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Message thread at CPP
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***Clicker Club***Hi Golden Swallow. Does she try to bite you any other time? There is a reason for her biting; you just have to figure out what it is. Could she be uncomfortable or in pain somewhere? Could she perhaps be disgruntled for some reason?
If you are picking out her hooves without help, then it is a good idea to tie her up short before you start. This will keep her head where she cannot turn and reach you with her teeth. Then, observe her carefully as she is standing to see if she appears stiff or sore anywhere.
Before you ask her to lift a foot, make sure she is standing in a balanced position. My appy mule used to lean on me and threaten to fall down when I tried to pick out her front hooves. Once I figured out I needed to check how she was standing first, I realized her back feet were not placed properly. I took care of that by moving her around until they were solid, then I began to work on picking up her feet using the clicker. The combination of getting her positioned and working step by step with the clicker took care of it. She now lifts her front feet on voice command. I still have to lift her back feet, but she is very cooperative.
I'm assuming you are familiar with clicker training, and have already charged the clicker with Missy. If you haven't, that is where you need to start. If you go back and read the messages in the club, you will find more information on that. Once she knows what the clicker means, you are good to go.
If you are not riding her, then you can get away with not picking out her hooves for a while. Use this time to work on simply handling her feet. Stand in position, and as soon as she is standing quietly, click and treat. Repeat this a few times, until she is standing calmly and quietly when you are in the position to lift her feet. If she is antsy, you may have to work on this for a while. If she is really bad about trying to swing her head to bite you, you will need to work on that first.
Remember that the key to clicker training is to break down your process into tiny steps. And observe your horse carefully. Try to always end each session with a success. If Missy doesn't "get" something, then back up to the last place she was successful and start over from there.
This is pretty condensed, but if you go back and read the messages on this board, and you go back and read all the clicker columns in the Wiggins Weeklys (before the column was moved to the magazine), you will have a much better idea of how to work through this. Many of the clicker columns are posted here on the board. I will put it on my to-do list to post the rest of them.
Good luck with Missy. Please feel free to ask any questions, and also let us know how you and Missy progress.
If you need to pick out Missy's hooves to ride her, then go ahead and do that. But be sure to tie her short to protect yourself. | 
EagleGirl & Deerslayer | | 2011-12-27 06:59:45 | | | hi! i have a dog named fearless that i've been training to do agility jumps and stuff and i've heard about clicker training. how do you start your dog or teach it to react to the clicker? | 
9966332 & Indy | | 2012-01-05 20:57:06 | | Hi 9966, have you "charged" the clicker yet with Fearless? This is where you teach him that the click is followed by a treat. The easiest way to do this is take him to a quiet place and arm yourself with treats in a pouch. Click and immediately offer him a treat. Do this several times. He should quickly learn that the click means a treat is forthcoming. It may take just a minute, or it may take days, or even weeks. Every animal is different. My Welsh mule "got it" in about five clicks, but my Appy mule took quite a few lessons.
Once you've done this, you are ready to start working. Just pick what you want to work on, and think about all the steps entailed. Then start at the very beginning and take small steps. If you can tell us what you want to work on first, maybe we can help you break it down.
Have fun!
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EagleGirl & Deerslayer | | 2012-03-24 20:56:00 | | Well, how is everyone doing? Are we getting any clicker work in? I have not been doing much, but I am beginning to feel better and am hoping to start doing some clicker work with my mules.
I checked to see if Little Man remembered how to fetch the other day. Indeed he does, and he still enjoys it! Is anyone else going to teach their pony/horse how to fetch? If so, please let us know how it goes, and feel free to ask any questions you might have. |
EagleGirl & Deerslayer | | 2012-04-26 21:59:02 | | | Checking to see if it was active. I post on a club if it's not active. | 
Nat2 & The Price of Valor | | 2012-05-09 22:59:33 | | | thanks i like this club | 
Jane Crandal & JB | | 2012-05-09 23:17:00 | | I have a funny story about the results of clicker training. Everyone on here knows the story of how my Welsh mule was so terrified when I got him that I couldn't even touch him. It was only because of the clicker that I was able to reach him.
Well, the other day I brought my Appy mule in the back yard to graze, and I was grooming her while she grazed. The Welsh mule was watching, and when I went out to him I took the halter, figuring I would have to halter and tie him because he was upset at being left out.
I went out and turned around to hang the grooming bag on the fence post. When I turned around I almost bumped into him. He was standing broadside about a foot and a half away from me, in perfect show stance, eyeing me as though saying, "Groom me! Groom me!" I had to laugh.
He stood right there and let me groom him for a long time. He even lifted up a front hoof to let me know that I hand't picked out his hooves yet.
See what clicker training can do? It turned a terrified, impossible-to-work-with mule into a big pet that tells ME what to do! |
EagleGirl & Deerslayer | | 2012-05-13 04:07:13 | | | LOL I like that story! |
Jane Crandal & JB | | 2012-05-13 19:31:14 | | | Okay, so in my club that I share with Rustygal, "The Horse Shelter", I have a pretend horse who is headshy. JC said that I should use clicker training on her. How does that work? I've never really read or heard anything about it. I was thinking about doing a join up with Faithful. | 
Maid Mairain & Dawn Rising | | 2012-05-18 14:29:04 | | | Um. MM... It was my horse that was HS. | 
ParelliChick & Lady of the Mist | | 2012-05-21 22:32:31 | |
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