Many years ago when I first started dabbling in Positive Reinforcement (R+) for horses, my training approach landed me in a hole!

I didn’t know as much back then. I had indulged for a few years in R+ training with my dogs, but I had good mentors, lots of help, and the resources for dog training were more plentiful.

I had been stuck in traditional Negative Reinforcement (R-) for horses, until Ian Dunbar at a dog seminar mentioned horses and R- in the same sentence.

Duh! Penny dropped!

Research led me to a yahoo equine clicker training list (this was before facebook!)

Back then the behaviours we were advised to teach first, or safety behaviours, were ‘head away’ and ‘back up’ Head away to prevent mugging, and backup to prevent crowding. Seemed sensible.

Today we advise ‘Face Forward’ instead of head away, as a head turn can be a displacement behaviour. In addition, face forward, or head in neutral position, can prevent a fidgeting horse, and possible dangerous head swings. Neutral position is also better than contrived, especially for behaviours that can have duration.

Today we are also advised to start our R+ journey with our horse in Protected Contact, until we have taught Food manners, and ‘Stand Politely’ I certainly learnt why these changes were made.

Back then I also had no idea how much of a quick study horses were!!

My first attempt with a young yearling - Two clicks and his ‘head away’ was in place! Those eyeballs strained so hard to get closer, but the head stayed in the right position

Typical me, life happened and I got distracted doing doggie stuff. A year later I was wandering around the paddock with my sister, when I noticed the same young colt, on the other side of the fence, clearly doing head away with his eyeballs strained as close as he could possibly get them – it blew me away how long he had retained this with no subsequent training, AND that he was using it to try to get my attention! Okay, he was probably trying to gain reinforcement!!

Well that was my incentive to get back into R+ training for horses, so I started with the same colt, plus his friend, and decided to teach ‘back up’ via shaping.

Not a silly decision, I thought! Well both boys again proved to be quick studies, and picked up this ‘take a few steps back’ lark and get a treat. Whoo hoo I was good

The next day I went out in the paddock just for some ‘time together’ stuff with the boys, and tried to pat them. Oops!

How can you pat a horse that is backing away from you? Both boys did such great backups I couldn’t get a hand on either of them!

Back to the yahoo list for advice!

Yes – for each behaviour you teach, teach an equal and opposite behaviour!!

Planning - what will be the outcome of this behaviour I am going to teach?

What are the possible pitfalls? What can I do to alleviate or avoid problems?

Solution –

Teach come forward. Teach stand still.

Teach ‘Touch a target’ (can be used for either come forward, back up or stand still)

What did I learn apart from the fact my horses are smarter than me?

The lesson you plan sometimes includes a lesson for yourself!

Or - Exactly who is teaching who?

Written by Vicki Conroy & the PPGA Equine Sub-Committee

* For safety reasons PPGA strongly advises to not leave headcollars on unattended horses