Clicker Training for Your Horse

by Alexandra Kurland

Book Overview

In this remarkable book, Alexandra Kurland shows you how and why to use the techniques of positive reinforcement and shaping, with a horse. She leads you through the new methodology of clicker... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1890948039
• ISBN13: 9781890948030
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: Sunshine Books (MA)
• Length: 206 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.2" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

It's not just for horses- it's for people, too!

If you're thinking of getting your first horse- or if you've already brought it home and are now too intimidated or green to know what to do with it- or maybe you had an accident and have become afraid of horses- this is the #1 most important book you can get to learn how to build your confidence in order to create a relationship of mutual trust and respect. I remember when I brought home my first horse (I thought she was a monster!) someone recommended this book. Within the first session, we were best friends. Even though I had been giving her treats before, CT put it in a frame of referrence where the horse realizes there's a *formula* for getting treats. (And they figure it out very quickly!) This makes the horse act very eager to please the trainer (you). The more you see your horse acting in predicatble ways, in ways that you ask of it, the more you see your horse taking a positive interest in working with you, you rapidly gain confidence. Within the fist week, I was riding my new horse with total confidence. You can even accomplish this relatioship building method over the stall door. To this day, I still use CT- whether I'm starting a young horse or reshaping engrained "bad" or dangerous behaviors of an older horse. There are so many ways CT comes in handy. When a horse gets out of the pasture, all I do is click and it will *always* turn on a dime and come straight to me. If we're riding and there's a garbage can rolling in the road making my horse nervous, all I do it cue her to "touch" (which she knows from experience will result in a click)- she does what I ask, in turn learning the garbage can is no threat, and gets her click and reward. The we can ride on. (Much better than the big snort-fest, trying-to-bolt mess the situation would have been pre-CT!) Your horse doesn't take the bit? CT will very quickly cure that one. Wish your horse would self load on a trailer? In most cases, it would take about one 15 minute CT session to teach a horse to self load. The list goes on. You name the problem, CT can fix it. Kurland's book is the best one on the subject. You'll be so glad you bought it. P.S. You don't need to use the little clicker box gadget to do CT. I mimick the clicker box sound with my tongue. I found the clicker tool was never handy when I needed it- so I decided to just skip it and found that clicking with my tongue was just as effective. Just a tip! :0)

It works, it's fun

An extremely well-written book. It gives plenty of theory in a very easy-to-follow way. I disagree with "Jose's" review (see below--one star?!? Come on...). While Morgan's book is excellent, there is a definite need to incorporate "traditional" training methods with clicker training when it comes to horses. I.e. When we give a horse an aid, and the horse responds, the aid is relaxed (negative reinforcement). That is how we communicate with horses. As for "training little tricks," in the horse's mind, standing still for mounting is "a little trick" no different (to the horse) than bowing on command. One of the great aspects of clicker training in general, and which I think is nicely commmunicated in this book, is that once you learn how to shape behaviors, you can train a horse (or any animal) to do any behavior that it is physically capable of performing.An excellent companion volume to this book is Karen Pryor's _Don't Shoot the Dog_.

An excellent training tool for your horse!

I purchased this book shortly after I got my 2 year old Tennessee Walking Horse filly. It has been a marvelous tool! When I followed the recommendations for teaching a horse to target on a cone, (I used a blue sweat scraper) it worked! My horse and I were both excited to have this extra dimension of communication. She enthusiastically learned to "fetch" her scraper and give it back to me, and will now retrieve my riding crop if I drop it! I am a strong proponent of positive reinforcement, and found the clicker method to be a terrific compliment to her training program. She focuses more now on my direction, and I am able to communicate to her EXACTLY when she has done well! My horse is enthusiastic, trusting, and happy. I am thrilled with my training results.

Excellent Training Book!

I LOVE this book! I've read it at least a dozen times and my horse loves me for it! You can use ANY method of horse training with this including Parelli, or Lyons, etc. But first and foremost this book is the absolute best peice of training equiptment I've ever bought. A lot cheaper than the constant search for the bit, saddle, bridle, training device...etc. BUY this book and you will NOT regret it. Also if you like this book you may also want to get "Don't Shoot the Dog" by Karen Pryor which deals with the same principals of training. Only it's not a step by step manual.Thank you Alexandra Kurland.Oh, you can even find out more about clicker training by going to clickryder.com

Fantastic training manual for every horse owner

My horses thrive on the training program described in Clicker Training for Your Horse. The book is very clear cut on how to set up a training program for success, no matter what your experience is with horses--beginner or long time owner. I became more clear in my directions to my mare and she began understanding what I actually wanted. She became more confident and successful with every exercise I did. I don't have training help, so this book pretty much saved me from turning this mare into a broodmare. She now enjoys the tasks I ask of her, and is a joy to ride. Over the winter, I taught her and her pasture mate how to play with a large blue rubber ball. Before, the sight alone of the ball would have sent her packing.. what a joy to see her run up to it and push it back to me!!!!!! I recommend this book for every horse owner!!!!