One of the interesting things I find about Clicker Training is that many people, who either aren't familiar with it or have never had the opportunity of working with clicker on a regular basis, can't think of practical applications for clicker training.   Sure it's great for trick training, I hear.  It's even moderately fascinating to non-horsey people but it's really not practical is it?  Isn't it?  

So instead of showing you pretty photos of all the fabulous complex behaviours* that my horse knows, here's an article about clicker training and a problem that I see every time I see a group of horses and riders tacking up.  

The simple act of putting a bridle on a horse can be an interesting moment of people watching.  For a good many, of course, there is no drama at all but my guess is that about 80% of horses show their displeasure in some way.  From the minor resistance shown with a moments hesitation opening a mouth right through to the outright fight of a clamped jaw and head raised to full height.  Owners join in this fracas, shoving thumbs into jaws and grabbing ears and noses to bring the recalcitrant under control.
 
For someone like me, this is pretty amusing.  I'm always silently encouraging the horse because it is so amusing to see sane, intelligent humans being frustrated in such a simple task, time-after-time.  I wonder how many people are actually thinking that this is the way it has to be? Or does anyone ever think - you know this is annoying me and my horse, perhaps I could stop this sillyness and train my horse to accept the bridle...

Well, you know you can and its very simple.  Imagine what it's like to get rid of all those annoying little things about horses - all those things that put you into a bad mood before you even start riding.   What if you could just hold out the bridle and the horse would do the rest - well okay, we have a small problem with the buckles, they're a bit fiddly for hooves  - so the horse will do the bits that annoy you if you have a hard to bridle horse.  Or if you are a mad clicker trainer, what if you could run around the place with a loose horse chasing after you, with the horse getting frustrated because HE wants to put the bridle on and you're mucking him about!! Now that's what I call fun!  Imagine how much better your attitude is when you can turn problems into fun!

Okay so how do we start to turn problems into fun.  Well first, of course you need to look at anything that isn't ideal as a problem to be changed.  Then familiarise yourself and your horse with clicker training. 

Now to tackle bridling.  Assume the bridle is a target - if you've already taught your horse to target then this is easy right? First you will simply click\treat you horse each time he\she accidentally touches the bridle (if its a real aversion to the bridle, start by click\treat when the horse is near to or even looks at the bridle). 

As soon as the horse starts to think about touching the bridle, do NOT be tempted to move the bridle towards him\her.  This is the biggest mistake you can make.  As the horse begins to reliably touch the bridle - start moving it away.  Just a few inches at first - but make it a little harder to touch.  Move it down or sideways (never up) and ask the horse to reach for it.  As he gets better, start walking a few steps.  At this stage you are only asking him to touch it - anywhere - but you already have turned the bridle into something desirable.  Something the horse wants.

Now lets make it harder (assuming that the horse is 80% reliable at touching).  The horse only gets clicked for touching the bit.  Again, resist the urge to move the bridle up or to go for the 'goal' when the horse does touch the bit.   This bit gets a little messy - best not to try it with your best show gear!!   Get the horse reliably touching the bit - then make it harder.  This horse is going to SOOO want to put this bridle on.   Let the noseband, throatlatch or reins dangle so that the horse really has to work to find the bit.  Each time he correctly touches the bit - click\treat and withdraw the bridle from him again.  It's about now when the horse will start mouthing the bit, maybe even trying to grab it because you are being such an annoying owner.

Now we're there.  Now you have a horse that wants the to put the bridle on.  The last step is possibly the hardest to resist forcing.  When you horse is reliable (80%) at touching and mouthing the bit only.   If he hasn't already begun putting the bit in his mouth begin moving around, so that the horse now has to follow you and find the bit.   The movement will cause the horse to have to grab the bit in order to touch it.  Your goal is to have the horse put the bit correctly into his mouth (not just the front teeth) and leave it there as long as you want, in any position you want.

I don't care if you hide it behind your leg - it's mine	Yep , got it

   


*by the way the major reason for training tricks is as much about teaching the trainer to teach them as it is about demonstrating something that will catch an audience's eye

© Horse Play 2006