Shaping a Horse to Stand on a Pedestal

This is a video I found yesterday that I really like. It’s a great example of a trainer setting the animal up for success and then patiently clicking successive approximations to the final goal. Horses are curious by nature and are usually interested in exploring new items in their surrounding. If we can reward even the tiniest try when they offer to explore their surroundings, we can improve the animal’s confidence and avoid the force and coercion that so much of the horse world depends on.

Check out the shaping tag for more articles and video examples of shaping.

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7 Responses to Shaping a Horse to Stand on a Pedestal

  1. Kate October 15, 2009 at 10:04 am #

    Very neat stuff – I’ve just started using clicker and it’s fun for the horse and me. I have one horse I trained to do pedestal with soft pressure/release, and it did a lot for her confidence.

    • Mary Hunter October 15, 2009 at 2:39 pm #

      Sounds great, Kate.

      It’s interesting how much horses really seem to like pedestals. It can really help to improve their confidence. Also, pedestal work is fun because you really get that light bulb moment when the horse figures out the puzzle.

      Mary

  2. Free ads Ireland October 26, 2009 at 2:24 pm #

    There’s a sense of fulmillment, or accomplishment at the end of the video. Very true your appreciation on the rewards

  3. Bigdoggy97504 March 25, 2011 at 5:57 pm #

    I’m new to this idea but am very interested in it. I’m currentley making pedestals an would like training tips on the best ways of aproching this new training or if interested please contacted me at bigdoggy97504@Gmail.com

  4. shop ürünleri February 9, 2012 at 3:06 pm #

    Nice information 😉

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Shaping a Horse to Stand on a Pedestal | Stale Cheerios -- Topsy.com - October 15, 2009

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Laurie Luck, KPA CTP, Lisa-Anne Manolius. Lisa-Anne Manolius said: Lovely! Clicker training horse RT @barrie Shaping a Horse 2 Stand on Pedestal RT @cheeriotrainer http://bit.ly/4qEJOa […]

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