Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

I’m not of the camp that believes all those who are labeled as experts (self or otherwise) are horsemen. In fact, most true horsemen are very humble and will quickly admit the learning process never ends. I commend those who have achieved high levels of acclaim for their accomplishments, but that doesn’t mean their approaches are always right for the horse.

The horses I work with know when they’re doing something right. Body language, “good girl” (it seems I get mostly misunderstood fillies coming in here) accompanied by a pat or a scratch to start in their most favored attention spot, and the fact that someone is willing to try to listen to what they are attempting to communicate (this is huge) and respond with a flexible approach, sends the message loud and clear to most.

I get concerned with any formula approach put out there as right for all when it comes to horse communication and training. In my experience, every horse is different and pat approaches may work for some, but the challenging cases (who are often also the the most stalwart and determined competitors) seek a give-and-take approach that let’s them help choose how to proceed.

Of course, I’m not a clicker “expert” , nor am I likely to compete on an Olympic team, breed a Triple Crown winner or be heralded 1000 years from now for my equine insight. Still, I’ve seen hundreds of cases come in here and it saddens me to witness what other’s have unwittingly done to these poor horses by trying to systemitize the early training with equines that don’t fit into their minds-eye program. A good number of these cases have come from people who are self-described pros.

And perhaps the “most” who you see use it are no better at clicker training than any other technique. I couldn’t agree more that a relationship with a horse which truly respects his/her preferences, strengths, weaknesses, etc is the way to go. Clicker training should not be a “trick” to teach anything. It is a form of communication that enables us to tell the horse when he or she has done something that we like- whether a skill that leads to a performance horse or a skill that keeps horse and handler safe to just hang out together. One still needs a huge box full of tools (including an ability and willingness to read the horse) in order to train horses.

I also know that troubled horses can have trouble with clicker training as they can with any type of training. These individuals need really careful attention so as not to overwhelm them with any type of request. But once they are in a place they feel emotionally as well as physically safe, then the opportunity to know when they have done something right is such a gift! So many of them have been punished for their efforts and never been told when they were right. They love to find that they can get creative in their attempts and work with a person as a partner who interacts with them in a fair and compassionate manner.

Great conversation- Mary I hope you’ll kick us out if we have unduly hijacked your blog !

Sorry for taking so long to respond, but this has been a busy week.

Personally, I’d like to see higher level dressage tests (and even the lower level ones) created and read at the event vs. a rehearsed series of expected and timed requirements. That would really demonstrate the connection with horse and rider and the ability of both to work as a team.

On the clicker issue, I don’t agree that it teaches them to think (at least as most use it – although Mary’s link to the gal who indicates it’s more important to focus on what they are doing before the click . . . goes a long way toward making this a more effective training tool). Bottom line, I’ve found basic horsemanship resulting in building relationships with horses that encourage a thinking horse enthusiastic about a team approach for tackling challenge to be far more effective than any of the latest fads being presented as catch-all formula approaches. Each horse is different and being able to read their preferences for learning vs. trying to impart our pat lesson precepts makes for a much happier, engaged – and thinking – horse.

On your cited ‘experts’ my reaction to this is these must be truly incredible horses. There’s always the exceptional case – or the comfortable learners with what we decide is our right way – but I’ve found over the years that the best way to engage a horse is to listen with a creative approach to their stated needs. Clicker doesn’t offer horses the opportunity to be heard and understood. Instead, it puts our design on the learning process and conditions the horse to react vs. express.

As to your question, I’ve spent much of the past twenty years working with young and/or troubled TB racehorses. More recently, I’ve transitioned to Irish Draught Sport Horses.

We all have our own experiences to draw from, don’t we . I find I always learn something from the experience of others (even if it’s what not to do).

I would be happy to have a sideline with you on my feelings about clicker (you are welcome to send an e-mail directly) as I do not feel this provides the space or the right forum for an indepth discussion, but, in short, I have found clicker to be right for dogs, but not horses. It gets the job done, but, particularly if your goal is a thinking performance horse, the student tends to become reliant on the treat and focused on pleasing their humans (vs. excited by the challenge and eager to operate as a team and a creative problem solving partner). It’s a short-cut that comes with a cost, in my opinion, of course.