Have you ever heard the phrase “You can’t teach an old dog a new trick?” Many people assume that once an animal gets to a certain age or practices an unwanted behavior a certain number of times, that it will be hopeless to try to train the animal a new behavior pattern. However, nothing could be farther from the truth!!
Stella is a little bay quarter mare who came to our rescue at the beginning of June. She turned 20 this year. Stella had been a brood mare most of her life and was never trained for riding. She did not know how to load into a trailer or pick up her back feet. (We were told not to even try to trim her back feet. She had kicked at several farriers and injured one.) As well, we were told that she had to wear a halter in the pasture and, even then, she would be impossible to catch.
In the past month, she has learned how to load into our trailer and pick up her back feet. As well, she is now easy to catch and even our high school volunteers can catch her without any problem. She has quickly turned into quite a friendly little mare and learned that she does not have to be shy and skeptical around us.
We’ve also started working on some basic ground work with Stella. She has been playing on our new obstacle course and has learned how to walk over the bridge and over the cavalettis. We also recently introduced Stella to an English saddle and she looked pretty sharp all saddled up!! The short video below shows Stella’s progress with trailer loading.
Watch on YouTube: Clicker Training a Horse to Trailer Load using Shaping
We plan to start riding Stella this summer after we do a bit more ground work with her. Since she’s a pretty mellow, laid back mare, we think she will make an awesome horse for trail riding or light riding. We’ve had a few people laugh, since we are starting a 20 year old mare under saddle. However, it’s never too late for training! Since she is older, she probably won’t be able to do competitions or strenuous riding. However, she is a healthy little mare who will make someone a fun little riding horse for at least a handful of years.
I will say that you are totally right! I’ve been working with an 11 yo Haflinger gelding who was a school horse. He’d been pulled on, ridden roughly, treated bad for years and discovered the way to cope with all that was to just lay down, and it didn’t matter if someone was on his back or not. His mouth is so hard! His neck so stiff that a one rein stop was impossible.
After a month of clicker training he is transformed! He loves having a new way to communicate. He loves it that anyone would even care to communicate with him. On our last training day, last week, he was being ridden around in a round pen, making circles with a soft flexed neck, and then carrying on. His owners called it a miracle.
Awesome, Sharon!!
Clicker training and positive training can seem like a miracle, in the way it transforms horses who have only known less than pleasant training techniques. The Haflinger sounds like he has been a lot of fun to work with.
~Mary
She’s a beauty too, such a nice expression on her face. She must be a ton of fun to work with.
Way to go Mary !!!!
Thanks Dionne!
Sis/Stella has made a TON of progress since you were here a month ago. Wish you were here to see her!
Mary
I would have to agree. My 19 year old appy has learned to put his head down into the bridle and open his mouth. I used to have to pry his mouth open. I took him on a ride without his buddy in a trailer, then we rode on trails with other horses and he so calm and relaxed and I was his buddy..
My two old dogs died last year at 14 and 15. The eldest was still the first one of the pack — that included two considerably younger dogs — to learn any new trick. I could always rely on the two eldest boys to consistently perform their repertoire and to learn anything new while the younger “sand baggers” just sat by. — So much for the myth!
Are you treating your horses with cheerios or ?? Obviously, it isn’t something they have to spend munching on. She seems like a sweet old girl and would make some lucky kid a great companion. Keep up the good work!!! Impressive! Kari in MN
Hi Kari,
Thanks for the question!
I have in the past occasionally used cheerios with the horses, just to add a bit of variety to their life. 🙂
I find, though, that some horses don’t like cheerios. I do use cheerios (and other cereals) extensively with my rats and my parent’s dog. For the rats, I break each cheerio into 4-5 pieces! 🙂
Almost all the time with the horses I either use their daily feed or commercial horse treats. I usually buy peppermint flavor treats — the horses love them and they are very easy to break into small pieces (so that the horses don’t get too many).
Stella is a very sweet old girl! She is currently in a great foster home. They have been working with her and even riding her some. Hopefully we can find her the perfect home.
cheers,
Mary