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!!!!

Scritch Meets the Round Pen

Scritch as been doing a wonderful job figuring things out. At this point there is zero catching. Before you are even at the gate he is standing there going "We play now?" and I swear he is begging for his lead rope LOL. He is very interested in EVERYTHING we do and wants to do it WITH you! Today we took him into the round pen for the first time. Up until this point he has had zero round pen type work. We used his long cotton rope and the same lunge whip that we have been using to just gently pet him with. With a little urging and guidance he went out nicely to just off the rail and walked around for me. Once he was comfortable with that we asked for a trot which was no problem then even a canter. No running away or freaking out. He was even willing to play with some simple transitions off my body language both up and down in gait. Once he had played on one side I quietly asked for a stop and stand and only after he had hung with me for a little bit did we go the other direction. Again same pattern and no problems. After resting for a bit we explored the obstacles again as well as more of the yard and the agility equipment. All of which he definitely found interesting. It was a good session. :)

Day 5, 4th session 2-24-13

Hung out together and did some grooming. LOVES the curry and the brushes!!

3rd day: 2-22-13

Only time for short sessions for the next few days. Reviewed ground work so far and started learning back up

Scritch meets the Obstacles

Decided today lets go for a walk and maybe check out some of the obstacles in the arena. It was an adventure for us all. He had a blast checking out the obstacles. 
I think its 
Step 1. I see something! lets go to it and check it out...
Step 2. Have to put my nose on it NOW. 
Step 3. Can I eat it? LOL

Checking out our ground work from the day before.

You sure its OK to come out?

Look at all the horses! Its a big world out here.

 Gate.... You want me to go through that gate? I don't think thats a great idea.....

 No. NO. NOOO. I will not go through that gate!

 

Oh OK. That's all you wanted. Never mind I can do that. 

Why do you keep making funny clicky robot noises?

What is it? Can I touch it?

Can I eat it?

 

What happens if I put my foot on it?

Its BORING!! I guess I will just walk over it.

What are these white things?

 

Boring again. I will just walk over. Maybe Judith with take me somewhere interesting? PLEASE!

Finally! Interesting space between these weird tire stacks and barrels.

Whats this orange thing? Can I eat it?

Look! LOOK! Whats that blue thing?

I can touch it and push it and play with it! it rolls. I will take it! No you don't have to bag it I will push it back to my stall with me LOL

Heading back home. Still not sure about these stupid gates

 Why are you still making the clicky robot noises? You are interrupting my scratches!

Our first Session 2-20-13

He is already trying to catch me! And had the basics of leading in maybe 5 minutes. You could see the wheels turning as I asked him to move a foot. A few times of that and he was glued to me. Scritch is insanely curious and wants to be part of EVERYTHING! Every time I leave the he is like "No don't go. We can play more!! PLEASSEEE" He is just absolutely adorable.

Scritch's Pick 2-19-13

After a wonderful drive the Krystal from our local Las Vegas NV BLM office we arrived at the Ridgecrest holding facilities.

( Krystal's truck and trailer in Baker)

The facility is very nice with many LARGE paddocks so the horses have plenty of room to move and easy access to necessities (hay, water, shade, etc) I swear very horse there looked fat and happy LOL. 

  (Group of yearlings at BLM Ridgecrest facility)

After talking for a bit the wranglers headed out to being in some horses for us to pick from.

 (Wranglers heading out on their Saddle Horses)

Bringing in a herd of as many as 50 four and five year old geldings for us to pick from. There were some absolutely BEAUTIFUL horses!

(Herd coming in)

 

First they let us view their movement

(The herd checking us out in the round pen)

They divided them into 3 smaller groups so we could get a closer look at movement and temperament. Then again into a 4th smaller group of our favorites.

(our favorites)

Through the entire process there where 3 horses I kept coming back to. A dun appaloosa with a roan blanket, a chestnut with a large blaze and four white socks, and a chestnut with only a blaze. They were  all on the taller side, stocky, straight legged, with good backs, great bone, nice movement, and of course beautiful. But the chestnut gelding with just a blaze insisted he was the one coming home. 

(Scritch hanging out with me and happily munching)

From there it was time for paperwork and a long trip home. About this time my camera decided to die LOL

Scritch did fantastic in the trailer and at every stop we got to know each other work. We found after trying both apples and carrots, making incredibly funny faces with both, that he preferred apples and was very curious about the world around him. Being more inclined to go to the side of the trailer were the most activity was and watch interestedly at everything around him. 

By the time he arrived in Pahrump it was dark but that wasn't a problem for Scritch. If anything getting him motivated to get out of the trailer was. Krystal ended up coming in the side door to put a little pressure on him and he decided to very leisurely stroll out of the trailer, stopping half way out to crain his head around and look at Michelle on one side of the trailer then reach out with his nose and touch me on the other, before stepping the rest of the way down and very quietly strolling into his new pen to explore. 

And that was the end of one chapter and the start of another in Scritch's great adventure of life.