardboard field. Backchaining means I start by standing very near him so it’s straightforward for him to place his nostril into the field. Then I progressively transfer additional away from him so he has to take a number of steps to get to the field.
Proper now this can be a cardboard field. Later it could possibly be a halter I maintain out to him. Take into consideration how you need to use this lesson to assist a horse who’s anxious about being haltered. You’re utilizing objects that don’t have the earlier associations {that a} halter has for that horse to show him the essential abilities that may assist him to be snug with halters.
The cardboard field shall be swapped out for different objects reminiscent of pool noodles held in a loop till finally the horse is prepared for halters. You’ll now have a horse who sees you holding a halter in your hand. As an alternative of turning away, he’ll come from a distance to place his nostril into the halter.
You’ve been framed!”
Fashionable Horse Coaching results in inventive options and plenty of enjoyable video games!
Robin is placing his entire head and neck into this cardboard body.
Take into consideration all of the methods this easy recreation could be reworked into helpful abilities. It’s an incredible prep for placing a blanket over your horse’s head. Is your horse anxious a few halter or bridle going up over his ears? Video games like this are an incredible prep. Possibly you’d prefer to trip in a neck ring. Once more that is nice prep.
Video games like this are enjoyable for each the horse and the handler. And so they easy the best way for a lot of different dealing with requests we make of our horses.
Need to study extra? My new guide, Fashionable Horse Coaching, is offered by my website: theclickercenter.com and from Amazon and different booksellers.