THE DIFFERENCE IS ATTITUDE!

Learning from Oliver and using clicker training.

By Margie Donde (this article appeared in the HQ magazine)

Being on a horse’s back for the first time at age twelve was an awesome experience. I remember the sense of power under me and at the same time such gentleness from these large animals. I was instantly hooked and all my spare time from then on was spent walking, grooming, playing, riding, loving and dreaming horses. My interest in horses lay in schooling and doing dressage. I was fascinated with how a horse learns; noting that some learned faster than others. I have spent most of the last 30 years schooling horses and riding dressage. My experience was that a clever willing horse would work better for me than one that may have the talent but not the temperament.  
However money was always an issue and I tended to inherit other peoples cast offs. Recently I decided to breed hoping that I could have a more quality horse without necessarily having to spend the tens of thousands of Rands that a good horse costs these days. I used my thoroughbred mare and bred her to an Andalusian Stallion. Equinox Centaur or Oliver as he is affectionately known was born in October 2000. Right from the start he was an inquisitive and outgoing foal. When only a few hours old he happily walked up to dogs and a horsebox and gave them both an inquisitive nibble. As he grew he bullied his mother, biting and climbing all over her and developed into a pushy hyperactive youngster. I patiently worked with him using everything that I had ever learned to teach him manners and gradually started lunging him in preparation for riding. He was constantly pushing the boundaries – crowding, biting, running into me and refusing to stand still for longer that a second. I didn’t enjoy working with him and my patience was rapidly running out. Frankly, I was at my wits end.

I heard about clicker training through a friend of mine who was backing her youngster, who was the same age as Oliver now aged three.

I was extremely sceptical. How could I risk feeding a horse that constantly bit anything in range? The poles in the paddock, the lead rope, me! Surely this would just make more problems. Feeding him seemed like the wrong thing to do!

With much scepticism I went to watch a lesson.

What I saw was a three-year-old colt being worked loose in the school. He lunged around the trainer without a lunge line, he offered walk, trot and canter, halted and backed up on command. He also willingly offered different behaviours. He was asked to jump loose over a jump – not only did he jump it but turned around and jumped it again. However the most exciting thing for me was his attitude! His eyes were bright, he was interested in his surroundings and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his work. He worked with utter joy.

I was absolutely fascinated. What if I could get my youngster to work that way? I started clicker training with Oliver the very next week. Within a few minutes he had got it. By the end of the lesson he was backing up out of the trainer’s space, offering the behaviour in order to get the reward. As the hour progressed he was biting less and less and standing still for a second at a time. When learning to execute a turn around the hindquarters to the left, he was only clicked and rewarded when he crossed his front off fore in front of his near fore. Within a few minutes he had worked it out and did the turn correctly. He was really bright and learned very quickly – we also learned very quickly to keep him occupied and direct his hyperactive behaviour in a more positive and appropriate direction. By the end of the session he settled down considerably and was co-operating and even trying to anticipate what was being asked of him. In fact every time Jenku arrived to teach, Oliver’s head would come up, his ears would go forward and he would run around the paddock in utter excitement and go towards Jenku.

Clicker training uses the same basis as Richard Maxwell – pressure and release. The difference is that Richard Maxwell is very quick to make a distinction and is very quick to apply pressure and release appropriately so that the horse understands very easily and there is no confusion. His consistency also provides clarity and there are no grey areas for the horse. However for most of us we may not be as quick and as clear as Richard Maxwell. This can cause our horse to be confused. In clicker training, the release and reward is very clear and there is no confusion for the horse. This makes it very easy for the majority of riders to use. Clicker training is about positive reinforcement. A huge benefit of this is that it changes the rider’s attitude. The focus goes from what is wrong to looking for what is right – what can I reward – This change of attitude and focus will also influence the horse positively.

Instead of dominance and force, clicker training gives the horse a problem to solve, sets him up to succeed and the first step towards success is rewarded therefore there is a huge motivation for the horse to keep trying and to solve the problem. This also stimulates in the horse problem solving, thinking and co-operation. The power of positive thinking! With a click and reward for the appropriate behaviour, the horse instantly understands that it has behaved correctly and it therefore gains the correct attitude. This increases the motivation to co-operate.

There is a saying that comes from Neuro-linguistic Programming that says “Behaviour is geared for adaptation. The present behaviour is the best choice available. Behind every behaviour is a positive intention; identify the positive intention and offer more choices!” I learned from clicker training that Oliver’s hyperactive behaviour was as a result of his extreme intelligence and intensity not naughtiness and if I am able to channel that intensity towards what I want he is a joy to work. .

It is so easy to buy into “the horse is wrong or naughty or just being impossible to annoy or provoke his owner”. If I loose my temper it displays my lack of knowledge and understanding and has nothing to do with the horse.

I have learned from clicker training that horses are so much brighter than we think. If they are not doing as we ask – we are either asking something that they don’t yet know how to do, or they are confused as to what we want. Either way we need to find the solution -break it down into smaller junks – look for what you can reward to motivate and encourage the horse to come up with a solution. In the words of Mark Rashid from the book Horses Never Lie “Reward the smallest try and you horse will start doing as you ask!”

Oliver is now going very well – he is still a very busy horse but I am able to direct him. He stays out of my space, is able to stand still for longer and longer periods, lunges with his head down and back rounded without any gadgets and even comes round under saddle. He does basic walk, trot and canter, leg yielding, turns around the hindquarters, basic shoulder in and backs up whilst being ridden on a halter only. I also allow him playtime – he chases a ball, climbs on a pedestal, does Spanish walk and fetches a Frisbee. This allows him to free his mind and express his exuberance however they all also have training value – i.e channelling his energy in a controlled direction but also building up his neck muscles when he plays with the ball, using his shoulder freely for Spanish walk and standing on the pedestal helps him with balance and bringing his hind legs under the body – all necessities for a dressage horse

Creating a willing partnership with a horse has been a new and freeing experience for me and one I intend to continue.

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