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Message |
    
Sarah
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 1999 - 7:47 pm: |   |
When I first discovered this forum, I started reading at the top. I was thrilled to see some posts about teaching horses how to do tricks. I posted a note, but there had been no response, so I suspect no one has looked. If you have a minute, and can offer a word of advice, please go read that post, and tell me what you can about teaching my horse how to take a bow. Thanks! =) |
Teresa A
| | Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 1999 - 7:49 pm: | |
Hi Sarah,
I taught my horse to bow and I'll outline my method. I based on positive reinforcement and using "steps" to acheive the final response. Now I touch him behind his girth and make a soft "ch ch" sound and he will bow. keep in mind I've worked on this very slowly over the past year. I liked doing it this way because if felt more like a game and this way I didn't put excessive pressure on him.
1. First of all have many small pieces of carrots or apples or whatever your horse likes.
2. Have your horse standing with a halter and lead line.
3. stand on his/her left at the shoulder.
4. crouch down and hold the treat close to the ground. When he (mine is a he) dropped his head I gave him the treat and a "good boy" or some such praise.
5. You'll see him begin to anticipate that putting his head down results in the treat. This is great. NOw you want to "shape it" so that he does it in response to a specific cue ( at this point a clicker would likely have helped). to get closer to the "bowing motion" hold the treat a between the front legs and a little back. He's likely to put one foot forward.
6. now before you put the treat down to the ground use a specific signal RIGHT before. I used a soft tape behind the elbow and a "ch ch" sound. then repeat the above steps.
7. Look for your horse dropping his head as you give the signal. This means he's begun to associate the signal with "If I drop my head now there is a treat in it for me".
8. When this happens, put a pause between the signal and giving the treat. Wait for him to drop and then reward immediately.
9. When he was doing this consistently, I began to give only the "good boy" when his head dropped and gave him the treat when he came back up.
If at any point your horse becomes confused back up a step and repeat it more. Obviously he's missed something and needs some more practise. ALWAYS BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR SIGNAL AND REWARD. Be clear in your mind what you are willing to accept as a response and reward only that. For example, at one point my horse began to paw in anticipation. All I had to do was to reward only when the front leg was still for 2 seconds. He no longer paws. I also only worked on it for 5 minutes at a time. This prevented me from trying to rush it. IT doesn't have to be perfect right away. As he learns you can "fiddle" with the final product. My horse liked it because the treat made it fun.
Let me know if you have any questions. |
laura
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jul 7, 1999 - 2:52 pm: | |
How do you teach a horse to bow under saddle? Would it be a good idea, or could it turn sour on you? |
Rich Hubbard
| | Posted on Thursday, Jul 8, 1999 - 11:08 am: | |
I have a 7 year old tenn walking horse I would like to teach to park out,any advice? |
Sandra Mirza
| | Posted on Friday, Jul 9, 1999 - 1:06 am: | |
Rich, I would love to have my Tenn.Walker to park out also, send me a note if you get an answer to this will you?? I'll check here or if you would e-mail at durhammo@futureone.com it would be great.Sandra ,Az. |
Carole Fletcher
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 17, 1999 - 10:34 am: | |
I am a professional trick horse trainer, and have performed and given clinics with my trick horses for 23 years. I have taught my horses fifty tricks over time. Parking out is what we also call "stretching," and once that is taught, can be led into the circus bow. No, the bow from the saddle is not dangerous or won't sour a horse at all, if taught properly. Most of the professionals use a crop for the finished cue, rather than hold a carrot down for what I call the "carrot bow."
For more info, you can visit my website, all about Trick-Training at: www.trickhorse.com. There you can learn the "tricks-of-the-trade!" |
