You Can Train Your Horse to Do Anything!: On Target Training Clicker Training and Beyond

by Shawna Karrasch

If you have ever wished you could get your horse to consistently perform to the best of his ability, On Target Training is for you. This effective new method combines the basics of clicker training (widely used on marine mammals and dogs) with a step-by-step target system that assures training success for any breed or any age horse.  Karrasch explains reward reinforcement training in a way that makes it easy to learn. She guides the reader through all the basics, including teaching the bridge signal (using the clicker) and employing hand-held and stationary targets; she then cover aspects of training horses both on the ground and under saddle. Training advice is provided specific riding disciplines ‹ jumping, Western riding, dressage, and trail; behavior problems; trailer loading; working with young horses; and last of all, just for fun, teaching tricks.  Shawna “A degree in psychology is not required to train animals. It is, however, helpful. All of the work we do as animal trainers (with horses too) is based in psychology, whether we are aware of it or not. The more you understand about these proven principles the better you are as a trainer. The focus of my training is helping people to gain a better understanding of behavioral psychology and the benefits of positive reinforcement in regards to horse training. I chose to make the move to horses partly due to the lack of positive reinforcement being used with horses. I recognized that horses were not trained the same as the marine mammals. I also saw that the training we implemented at Sea World would be a huge asset to the horse world. A lot of horse people, including professionals, don't know much about the proven principles of behavioral psychology. Therefore, I see a bigger need in helping horse folk to further understand the principles that govern the relationships we build with our horses.. It is really fun to see the light come on!!”

Genres: Horses

234 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 2012

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best of the positive reinforcement/clicker training books for horses that I've read thus far, and probably the best introduction to people who are coming from traditional training and are perhaps somewhat suspicious of training with positive reinforcement and food rewards.

[Kätlin Hundimägi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a perfect book to give someone who is starting to open their eyes into more horse-centered training. And I absolutely admire Shawna!

However, studying animal training myself I had a lot of questions I would like to ask Shawna and made me question the approach a bit. For example, if we are waiting a horse to settle aren't we using negative punishment with treats on top and risk building frustration? Could we find a way to lower the arousal first and show the horse we want them stay calmer?
Also, she labeled a few example horses dominant and I don't like labeling like this.

Eventually, as I started this book two years ago and then it waited for its turn to be finished now, I was happy to see how my own thinking has changed over this time and how much I've learned. And definitely got great ideas how to use targets more widely than I have until now.