Scritch learns about marker training

So I am a big believer in using whatever works to effectively communicate. One of the tools I like to use is a marker, in this case a clicker. Yes I know the whole but your bribing him argument. But we all work for something. You can even use clickers with approach and retreat methods and so on. All a clicker is is a way to mark the moment they did want you wanted. Anyway off my tangent. Scritch did wonderful!! We used the clicker to help him start to get a better idea of what I am wanting him to do with picking up his feet. He was doing it but he was a little confused and unsure and was trying many different things. So I thought hey I will mark the moment he does what I want. He loved it! In about 2 clicks he totally had the concept that a click was always followed by a reward of some sort and in about 5 clicks he had the concept that HE had to do something for a click to happen. Now with that said it took maybe 25 clickers for him to really get the idea what that something was was to stand quietly with his foot in my hand. He trained MANY different things. I think I probably could have taught him to bow, count, and cross his legs in the same amount of time LOL. Looking forward to how he progresses with these concepts from here :)

Busy week!!. Bath, feet, and more...

Ok these pictures are from last week. Everything has been so busy I didn't have a chance to post them. Scritch is coming along wonderfully. he is such a curious and inquisitive horse. I love playing with him and watching him learn and grow!! He really likes to problem solve and figure things out. I have defiantly noticed if you work with him and give him to time to work it out he is VERY willing but I can see the thoughts of a fight if you said "Just do it!" We haven't had any but you can see the gleam LOL. Below are a series of him him getting his first bath, and a few of him starting to learn to pick up his feet.

And Feet

Scritch Learns About His Feet

Scritch has now had an in depth nose to tail currying and has been introduced to picking up his feet. No problems :) 

Scritch is such a silly boy! So after the rain many of the horses are Coated in mud. And the mud here acts like cement! Scritch is probably one of the worst ones out there. He like rolled around and tried to see if he could have a new coat of armor or something. Anyway I go to work grooming him and spent around an hour just currying him from nose to tail. He thought it was so cool. As I was currying his legs I introduced him to picking up his legs on request. He was just a good boy. Moved around a little but tried very hard. Sadly Scritch STILL has a few spots I had trouble getting. I think tomorrow or Tuesday he is going to get his first every bath :)

Scritch Meets the Saddle, Step 1

Today was Scritch's 1st day learning about the saddle. To introduce the saddle I always start with an old treeless saddle that I can easily throw around and don't really care if something happens to it. I mean they could tap dance on it and I don't think it would do much damage and even if it did I don't mind LOL. Initially he was really unsure of what was going on but he tried really hard to trust me and figure out what I was asking :) He is such an amazing boy with tons of try. By the end of the session he were standing quietly while I threw it on both sides with lots of movement, asked him to move around a little bit and even pulled it off him and let it land in a heap at his feet.

 Scritch REALLY seems to like the mental challenges of training.

Scritch Meets the Trailer

Ok so here are a few pictures of Scritch meeting the trailer. The pictures were interrupted due to and a student learning about the importance of closing gates and my camera person needed to assist them in learning this lesson.. LOL but you get to see some of him figuring it out :)

Walking to the trailer

Wait! Where are you going?

 Huh.. Whats in Here?

 Can I come in to?

It seems nice in here.. Maybe I will come all the way in :) 

Scritch Meets the Trailer

Today was Scritch's first day loading into a 2 horse straight load trailer. Not to sure about the whole process but gave it a good go LOL. Had a few moments of backing up when he was unsure, smelled everything in detail , and was very excited and happy to find little bits of left over hay in the front. He is such a good boy :)

Scritch Meets the Pedestal

Today was another great session. Scritch remembered everything from yesterday's lunging session no problem and continues to improve with leaps and bounds :) Today he also met the pedestal! At first he thought it might eat him but he very quickly settled down and realized he could bite it instead LOL This boy is very quick and just wants to DO. He doesn't really care what it is.

 Scritch Checking out the Pedestal

Success!!!!