Welcome to Lesson #1!!
In this first video (there are 2 videos on this page) we'll share a bit about who we are, what you'll get from the series and why treats can be a wonderful addition to your sessions.
Here are a few reasons to use treats:
- Increase motivation
- Increase enjoyment for both you and your horse. Your horse gets something they love and you get the pleasure of making them feel good.
- Clearly communicates they achieved a behavior you were asking for.
- Challenges us to up our game as horse women and men. To be consistent and clear with the behaviors we want.
- More fun!
Check out the next video below for a strategy to try with your horse- Using Distance to Teach Politeness.
Part 1: Teaching a Bridge Word:
The Bridge provides a signal to your horse that they did the right thing. Later on, it can also let them know this from far away. For example if you're wanting them to jump a single barrel and they do- you can say "good" (or whatever your bridge is) right when they jump the jump and then they know they were right and that something good is coming. If you wait to do it when they are all the way back to you- they won't associate it with the jump and you run the risk of teaching them that the right thing is to come to you and beg for a cookie.
Part 2: Treats
Strategy #1: Using Distance
This strategy rests on the fact that your horse can't mug you for treats if they can't reach you. You'll back your horse away and wait for them to relax, then bridge and walk to them to give the treat, then return to your position. If you haven't taught your horse to back up away from you, there's a great lesson in The Start of Liberty- an online course that we’re offering to you at a special price of $24! (Regularly $75. A 68% savings!) Click the purple button below for more info.
Once you and your horse get good with this, you can add in an additional challenge by asking them to take a step or 2 forward and then stopping and standing politely in order to earn the treat.
Open Contact versus Protected Contact- Open contact is when you are out in the open with the animal you're working with. In some cases, this isn't safe and being on the other side of a fence in protected contact is an option that can be used. If you're working with a horse that has developed dangerous behaviors, this would be a good thing to try.
Want more information and/or support? There are a variety of ways to learn more with David. You can learn about all of them here.
Also, he has a fabulous Facebook group with folks from all over the world. It's free to join and is a great place to ask questions. https://www.facebook.com/groups/LibertyWithDML
