Post by Admin on Feb 3, 2016 16:55:19 GMT -7
Teach your horse what it means to point to something!
NOTE: Make your other cues NOT pointing a finger! Like, if you want to teach your horse to back up, don't use a finger to point. Stick your hand out, flick your fingers, etc. but don't point.
First, without your horse looking, set the treat on a surface. Point to the surface and wait for a reaction. If your horse doesn't seem to understand after about 30 seconds of pointing, pick up the treat, put it in front of your horse's nose, then lower it back down slowly to where the treat was, continuing to point at it as it lowers down. Then your horse will eat it! Continue to practice on the same surface until your horse atomically reaches down and grabs the treat. Now, find another surface to set the treat on. Set it there (without your horse looking, have someone distract your horse for you while you set down the treat, or you can toss a toy on the ground or toss a few handfuls of hay down to distract him) and then call your horse over. Point to where the treat is. Once your horse follows to where your finger is pointing and find the treat, pet him and tell him he's a good horse!
This is good for building communication! This will eventually aid in other exercises as well!
NOTE: Make your other cues NOT pointing a finger! Like, if you want to teach your horse to back up, don't use a finger to point. Stick your hand out, flick your fingers, etc. but don't point.
First, without your horse looking, set the treat on a surface. Point to the surface and wait for a reaction. If your horse doesn't seem to understand after about 30 seconds of pointing, pick up the treat, put it in front of your horse's nose, then lower it back down slowly to where the treat was, continuing to point at it as it lowers down. Then your horse will eat it! Continue to practice on the same surface until your horse atomically reaches down and grabs the treat. Now, find another surface to set the treat on. Set it there (without your horse looking, have someone distract your horse for you while you set down the treat, or you can toss a toy on the ground or toss a few handfuls of hay down to distract him) and then call your horse over. Point to where the treat is. Once your horse follows to where your finger is pointing and find the treat, pet him and tell him he's a good horse!
This is good for building communication! This will eventually aid in other exercises as well!