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submitted: Jun 18th 2008 | by: HeidiEdris | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 539 | |

Clicker training which originally came from the scientific term operant conditioning, is a slang name. It was originally used to train aquatic mammals, has continuously becoming more distinguished in training horses with its positive reinforcement.

Using the concept of operant conditioning in psychology, an animal learns a particular behavior or a task when positive reinforcement follows the action that the trainer wants the animal to repeat. Eventually, the undesirable behavior or actions done by the animal aren't rewarded and ignored. Hence, giving rewards for getting things right make horses more eager and quick to learn.

Clicker training is such a great tool where you can embrace it with other training methods. What you have to do to start is get yourself a clicker, some treats, and a container for the rewards. Your horse is now on its way to follow your instructions once you have got them. Actually there are no given rules to follow when using the clicker training, but with the following guide below, you can use this method to your advantage.

The sound of the 'click.' must come with a condition

Your horse has to know that the sound 'click' means a reward is coming. First try to click your clicker for a few times and reward it with a treat every time it hears the sound. After about 10-15 minutes, you must repeat the sequence of clicking followed by treating. Some horses may need more sessions, but there are horses that easily get accustomed to the clicker training after three sequences.

Avoid pushing your horse too much

It is going to be more effective to train your horse for more than 10-15 minutes. However it is important for you to know that every horse differs in its readiness and ability to learn new tricks. Try to do short sessions broken into several days than having a long one in a day. When it is tired, you can't expect much.

A target should be used

Use a target for it to aim. Let this be the first task that it needs to accomplish when applying positive reinforcement. For example you can hang a plastic bottle and ask it to bump it using its head and reward it every time it does the right thing.

In clicker training, timing is the most important thing. So, make sure you click each time the horse has bumped the target by giving it a reward. The rewarding has to be repeated until the behavior is reinforced.

Go on to the next step

After it has learned to bump the target, move on to the next level. Then, guide your horse to pursue the target then head bob it before you give it a reward. This is some sort like a revision to test your previous training and will tell whether you have properly conditioned your horse to respond to the 'click.' Each session should be conducted in short periods and you have to be patient. Not all horses will learn in the same manner, you need to remember that.

As soon as you have completed this basic clicker training for it, you may proceed to more advance training. You can employ this method to compliment your other trainings to make it easier for you to teach and your horse to learn.

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