My 2 Cents On Clicker Training...
Let me start this with we 100% love and support the use of positive reinforcement in our training.
Used with clear, consistent boundaries, it can help our horses learn by giving them a stronger motivation, help them enjoy the learning process more, help maintain our relationship throughout the training process and can just make hanging out together more fun and less work. And that is the concept that clicker training is based upon.
You can achieve the same result with the Trainability Program as you can with clicker training - without any extra equipment.
Horses seem to be the only animals where positive reinforcement (i.e. treats and pats) is routinely considered a big no-no. But when you look at all the zoo animals that use clicker training, (elephants, seals etc), the argument against it seems to really not make much sense at all.
The problem with clicker training, however, is the limitation of the actual clicker.
You need to use the clicker to mark the behaviour that you want, but aren’t most of us marking the behaviour already when we say good boy/good girl? Or when we give the horse a break for doing well?
We all know that horse that stops dead in its tracks because you said “good”. Some of us are even marking the incorrect behaviour by releasing pressure for the incorrect behaviour or if the horse is scaring us or bullying us.
The first time I tried to “charge” the clicker with the exercise as per clicker training, I realised my horse already knew these exercises and I had other cues and vocals/noises that not only reinforced the correct behaviour but also corrected the behaviour I didn’t want.
I think the application of clicker training can teach a lot of people how to better interact with their horses.
It teaches the horse to seek the answer, not get frustrated by the process and stay curious about their learning. All of which are important when it comes to creating a positive relationship with our horse that wants to please and is willing. But this can all be done without the clicker, and instead with vocal cues and body language.
So while clicker training is a great concept, it is only a new process applied to the positive reinforcement techniques we should practice and know for our horses. When you work with positive reinforcement to help your horse become more trainable, you eliminate the need for gimmicky or extra tools.
