Navigation

Are you interested in animal training?

Mary Hunter and her horse Apollo


On this site I share stories of my animal training adventures, information about the science of animal training and behavior, and tips and advice to help you improve your training.

Join me as we explore the best training strategies for creating fast learning, effective communication, and enthusiastic, willing animals.

If you’re new to Stale Cheerios, I recommend that you start by visiting this page to learn more about Stale Cheerios and that you visit my Top Posts page.

~Mary Hunter

Recent posts from the StaleCheerios blog

Are Riding Helmets Necessary? Pt. 2

By on August 4, 2011 in Horse Training

Okay, one more soapbox post about helmets, then I promise that we’ll get back to talking about training. I posted at the end of July about my opinion of riding helmets. I shared an article, including this quote: “If you think you don’t need a helmet then you should look your son, daughter, spouse, or […]

Continue Reading | 8
cricket right side

Cricket’s Ground Driving Progress

By on August 3, 2011 in Horse Training

Cricket and I spent quite a bit of time working on ground driving last week. We had a session nearly every day and he made some great progress! Cricket is three. And, while I’ve sat on him a few times, he really doesn’t know a whole lot about being ridden. With our young horses, I […]

Continue Reading | 3
blossom, a young paint horse, walks over the cavaletti

Are you listening to your horse?

By on August 2, 2011 in Horse Training

I rode Cricket, one of our little paint ponies, yesterday morning. It was a short, fun bareback ride. It’s really too hot to do any really intensive riding. When I went to get on him, he lined up perfectly for the mounting block. However, as I sat down on him, he took off walking. Oops!!! […]

Continue Reading | 5
running5

Rain, rain, where are you?

By on July 28, 2011 in Fun Photos

We are in the middle of one of the worst droughts that Texas has seen in a long time. No rain, and VERY hot temps! The high yesterday was 105 F and the high today is 103 F. The horses are pretty miserable. They spend most of the day standing in the sheds or huddled […]

Continue Reading | 6