Apollo recently learned how to take a bath using clicker training. We did this completely at liberty AND with him standing in a yard full of yummy green grass.
The process we used was similar to what I did when I taught Mouse about baths. Check out the video below to see exactly how we did it! (Or read about the steps I used with Mouse.)
Baths Don’t Have to Be Scary
Many horses are afraid or uncomfortable about getting a bath. They dance around and can’t stand still. However, bathing your horse doesn’t have to be this way! With a bit of clicker training, we can train our horses to love baths.
If we shape the behavior gradually and split the training into tiny chunks, the horse can be comfortable and relaxed the entire time. This means we have to be what Alexandra Kurland calls a “splitter” and not a “lumper.”
Horse Training at Liberty
While training Apollo to take a bath, we worked completely at liberty. Although he sometimes had on a halter or lead rope, he was never tied and I was never holding him or forcing him to stay in one place. He could leave at any point.
Working at liberty is a great way to see if there are holes in your training. If the horse is too distracted, concerned, scared or unmotivated to stay with you at liberty, then you are probably asking for too much to soon. With Apollo, I had to start by reinforcing him for standing still at liberty while I walked around him, before we even introduced the water and the hose.
Apollo has come a long way so far this summer! Just a month ago we were still working on halter training. However, in the past month he has really made quick progress and become much more comfortable around people. (By the way, Apollo is currently available for adoption in Texas for $300. You can read more about him on our horse rescue’s website .)
Do you have your clicker here, or are you just rewarding? Great work, by the way.
I was always clicking before giving a treat in this video.
For part of the time I think I was using a mechanical clicker. Most of the time, however, I just make a “click” sound with my mouth. It’s helpful with the horses since I’m often holding a lead rope in one hand!
Mary
Really well done Mary! Excellent video and accomplishment.
omg i love ur how to video!!! my horse is terrified of bathes and it usually takes 2 ppl 3 hrs!!! thanks for everything
Thanks for commenting. Sounds like you horse probably is pretty scared. How about going back to the beginning and trying to reteach bathing?Clicker training works great for this, but other training methods work as well. Find a point where the horse CAN be relaxed. This might be someone holding the hose with it 10 feet away or it might be dribbling water on the horse with a sponge. Then very gradually and over a matter of sessions increase what the horse will accept. Always remember to reward the horse when he does something right! Take away the hose and water. Using clicker training and treats can help sweeten the deal.
Let me know how it goes!
nice vedeo…
teaching how to bath a horse with patience and appropriate manner…
this is a very usefull tip that you have shown…