Clicker Training Horses

Clicker Training Horses turns training into fun

Most of you will have heard of clicker training for dogs or for dolphins. In fact it can be used for all animals you want to teach something. Clicker training can turn working with your horse into fun - for your horse and for yourself!

Clicker training uses positive reinforcement and a training method called operant conditioning. That means that a signal (click) is combined with a reinforcer (food or praise).

It is a communication tool that helps your horse understand what you want him to do. The horse gets the click exactly when he shows the wanted behavior.

Advantages of clicker training for horses:

• The click is very precise in the timing.

  If you use only food as a reward it takes far too long to get it out of your pocket. The time between the wanted behavior and the reinforcement shouldn´t be longer than 1-2 seconds. Otherwise the horse won´t make the connection and will not understand what you want.



• Makes the horse think!

  What does he have to do to get a click? You can nearly see the light bulb go on above his head!



• Precise means of communication


• Very motivating and positive for the horse.


• Builds up the confidence of your horse.



• Positive way of training.

  Ideal for difficult horses with behavioral issues.




• Very flexible.

  Can be used at all stages of training or riding.

Important rules for clicker training horses:

• The horse only gets a treat in combination with a click!

  In the beginning the horses will get very excited and will dig into your pockets. Click when the horse looks the other way. They learn very quickly that digging in your pockets won´t earn them a treat.



• Break down exercises into small steps.


• Just ignore behavior you don´t want and reinforce wanted behavior.

Clicker training can be very useful for everything you have to do with your horse. Wether it is a visit from your vet or farrier your horse doesn´t like or training your horse to stand still when you groom him. There is a million and one uses for it!

Clicker training helped me tremendously with my horse Ed. After coming out of shoes it got really difficult to handle his feet because he was very sore. He just wouldn´t pick up his feet and let me work on them.

Within less than a week we had the problem solved with clicker training. Every time he picked up the leg, even if only for a second, he got a click and a treat. I gradually increased the time and after a few days he happily allowed me work on his feet again.

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