You Can Train Your Horse to Do Anything!

Book excerpt: If you have ever wished you could get your horse to consistently perform to the best of his ability, On Target Training is for you. This effective new method combines the basics of clicker training (widely used on marine mammals and dogs) with a step-by-step target system that assures training success for any breed or any age horse. Karrasch explains reward reinforcement training in a way that makes it easy to learn. She guides the reader through all the basics, including teaching the bridge signal (using the clicker) and employing hand-held and stationary targets; she then cover aspects of training horses both on the ground and under saddle. Training advice is provided for: specific riding disciplines ‹ jumping, Western riding, dressage, and trail; behavior problems; trailer loading; working with young horses; and last of all, just for fun, teaching tricks. Shawna says: “A degree in psychology is not required to train animals. It is, however, helpful. All of the work we do as animal trainers (with horses too) is based in psychology, whether we are aware of it or not. The more you understand about these proven principles the better you are as a trainer. The focus of my training is helping people to gain a better understanding of behavioral psychology and the benefits of positive reinforcement in regards to horse training. I chose to make the move to horses partly due to the lack of positive reinforcement being used with horses. I recognized that horses were not trained the same as the marine mammals. I also saw that the training we implemented at Sea World would be a huge asset to the horse world. A lot of horse people, including professionals, don't know much about the proven principles of behavioral psychology. Therefore, I see a bigger need in helping horse folk to further understand the principles that govern the relationships we build with our horses.. It is really fun to see the light come on!!”