Posted by Gary on October 30, 2003 at 15:47:46:
In Reply to: Re: Thanks frm training owner. A crack here(?!) posted by Phil Armitage on October 29, 2003 at 21:46:19:
: : : : : : THANK YOU, GUYS! I wasn't paying attention for a couple of days and just found my way back to the site. You have encouraged me not to "beat him up," which is the advice I get from the macho (and unsuccessful) owners at our stable. YES, I follow Parelli and now I will go to Clinton Anderson and see if I can find and order that video! I also have been to KBRanch and their "open" training (and, yes, guys, clicker with treats) is working real well! You gotta use what works. The little mule is doing well today. I have heard that most mini mules are not "bred," they are accidents! Probably so. I gotta tell ya, he is not only cute, but he is gorgeous. Black as black ever comes. No light points! Can anyone tell me what to do for a crack in the front of my donkey's hoof? It does not go all the way up and he does not seem to feel it. He coons jumps for me, height of his wither! He has white legs and blonde hooves. Do I have to stop our jumping? We just do a few each day, on average. The footing is nice and soft, soil. I hope we don't have to stop, but I need to know what happens with cracks. Can he parade around Christmas on paved streets, if not showing any soreness? Busy minis here! Thank you so much for being here and helping!!!! Can't tell you!!!! Nancy, NJ
: Hi Nancy, the crack could mean he needs to have his feet trimmed. I have to be honest, I am not a big fan of training horses, donkeys, minis or mules by rewarding them with treats. I like to use rewards that horses understand like release or remove pressure, praise by changing body posistion and using a gentler tone of voice and lightly rub there faces and neck. Rewarding with food can bring out the worst in a horses behavior, I find that it is more difficult to work on a horse that all they think about is getting a treat when they see us coming. The other thing is I strongly believe in being the boss and they should be able to led and moved forward backward left and right without resistance if you cannot do this on a lead or it is the other way around they are leading you then you anre in trouble. I am not suggesting that you be abusive but you need to be in charge or they will if your not. It does not take much to gain a horses respect it takes persistance and being firm as nessasary and praise. Always start off any request lightly and easy and increase pressure until they move or do what you want otherwise you could loose there respect and they may start trying to move you instead and become incharge. If this happens and you want them to do something and they do not want to they may decide you need to be discplined with a kick or bite. Horses are different than pets like dogs.
: Phil
I agree with Phil! The clicker theory was started by the dolphin and killer whale trainers to get them to respond to treat rewards when clicked! I knew a bear trainer back in the 70's that used the clicker, but thats because he started with dolphins! Have a fish! Thanks, Gary