You were recommended to me by a German breeder of Arabian horses for over 40 years, whom I have seen no one like her at understanding horses, yet her criticism is sharp. Corinna Schmid Bindl described you saying: "This lady is beautiful." I have found your videos even beyond her words. You are truly magnificent. Above and beyond anything l may have words for. Thank you.
Most of us (lets face it) only load our horses when we need to go somewhere. We are asking them to walk into a small space that moves unpredictably, its noisy, and they cant escape if they are frightened. Thats a huge ask of any animal, especially a flight animal, compounded when the only time they are exposed to this is when they are shut in and moved. Even with my easy loaders, i often do walk throughs, walk ins to a feed, walk ins and short stands in the box etc randomly without going anywhere so that expectation of going in and moving is gone. It makes for a much more relaxed affair. My less easy loader is hugely more relaxed and they all associate the box with some good munching more than a scary unpredictable space.
Was worried about using food with cob , however this has really worked and gives her motivation , also it gives me an insight for when she’s really worried ( as she stops eating ) I loved the informative video ,especially the time lines given .
My filly hadn't been in a trailer in 2 years. She wasn't afraid to get on, she just couldn't see the point. 😂 I pulled out a carrot , and she climbed right in. Eventually we'll get there without food too, but if all it takes is a healthy treat to get her immediately on, I'm not letting notions of "better" training techniques get in the way of progress.
Hi! I never use food for training, even on foals or young horses. We actually do something super similar to you when preparing to trailer. We do a “sending exercise” where we lunge them back and forth between us and a fence, which is a narrow gap. Usually they rush through, but towards the end they get comfortable with the narrow gap and walk calmly. We do pretty much the same thing when we trailer on each side of the trailer, then at the entrance. I’ve personally never had a problem loading horses, even my mare’s 2 month old foal in the summer when she needed her feet done (we travel to our farrier). I did use treats/food a lot with my first horse and the results didn’t reflect the time spent in my opinion. Also, it takes a LOT more time for what I’d say are inconsistent results. I’m not opposed to training with food, and I do give my horses treats pretty regularly, but they’re not a reward during training unless I’m doing tricks. Even while doing tricks, I don’t introduce the concept using treats as a reward.
I totally agree re foals I would only use very gentle stroking otherwise they get way over stimulated. Totally agree with the potential pitfalls of using food. We spend time at the beginning introducing food in a calm way and also having an end of session so they know when there are no more treats coming so there is no confusion. Thanks so much for commenting I’m just starting to do my UA-cam properly and it’s great to know what people think 💕🐎💕
I’m anti food, always have been. I bought a horse last year that is EMS & Laminitic due to constant treats, poor feeding habits,lack of exercise. Its taken me 8 months to not only get him healthy but off all treats. He now behaves and connects well but still has enormous anxiety issues with being trapped in trailers and lorries.
That’s great you have sorted out his issues. Hormones are released into the body when eating so that is what I am trying to do. Is to change the feelings the horses have about certain situations. It works best if a horse has little or no anxiety so Is done with baby steps. When a horse enjoys scratches the same hormones are released so the training can be done this way. It can take a little more effort as the horse needs to be relaxed enough to enjoy the scratches but the results can be mind blowing. Thank your comment
All my horses floated with no problems. Take time and no force. Actually, I learnt to be very wary of open floats when riding my mare as she would try to load on any float she could Horse and rider don't fit in the attached
I do agree to use food or treats if it will help the horse feel better and experience a more pleasent time but im not a fan of clicker training so much.
clicker training is just marking the behaviour you want so it give the horse clarity. If your timing is off it can cause confusion. I mark with my voice and so its not so precise as a clicker and i can use different sounds for different things
Really good point and something I should have mentioned. Thank you. Yes it’s a really help having a calm horse around. In some of the clips to there is another horse in the lorry. I find with the trailers sometimes it’s a claustrophobic feeling and so I might not have one in there but I might have one tied near by. Or even standing on the ramp coming out with their heads looking in ❤
One must be careful with the idea that circulates that it has to be the horses idea to in. Yes it does but it must be tempered with our idea that we make the decision to go in and out otherwise horses tend to do it from obedience rather than having been trained according to go in and come out with no resistance.
I agree everything should be a balance. I think with this horse who after 7 hours was doped to be loaded we need to establish trust and confidence from that we can build on obedience. 💕
You were recommended to me by a German breeder of Arabian horses for over 40 years, whom I have seen no one like her at understanding horses, yet her criticism is sharp. Corinna Schmid Bindl described you saying: "This lady is beautiful." I have found your videos even beyond her words. You are truly magnificent. Above and beyond anything l may have words for. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. Arabians love this sort of training they are so intelligent. Many thanks 🙏
Most of us (lets face it) only load our horses when we need to go somewhere. We are asking them to walk into a small space that moves unpredictably, its noisy, and they cant escape if they are frightened. Thats a huge ask of any animal, especially a flight animal, compounded when the only time they are exposed to this is when they are shut in and moved. Even with my easy loaders, i often do walk throughs, walk ins to a feed, walk ins and short stands in the box etc randomly without going anywhere so that expectation of going in and moving is gone. It makes for a much more relaxed affair. My less easy loader is hugely more relaxed and they all associate the box with some good munching more than a scary unpredictable space.
OMG I’m in heaven. Just found your channel. I feel like I’ve found my tribe.
Was worried about using food with cob , however this has really worked and gives her motivation , also it gives me an insight for when she’s really worried ( as she stops eating ) I loved the informative video ,especially the time lines given .
So few people cotton on to the way they eat being connected to how they feel. Its is often so helpful. Great its helped your cobs motivation 🐎💕
just realised its Beatric's mum. Hi
My filly hadn't been in a trailer in 2 years. She wasn't afraid to get on, she just couldn't see the point. 😂 I pulled out a carrot , and she climbed right in. Eventually we'll get there without food too, but if all it takes is a healthy treat to get her immediately on, I'm not letting notions of "better" training techniques get in the way of progress.
Love it
Incredible, so nice to see empathetic training ❤
Thank you for your kind comment
So impressive
I'd love to be able to do it like that
Really great explanation
Thank you, I've got a long way to go with my voice overs. its normally just me and a horse but I need to try and get information across, ill get there
Best advice always found on your Chanel as to how to understand the mind of my animals
Thank you very much.💕🐎🍃
Another great video
Another great video.
Let's do it again
Thanks again!
Hi! I never use food for training, even on foals or young horses.
We actually do something super similar to you when preparing to trailer. We do a “sending exercise” where we lunge them back and forth between us and a fence, which is a narrow gap. Usually they rush through, but towards the end they get comfortable with the narrow gap and walk calmly. We do pretty much the same thing when we trailer on each side of the trailer, then at the entrance.
I’ve personally never had a problem loading horses, even my mare’s 2 month old foal in the summer when she needed her feet done (we travel to our farrier).
I did use treats/food a lot with my first horse and the results didn’t reflect the time spent in my opinion. Also, it takes a LOT more time for what I’d say are inconsistent results.
I’m not opposed to training with food, and I do give my horses treats pretty regularly, but they’re not a reward during training unless I’m doing tricks. Even while doing tricks, I don’t introduce the concept using treats as a reward.
I totally agree re foals I would only use very gentle stroking otherwise they get way over stimulated. Totally agree with the potential pitfalls of using food. We spend time at the beginning introducing food in a calm way and also having an end of session so they know when there are no more treats coming so there is no confusion. Thanks so much for commenting I’m just starting to do my UA-cam properly and it’s great to know what people think 💕🐎💕
Amazing 🤩🤩
Brilliant
Thank you! Cheers!
Fantastic!
Many thanks!💕🐎🍃
Really informative I had no idea that was possible. 🐎🐎
Thank you. It took me a while to learn this as I used to use a lot of pressure. But it’s a game changer
I’m anti food, always have been.
I bought a horse last year that is EMS & Laminitic due to constant treats, poor feeding habits,lack of exercise. Its taken me 8 months to not only get him healthy but off all treats. He now behaves and connects well but still has enormous anxiety issues with being trapped in trailers and lorries.
That’s great you have sorted out his issues. Hormones are released into the body when eating so that is what I am trying to do. Is to change the feelings the horses have about certain situations. It works best if a horse has little or no anxiety so Is done with baby steps. When a horse enjoys scratches the same hormones are released so the training can be done this way. It can take a little more effort as the horse needs to be relaxed enough to enjoy the scratches but the results can be mind blowing. Thank your comment
Good post.
Thank you 😁
😅 I love these videos. I feel part of it and so useful , really interesting. I wish I could load difficult horses like that
Thanks so much for the comment. I am sure your could, its just practise
All my horses floated with no problems. Take time and no force. Actually, I learnt to be very wary of open floats when riding my mare as she would try to load on any float she could Horse and rider don't fit in the attached
It sounds like you've got a lovely bond with your horse💕🐎
He's so pretty and unblemished.
He is so good at keeping clean too. Luckily
Wow
Yes
💕🐎💕
I do agree to use food or treats if it will help the horse feel better and experience a more pleasent time but im not a fan of clicker training so much.
clicker training is just marking the behaviour you want so it give the horse clarity. If your timing is off it can cause confusion. I mark with my voice and so its not so precise as a clicker and i can use different sounds for different things
Leavd the trailor out in the field, open. They'll check it out. Leave food inside. They'll go in to eat.
Make sure the trailer fits the horse.
Would one horse follow an acclimated horse into the trailer?
Thank you ☺
Really good point and something I should have mentioned. Thank you. Yes it’s a really help having a calm horse around. In some of the clips to there is another horse in the lorry. I find with the trailers sometimes it’s a claustrophobic feeling and so I might not have one in there but I might have one tied near by. Or even standing on the ramp coming out with their heads looking in ❤
One must be careful with the idea that circulates that it has to be the horses idea to in. Yes it does but it must be tempered with our idea that we make the decision to go in and out otherwise horses tend to do it from obedience rather than having been trained according to go in and come out with no resistance.
I agree everything should be a balance. I think with this horse who after 7 hours was doped to be loaded we need to establish trust and confidence from that we can build on obedience. 💕