How Meals Puzzles helped Rita the Unapproachable Mule

On this weblog I shared how I used to be plateauing in clicker coaching Rita. Rita remains to be unapproachable at this level, nonetheless we made nice progress within the weeks I’ve been coaching her!

Solely two weeks in the past I began to understand that I used to be beginning to plateau in coaching. I didn’t see progress anymore, one thing that may be a clear signal of heading in the direction of the top of a lifeless finish road. It’s essential to flip round! That’s arduous as a result of you need to let go of your method and that may be a psychological threshold for a coach!

Learn right here how the meals puzzles helped lower stress and enhance studying. One of many milestones was that Rita stepped on the mat! Not as soon as, however a number of instances! I couldn’t bridge it (that will be too tense for Rita, see this weblog), however the truth that she provide this completely new behaviour a number of instances is a large leap ahead!

The HippoLogic Clicker Coaching technique I educate 6 Key Classes, primary behaviours for horses, so that you could simply prepare advanced behaviours sooner or later. For Rita I believed Mat coaching can be too superior, however she proved me flawed! She stepped onto the mat a number of instances. Solely as a result of I shifted my focus from Outcomes (and utilizing bridges (Clicks) and Appetitives (meals rewards to bolster the specified behaviour) to Relationship (how can I make her really feel extra snug with me).

The opposite factor Rita stunned me with was that she picked up the material that I hid meals below! For a second I feared it was unintentional and made her spook, however fortunately that didn’t occur!

This tells me a lot, that I can use in her coaching:

• She’s studying and her thoughts is opening up. She gives new behaviours! Which is nice information for her additional coaching course of
• She doesn’t spook as a lot by objects which might be unexpectedly moved by herself as those which might be moved by people (nonetheless engaged on that)
• She’s not afraid of things she strikes intentionally (has management over)
• She’s manner much less pressured with the meals puzzles, so bridging and providing meals is off the desk in close to future coaching periods.

Trick coaching might be one other method to get an animal engaged in coaching (once more). The truth that Rita beloved touching the mats along with her lips and stepping onto them and that she took the material in her mouth, offers me loads concepts of holding her engaged in coaching.

Management as Appetitive

Additionally, if she will use tips as a method to talk and provoke interactions with people, that will give her a robust software in arms! Then she’s extra in management and in a extra constructive manner than utilizing her flight to maintain management over the scenario. Now she simply runs at all times if she doesn’t wish to interact (and he or she chooses musts typically to not at this level).

Giving your animal Management (over their physique’s, the coach, the scenario) and decisions, you give the animal highly effective instruments. Instruments that assist construct belief the place there’s none and methods to speak. This may lower total stress in a traumatized animal and improve their welfare. That is what I’ve seen again and again working with traumatized animals and the ability of constructive reinforcement. Let me know if you need me to elaborate on that. I’ve loads of experiences to share about this matter.

Are you a compassionate horse proprietor who likes to be taught and wish to get private teaching in a bunch? Do you wish to have entry to on-line clicker coaching programs and a wonderful, supportive R+ neighborhood, then be part of our HippoLogic Clicker Coaching Academy. Try the hyperlink!

Or begin with a free clicker coaching evaluation to get style of what it feels wish to work with me. Uncover your sturdy factors and weaker factors in coaching (you probably have some) in order that you already know what to focus extra on, as a way to get the outcomes you need. 

After your evaluation you might have a transparent plan and know precisely what the next move will probably be as a way to accomplish your dream behaviours along with your horse. Ebook right here

Completely happy Horse coaching!
Sandra Poppema, B.Sc., founding father of HippoLogic & HippoLogic Clicker Coaching Academy