Treats vs Rewards. Plus Pixie and I hit another milestone!!!

If you see me at the barn most likely you will also see my treat bag on me or attached to my saddle. I am one of a very few people that carry treats with them at the barn. And I think I am the only one who has a clicker with me. I am an oddity at the barn because I feed treats, and due to that fact I get lots of questions regarding the feeding treats. So I thought I would do a post on what my techniques for feeding treats and training are:

1. There is a big difference in feeding treats and rewarding your horse for good behavior. I do not just freely hand out treats to my horses. They work for them and earn them. I am not treating them, I am rewarding a good behavior!

2. The MOST important step when rewarding with food is to first teach food manners! My horses do not get rewarded for mugging or nipping! They are first taught to look away from me. (Navi is still learning this one) Now once they are respectful around the treats I can be more relaxed with how and where I feed them. Take Pixie for example, I can feed her in any location or position because she has learned to take the treats nicely. However, Navi, I have to watch my timing and her position carefully as not to ruin my own training.

3. I use positive reinforcement training (clicker included) in which I use the treats as a reward. This is a very systematic training method that requires good timing as with any other method of training. It is very possible to do it wrong and create a horse that is mouthy, but if someone takes the time to learn how to do it correctly it is a kinder approach to horse training and one that your horse will love!

4. I have been teaching this method of training to dogs for 10 years now and started with my horses just a little over 3 years ago. I still learn everyday how to improve my timing and approach. Every new behavior I teach my horses I am learning along with them since I am new to using this method in the horse world. This method involves not only the training, but managing the environment in which you are training in. The animal must be set up for success!



On to Pixie and I :) We accomplished her targeting my hand with her butt, lol! 2 years ago I set out to teach her to back up with me standing behind her. And now we not only have backing, but direction change too. This is done at liberty with no pressure and release. I can't wait to see how far we can go with this!

Mounting Block

Navi and I have officially mastered the mounting block at liberty. She is now to the point where she will line up on her own and wait for me to get on :) I, of course, am clicking and treating after I am mounted. We had a great session two days ago where I got on and off 4 times. The last time we walked off before I dismounted. She is flexing nicely both directions while I am on her too! We are finding the softness that I hoped to achieve before riding her again. :)

Learning and Behavior

This last week I spent a day on the road with some good buddies of mine from the barn. It was a fun road trip with some good conversations. And you know of course that when you get 4 horse ladies in one truck that training and trainers will eventually come up as a topic! It was a good conversation and it got me thinking about how and why I train the way I do. I have grown so much in the last 4 years as a trainer. But this post isn't about how I train...I want to break down the 4 Operant Conditioning Quadrants.

This will be a very simplified post to just get the basics out there. I believe if you are training an animal you should at the very least know and understand what method you are using and why it works or doesn't work.

The Four Quadrants

• Positive Punishment
• Positive Reinforcement
• Negative Punishment
• Negative Reinforcement

I will list a few examples of each. It is important to remember positive and negative are not referring to good or bad, but as adding and subtracting. You are adding or taking away something to ether increase or decrease a behavior. It is also important to note, that before using any of these methods you need to know what behavior you are not wanting and what behavior you want in place of it.

I will start with my favorite methods:

• Positive Reinforcement- Here you are adding something to make a behavior more rewarding and increasing the likely-hood that the horse will repeat the behavior. Example: I reward Pixie with praise and treats when she stands still at the mounting block.

• Negative Punishment - Here you are taking away something good to decrease a behavior. Example: If Pixie doesn't stand still at the mounting block I ignore her taking way all praise and treats.  

My least two favorite methods are:

• Negative Reinforcement - Here you are taking away an unpleasant thing to increase a behavior. (This is the most used in horse training, often referred to as pressure and release). Example : If you want to stop your horse you pull on the reins creating pressure and pain in their mouth the pressure is released when they stop.  

• Positive Punishment- Here you are adding something unpleasant to decrease a behavior. Example: Your horse moves while you are trying to mount so correct them by pulling on the reins or yelling at them. 

I did list Negative Reinforcement as one of my least favorite methods, but I do use it. However I find that as the years go by I am using it less. My goal is to be the most humane trainer I can be and to always give my horses a choice when safe to do so :)

Saying No

Yesterday I received an invite to participate with Pixie in a Demo at the NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition), which is a huge multiple day event in this area. Participating in the NILE is huge and something I have wanted to do for the last two years! It was a honor just being asked to be there! Showing the world what Pixie and I have accomplished would be amazing! So why does my post titled Saying No?
Well because I turned down the invite. Why would I turn down the chance to do something I have always wanted to do? Something I may not get another chance at doing.  Really the answer is simple...it is because of Pixie. Would she be able to do it? Yes, I think she could have, but I don't think she would have enjoyed it. We could have trailered over early, and she would have calmed down enough to listen to me. Even so she still would have been stressed to a certain point. Pixie and I have reached a point in our relationship that we can work through most stressful situations just fine, but it doesn't mean I want to expose her to them on purpose. In the end it boils down to this...Pixie and I have come this far in our relationship because I always try to put her first.  And while performing at the NILE would have been our chance to show everyone what we have accomplished, it would have been putting Me first not her.

 So Saturday I will be spending all day at the NILE enjoying all the great demonstrations, sale booths, and horses they have to offer. While my Pixie girl will be at home in her pasture with her herd enjoying a quiet day :)

My Favorite Time of the Year!

Fall has arrived!! I love love love fall! I always enjoy getting out and enjoying the beautiful weather. Plus seeing all the amazing colors of this season. Yesterday was no exception as I went out for a 3 hour trail ride with one of my friends at the barn. We had a great time exploring the ranch!

The rain was moving in

The path home. Love this trail!

We watched a storm roll by as we headed home

As we come on top of the ridge the view was amazing!

cow pony in the making :)

Pixie and I. This horse is my heart and soul!