Just have to share a clicker trainng success here
Now I am a beginner to this, but was lucky enough to see Heather and Becky in action training their horses back in the summer.
Well I did a bit of c/t over the winter with my 2 pones. All I did was get them to touch a tennis ball on a stick with their noses, then click and treat. Took one a day to catch on, the other about a week. The looks on their little faces when the penny dropped was priceless!
Then got them to step back/sideways and pick up feet on request, and that was easy too. They are usually pretty well mannered anyway, so nothing really new there, just the eagerness to please that is so enchanting.
Anyway, of late I have been having a little difficulty bringing the pair of them in for the night, particularly windy weather or if I'm late up and all the others are already in. One in each hand, and the small one getting bolshy, wanting to go in quicker than I do. Ok she's only little but still a handful when its dark and I'm trying to keep on my feet in the mud. And if I get annoyed with her she gets annoyed right back - its like having a little snorting dragon on the end of the rope :
So, for a few evenings now I've gone out there, pockets full of treats, and spent a moment getting them backing, moving over etc, before bringing them in. Then on the way in we stop and start on command, and guess what - they are focussed on me and behaving perfectly. So much nicer than having a battle - safer too. I'm kicking myself for not figuring it out earlier
But better late than never!
