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  Discussion on Teaching a Horse tricks
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Member:
pattiann

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 - 2:06 pm:

So my new 1/2 of a horse is very curious, willing, and people oriented. I think she would be a good prospect to teach tricks. Problem is, I don't know how to teach tricks. Can anyone help? I did the whole treat between her front legs for a bow and worked up to no treat and me just saying down with a "good girl" and she goes. All of this was in less than 1/2 hour a day in just 2 days. She is super smart....
Member:
canter

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 - 4:01 pm:

Patty, my Barn Owners daughter showed my a book she had about teaching tricks (she has a coming 2 yo filly, too young to ride so she felt one way to bond was tricks in addition to basic ground work.)

The book showed step by step quite a few "circus" type tricks, such as bowing and laying down. Unfortunately, she showed it to me a couple of months ago and I don't remember what it was called or who wrote it. I will try to remember to ask when I next see her and will let you know.

I only glanced through the book but it looked like each trick was broken down, step by step and once the horse mastered the first step, the next step was built on and so on. Since you figured out how to get your smart girl to bow, think of how you broke down that task and apply it to others. Sounds like a lot of fun!
Member:
aletao

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2010 - 5:26 pm:

I use a book in a class I teach called Smart Horse, by Jane McLeay (I think...sorry I'm not at my bookcase). In there, she discusses the basics on horse behavior and behavior shaping. It's not so much as a trick teaching book, but it can serve as such with some imagination.

The "trick teaching" book of which I'm familiar is "Trickonometry" by Carole Fletcher. This book outlines step by step instructions. My students and I visited Carole's farm in Ocala and saw her work with her horses.

Interesting stuff, but I'm not so sure it's for me... I always wonder about how teaching certain tricks might backfire on the horse with any future owners. Heck...with racehorses the first trick I want them to learn after running fast is to stick their nose out in front at the wire! That's trick enough for me! :-)
Member:
canter

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 - 7:12 am:

Patti, Aleta beat me to it. The book I refereed to in my first post is Trickonometry - found it at the barn last night.

I haven't used it myself, but I can say my young friend did have some fun and success with her young filly.
Member:
pattiann

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2010 - 10:14 am:

Thanks. I'm going to search for and order it.

So before, I taught her to put her head down and stretch. Not a true bow, but I was working with her yesterday and folks at the barn began giving advice (Imagine that!) They were suggesting roping her leg and pulling it up, which, because I don't know for sure how to do it, I wasn't much interested in roping her leg and perhaps doing it incorrectly and ruining my whole venture! So, whenever I went down, I asked her to give me her foot, which she did, then down she went! It took less than 20 minutes! She bowed! Briefly, but it was a bow! So we added that "give me your leg in conjunction with putting your head down" step. I got a good, solid bow, then we stopped in a good place, so hopefully we can just keep it going! So much fun. It truly is like playing with your horse!

Just think. Pep and I could work this out and travel around the country performing tricks and making people laugh, and it all started here!!! Please keep your advice coming.

The step by step method is what I will need in a book and it seems Trickonometry is the source.
Member:
lhenning

Posted on Thursday, Apr 8, 2010 - 10:56 am:

Hi Patti,

Sorry I am late reading this thread. Tommie Turvey is one of the greatest tricksters out there. I saw him on TV and at a clinic and was very impressed.

Here is a link to his training DVD's.
https://www.equineextremist.net/extreme_gear_1.htm

Good luck. Sounds like a fun way to interact with your horse.

Linda
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