The association of the clicker with food will continue to grow throughout your training but this first lesson is always special.  I've always found it to be a fun, easy and extremely quick.  I've always managed to condition the clicker and move straight on to teaching the first behaviour in the first 5 minute session.  There's a little sparkle of recognition that occurs when the animal understands the clicker is the signal for food and then you have a world of fun in front of you.

However, this moment of recognition isn't always seen so easily by others.  I usually explain in lessons or seminars to look for the ears of the horse flicking toward you as the click! is heard. This is quite an overt signal and most horses will give it.  Sometimes, however, animals can be more subtle than a full on ears pricked or head turn.  One of your skills with positive reinforcement, hopefully with any training method, is to really tune in to what the horse is doing.  

Not seeing the lightbulb moment can be a sign that you are not concentrating on the horse.  If you are used to commanding your horse then it is not in your nature to watch your horse for feedback or even pay real attention to your horse.  This is a change that needs to take place.  You need to put aside your own ego and be willing to wait, to be in the background and observe while your horse performs instead of taking the starring role for yourself as trainer.

Alternately, you may be sabotaging the moment with an action.  Rustling in the treatbag, talking in an attempt to encourage the horse,  being too quick to deliver the treat and a number of other minor distractions for the horse can all sabotage the lightbulb moment.  You need to learn to be quiet with both your body and voice and let the horse work. 

Back to Basics - How to Condition the Clicker.

Conditioning the clicker is a process that should only take a few minutes.  I have spent as little as 3-5 clicks with some horses and they get it!  Others will take a little longer but even the slightly dimwitted tend to take just a few minutes to cotton on. 

 

To begin:

• Click! the clicker and feed a treat.   If this is your first time ever using a Clicker - the Click! noise is actually a two part sound 'Click-clock' as the metal lever is first depressed and then released.

• Repeat

• At this stage you are teaching one thing only - that the click! noise is heard and then a treat appears.  The horse will enjoy this magic trick and quickly associate the noise with the treat.

• For the first 4-6 times feed the treat quite quickly after the Click! is sounded.  Then begin to slow down the treat a little.  Just a few seconds but so that there is a discernible pause between sound and food.

• Look for signs that the horse has recognised that the clicker sound means food will appear.  These may be subtle or overt.

• If you think the horse has got the message, test your theory by pausing your Clicking for a moment.  Wait till the horse looks away or moves his head slightly.  Click! but do not make any motion to feed a treat for a few seconds.  Does the horse's ear hear the sound and then the head start to swing back to you in anticipation of the treat? If so Voila! you have taught your horse about the clicker.   If not continue with your Click! feed routine for another little while and then try the test again.

• Ensure you do not feed near your treat container. Never let the horse steal treats, nip or threaten you for food.

Slow eaters tend to be the longest to grasp the concept, simply because there is a longer time between click\treat repetitions. 

Gluttons will be a doddle, unless they are so bad mannered that they spend the entire time trying to steal from the treat bag.  If this is the case, don't be afraid to train from outside a stall or from the other side of the fence.  If they get rude - walk away and show that this new exciting game is for well behaved ponies only.  Return after 30 seconds or so and continue.  If things get really out of hand - leave!  Start again the next day.  Any continuation of the previous behaviour - leave without any warnings.  This time come back in 10 or 15 minutes.  If there is another repeat, leave for another day.  If you've tried 3 days running and the rude food behaviour is making conditioning difficult.  Swap to food chucking. 

Food chucking means that you will provide treats but not by hand.  Throw the treat on the ground or in a food bowl as soon as the clicker is clicked.  Food chucking can be done from outside a stall or paddock fence and further removes you as the target of any rude behaviours.  Once the clicker is associated the first behaviours you will work on are all food manners.  It is through teaching these food behaviours that you will get rid of rude behaviour not through ignoring the behaviour and never feeding treats.