Tricks are instinctive for most horses, and they are quite easy to teach with a little patience and some shaping, says Kim Dyson.

As mentioned in the 11 June issue of Farmer’s Weekly, you have to have a fit and healthy horse that you have a good relationship with to train it for tricks. Also, consider where you and your horse stand with ground manners, discipline and grooming before you try the actual trick training.

Basic ground manners

You must have control over your horse with basic ground manners like leading, stopping, good stable manners (such as moving over to the side when you enter the stable) and standing perfectly still while you groom.

Don’t proceed until this solid foundation is in place. Your horse needs to respect your space and must be totally at ease in your presence. A scared or anxious horse can’t remember what you’ve taught it.
If your horse is distracted or spooks easily, you’ll need to work on the basics of grooming and discipline first. A good trick horse needs to listen to you and watch you with both eyes and ears.

The shaping technique

A technique called shaping is used to teach tricks. Shaping is when you offer a reward when your horse does something that resembles the gesture or movement you’re asking for. Most horses will work out what you want.

Creating enthusiasm for the reward is very important. Choose something that your horse really enjoys and that’s quick and easy to eat.

Make sure you give the reward immediately. The three-second rule applies, and it’s very important to be prompt in rewarding the exact behaviour that you’re asking for.

Some people believe rewards will lead to negative behaviour, but this depends on the handler. Behaviour such as head diving you for your treats, however, shouldn’t be rewarded.

Where and for how long?

Initially your horse’s attention span will be short. Train in a place where there are no distractions. A nice stable is often the best place. Once the trick has been mastered, you can practice anywhere.

A training session shouldn’t last longer than 15 minutes. You can try again after two hours. It’s best to do two sessions a day. Expect it to take 15 to 17 15-minute sessions to teach a trick.

Tricks are instinctive for a horse, and will increase its charm and make you proud, so there’s incentive in learning a few for you both. Contact Kim Dyson on 082 888 6511.