Clicker Training

[alexa]

I have been reading about this and am interested so will try to book into a course during next year (not in cold weather though as found East Leigh cold even in July!!). I understand that first of all I need to understand and be able to do it correctly, then once home start so that the horse gets the picture and enjoys it. Then the real stuff as why I want to do it ,  itis to see if I can help him over his problem of biting, he hates to be groomed and doesn't like either rugs being adjusted (i.e. while out the rug as pulled back so the front is too tight, have to pull it forward in order to undo the front fastening as to tight to undo otherwise. He lunged and luckily for me got my mac which has now a huge hole in it. Doing up girth ditto, even going very slowly in stages is bad.  Do you think clicker training could be of any use here ?? This is not pretend biting this is real but he never bites for no reason, you can go into his box at any time as long as you leave him alone and don't fiddle.  I so hope this can help, what do you think ??
regards
Alexa

[Becky holden]

Hi Alexa,

First of all i'd ask myself why the horse is reacting in such an aggresive way. If he was just tickleish or didn't really like rugs to much i'd say yes clicker training would help but to be biting and meaning it is a dirrerent matter all together. Horses usual love being groomed, my instinct would be to think the horse is telling me something here, may be theropy of some kind would help just to make sure. Bowen treatment or something like that. Once he gets the all clear as far as it being related to pain then clicker training would help remove the memory and help him enjoy being handled again.
How long have you owned him, whats he like to be ridden ect...

Becky  

[alexa]

I have asked myself this question many times over the years and conclude that he has been treated badly and agressively at some point and he now reacts in this way to anyone doing certain things that he finds uncomfortable. I have owned him 7 years and he has always been like this - I used to think that with kindness he would get better but this is not the case. He raced from 3 years to 8 years at which point I bought him. Now I just have to control his head when I groom as I am not taking more risks. Yes he has a thin skin and fine hair in Summer but it is not even the hardness of the brush that makes a difference, he does the same if you use a cloth. His back is checked periodically by an osteopath and he has an SBS saddle, it is maybe remembered pain from the dim past. He may well have been knocked around as he is very big and most of the lads at racing stables are quite small so maybe it was the only way they found to control him, now I think he just wants to get his agression in first before someone agresses him.  There is no problem with vets, injections, shoeing etc etc.  I live in France and I don't know anything about Bowen nor what it is exactly. He is fine to be ridden, general schooling and hacking out, he is not jumped and we do not compete. He lives out as it is better for his general health and stress levels. He is a big powerful horse and this is the one really negative point. I was hoping to perhaps have found a possible solution.  

[Becky holden]

Hi Alexa

sorry its taken me so long to reply!!

He is a big powerful horse and this is the one really negative point. I was hoping to perhaps have found a possible solution.

Well clicker training is probably just what you need! Two good books i recommend you get are clicker training for horses by Alexandra Kurland and Don't shoot the dog by Karen Pryor. Like you said your horse has bad memories from somewhere before you owned him as long as you have taken the steps to check there is nothing phycically wrong with him clicker training is what most defiantly will turn his life around.
To begin with you need to condition the noise as a noise your horse will like hearing, usually we use a target that the horse touches to make us click with gets him his treat. I'd work away form the things your horse doesn't like first of all then slowly introduce it to make the things you've decribed more enjoyable. You will be clicking and treating a lot at first but because this way is so positive your horse will become more positive too.
I've been clicker training quite a while now and it never ceases to amaze me what it can do.

Look forward to hearing how you get on!

Becky  

[alexa]

Thanks, he bit me badly on thursday and mashed my right hand, my own fault as i got lax. Am tring to type this with left hand as had to have an operation on the right hand  .  Cannot ride, drive, cook, iron etc etc. Life is very difficult right now.
Will def do something about clicker training nrxt year.
regards
Alexa