Trcik Training

[Ferrah]

Soon I will have to do a senior mangement project in 4-H because in a year from now I will be too old to do regular project. A senior managment project is where the member basically makes up their own project on a subject that interests them. I got a book for Christmas about trick training horses. After just recently finishing reading it I have decided that doing a trick routine with Spyder would be a good senior managment project.

I using this book I have laid down all the foundation work they said in the book that your horse needs. He has a very good "whoa", he can lower his head to any level on command and hold it for at least 30 seconds, he turns on the forehand, turns on the haunch, backs up easily and sidepasses easily. He has no biting or kicking or disrespect issues.

I started teaching him how to do the bow as that is the first trick taught in the book. I can get him in the bow position, but he won't hold it. I don't want to force him to stay down. I try saying whoa, or asking him to bow again...but making him bow again kind of feels like punishment to me. I don't want to confuse or hurt my horse.

Does anyone have any good advice for trick training a horse? Does anyone know where I can buy good books or videos on liberty and trick training? I tried doing a search on google for liberty training and trick training, but all I got were sites with pictures. For those that have trick training horses what books or videos and resources did you find worked well for you? What techniques didn't work?

I have two years to work on this project, but I have to decide by this September which project it is that I am doing, and I don't want to commit myself to this project until I know it is doable.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

 

[js1arab]

I don't necessarily trick train, but I have found it quite easy to teach a horse to "shake" just like a dog. I start by asking them to pick up their foot when I snap my fingers down close to the fetlock. At first I have to tap them or ask them to pick up the foot by touching it, but it doesn't take them long to realize that each time I snap I am wanting them to pick up the foot and they catch on fast. As for the bow, this may be cheating, but try offering them a treat when they get into the bow position and each time add a second or two to the time before you give them the treat or pat or whatever praise. The main thing to remember though is some tricks like bowing take a lot of muscle and flexibility. If they've been idle, are older, or are not used to doing things which require flexibility or the muscle group needed to hold the position, it may actually be uncomfortable for them so they don't stay that way for long. I may be wrong, but to me, it looks like bowing, "dancing" and laying down all take a fair amount of both muscle and flexibility. Good luck to you. It sounds like a fun project.