Clicker Training 101: Attitude

April 7, 1:02 PMClicker Training ExaminerEve Alexander

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Patty Symonds and Cinco playing the Sideways Game.

When you begin clicker training, it will be so different from the conventional training you’ve seen, you might feel a bit lost and insecure because you’ll be out of your ‘comfort zone’. So, let’s talk about a clicker trainer’s attitude.

Clicker trainers understand that all animals have different personalities and there is not just one way to train every horse or dog.

As a clicker trainer, you’ll observe your animals and learn what motivates them. A fearful horse will respond to routine and trust-building exercises while a confident horse will enjoy surprises and varied activities.

Clicker trainers are patient and kind teachers.

Think of your horse as a student and remember what it was like yourself to be a student. Which teachers inspired you? Which ones gave you stomach cramps? Be the good teacher, who genuinely wants her student to do well. When you take responsibility as being the teacher there is never a reason to get angry or upset with your student. Set your horse up for success. Make it easy for your horse to know which response is correct and then reward generously. If your horse didn’t ‘get it’, you just didn’t ask right – remember what you learned from the wrong response and try something else.

Clicker trainers focus on the training.

Since we know every horse will learn at its own pace and in its own way, you’ll pay close attention to how the horse responds or reacts to your cues. And do this deeply focused training and observation for short periods of time, maybe just a few minutes to half an hour, once or a few times a day. There is no need for mindless repetition like the trainer who sits in a chair reading a magazine while lunging a horse for 40 minutes. Clicker trained horses are thinking horses. They learn and remember what you teach them unlike the horse who is prodded to perform.

Clicker trainers have fun.

View every training goal as learning a trick. The world-renown natural horsemanship trainer, Pat Parelli, says he plays games with horses. So, even if you're teaching your horse to stand still while you mount, call it a trick. Put as much energy and enthusiasm into teaching something mundane as you do a really special trick like bowing. Isn’t it more fun to play with horses and learn tricks than to work or school your horses?

Email your questions to eve@tricknclick.com.

For more info: 
SNAPP
Parelli Natural Horsemanship
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