I can't hand feed your horse, but I may whip him?
What kind of world do we live in? This post is a rant! You're warned!
When I was working as staff member at a boarding facility with about 30 horses to take care of, most owners were very strict about ‘giving horses treats’. the barn manager told me that I was not allowed to feed treats or to hand feed them. Not sure what the wording was exactly.
I was told this after I shared that I train horses with strict positive reinforcement.
Keep that horse in line!
However, I was also told that horse X needed to have a chain over the nose when you brought him to his paddock. This was ‘because he was strong’. All horses are stronger than people. Great wording, but to me: simply a lack of communication between horse and handler.
If you don’t know what a ‘stallion chain’ or Tellington-Jones lead rope (with chain) is: the first part of the lead is a chain. You clip the chain on the opposite site of the halter, bring the chain over the nose and pull it through the ring on your side. When you pull (most people would say: the horse pulls), the chain presses on the sensitive nose of the horse., because it goes under the nose band. It helps control the horse by punishment. See photo below (I draw the chain in)
Positive reinforcement to the rescue
I tried the chain-over-the-nose approach, it was horrible. I was in a big fight with that horse on the whole 100 meters that we had to walk to his paddock. It stressed me out, it stressed the horse out. I was just not having it! Positive reinforcement it was. Yes, against the owners will. But, not completely:
I was asked to take care of the horse
I was asked to control the horse
I was asked to feed the horse
I concluded that with 1. and 3 .I could do a much better job for the horse. As well as for me. I used his breakfast grain (not commercial treats) to teach the horse to target my hand. In two times he got it, and I didn’t need to use the chain. I simply taught the horse that staying with me was rewarding. The hand target give him a focus and my marker signal with some food taught him quickly what to do. No treats involved, hand feeding: yes. I was naughty.
No treats but using a chain and jerking on it is ok?
Often people told me ‘No hand feeding’ or ‘no treats’ and at the same time you get torture devices that are meant to apply pain (yes, that is what whips, sticks and chains are designed to, no matter the marketing).
They think (they can’t help it, they just believed what they were told) you spoil a horse and mess up their obedience. But they put pain inflicting tools in hands of strangers to control their horse… That’s not bad?
Happy Horse training- you are the trainer!
Sandra from HippoLogic
Leading horses with Love and Understanding