Clicker Training and Icelandic Horses

Drawing by Nancy Allen

Clicker training is an easy name for the tried and true method of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is the aspect of behavioral science in which an animal is taught to make active behavioral choices based on what is encouraged. Clicker training refers to the method of teaching behavior using a "yes" signal or conditioned reinforcer, to tell the horse exactly when it has done something right.

Operant conditioning, or clicker training, has been used for many years (over 3 decades) with mammals and animals other than horses. Only in the past few years has clicker training been introduced into the horse world. One year ago, Alexandra Kurland wrote the book, Clicker Training for Your Horse. JudyRyder Duffy, owner of Icelandic horses in Arizona, US, also at that time, started the ClickRyder email list and the ClickRyder website for horse clicker training in affiliation with Alexandra.

Although this training method has been successfully used with other animals for some time, it has only recently been introduced as a training method for horses, and many people don’t consider it to be a “serious” training method. Whether because of it’s historical use for teaching tricks, the non-aggressive approach, the treating, or simply its name, many people, mistakenly, have a negative or skeptical view of this wonderful training tool.

The "clicker" serves as conditioned reinforcer. It is a signal to the animal that they have made the right choice and as such a reinforcer (food or other desirable thing) is coming. The purpose of the clicker is to "mark" the desired behavior so that the animal knows exactly what to do to get the reinforcer.


JudyRyder asking Vinur, at liberty,
to put his front feet up on the straw bale.

To start a horse with clicker training, one can use the "targeting" method. Present an item to the horse--as curious as they are, they will probably try to smell it. At that point, click and give the horse a treat--a small pellet, piece of carrot, cheerios. If the trainer is very good, the horse can be clicked and treated for even focusing on the "target". The focus leads to touching.

Once the horse is consistently touching the target and understands that the click means he made the correct choice and that a "goody" is coming, you should see the lightbulb of understanding come on. The horse will effectively work you, the target, and the treats as a vending machine! This is ok; he is learning how to learn!

In this photo, we are having a horse who is fearful of the halter, target it. Every time he touches the halter, he gets a click and a treat. If I wait just a tiny second before clicking, he will touch it for longer periods and also put his head further into it.


JudyRyder and Rolegur

Here is an imported, untrained horse being asked to lift his own foot. First we click and treat for a shift of weight (off the requested foot), and shortly he is lifting his own foot.


JudyRyder and Tryggur

Clicker training is an excellent method to piggy-back onto other training methods. It joins up perfectly with any natural horsemanship training such as John Lyons, Pat Parelli, Mark Rashid, Ray Hunt, Bill Dorrance, and Buck Brannaman.

Currently, ClickRyder, the international email list for clicker training horses, has 700 subscribers. Many of these subscribers are Icelandic Horse owners. We have all found that Icelandic Horses appreciate the kindness and the great communication method that clicker training gives them.

Clicker training is done for all levels of horses from foals to the aged; for every discipline including roping, barrel racing, gait training, and dressage. Below we have a horse being trained to ride bareback and bridleless.


JudyRyder and Ljufur

Clicker Training provides a high motivation for a horse to do what it is we are asking of him, regardless of age and character. If we are clear and concise with our requests, our horses would be more than happy to comply IF they are motivated and IF they are understanding exactly what it is we want from them. Clicker Training provides that clarity and that motivation in a unique, playful, fun way. Clicker Training also teaches the human to be focused and clear with his or her request of the horse.

Even the discipline of jumping can be trained thru clicker training, as seen below:


JudyRyder and Skumur
Jumping bareback and bridleless.
(We do have the neck rope on.)

Clicker Training provides the motivation for the horse to ‘want’ to perform; it also provides the motivation for us to use our imaginations to creatively teach our horse new behaviors in a fun, safe and non-traumatic manner. C/T opens the pathway to clearer communications between horse and human and forms a bond between the two which is hard surpassed.

Alexandra's book, Clicker Training for Horses, contains photos of Icelandic Horses being clicker trained. The ClickRyder email list has had over 3,000 subscribers in that year, with a running membership of approximately 700. Several owners of Icelandic Horses thru-out the world are on the clicker training email list, and photos of some of these horses are on the ClickRyder website.

Clicker training is being used by almost every breed, and in every discipline. We are very proud that it is being used successfully in the training of Icelandic Horses.

Alexandra has subsequently written a booklet on Clicker Training for Horses and is in the process of writing the second Clicker Training book. JudyRyder has done several clinics on clicker training in the US including the Wild Horses clinic and two introductory demos in Iceland.

Photos from the Clicker Demonstration in Mosfellsbaer, Iceland:









More Information on Icelandics and Clicker Training
ClickRyder Email List

---

Home

iceryder@cableone.net