Tag: Benny

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Relaxation

A non horsey friend came today for a little ride on Benny, we got some good trot sessions from a verbal cue and with him following my hand held target stick. My friend was surprised that positive reinforcement was not the norm in horse training, she has a background in special education schools so is well versed in the use of positive reinforcement.

My instructor was also surprised as I bridged and treated Benny for going past some scary jumps in the corner of the school during my lesson on Monday. He spooked at them and I took him up to have a look, bridged/treated as he relaxed next to them. Rode him past on both reins and bridged etc for calmly passing. Not many people it seems treat from the saddle in the conventional world!

Later when I took him to the field the tractor was moving large bales of straw, a bit scary but he targeted my hand and stood beside the tractor and even tried to touch it, bridged/treated and carried on to the field.

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Benny Lessons

I am maintaining my position at all gaits, shoulder in is easier and Benny offered canter as I came off the corner. Only on the new yard for another 2 weeks or so and need to make the most of our time here. Benny has been a super star and had novice riders on him plus children and he takes it all in his stride. Looking forward to a few little hacks before going back to the field.

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More Bridge and Target Training

Recently I have been using a verbal bridge and target with Smoke and he is getting very calm with taking the treats. I made a target using a Kidz carrot stick with a glove on the end as I thought this useful for taking out riding. He follows it very well now.
Now Liz is back riding I thought I had better do some more work with Benny.

Today I went to work some more with my target stick with a glove on the end. Different glove today but they both (Benny and Smoke) targeted immediately. This glove is partly yellow so will be good to take out riding. The problem I have is that they all want to come into the arena. First I wanted Benny but he wouldn’t squeeze past Mel so Smoke got in first. Then after working with Smoke I opened the gate and let Benny in. Smoke then followed the target to the gate and eventually went back in to the field – with plenty of treats of course. Both were very good although Smoke seems to stick with me following the target for longer. Benny was very good at lateral flexions using the target. All at liberty as it stops me inadvertently adding a pressure cue from the rope. I really must train them to station but haven’t quite got the method fixed in my head.

This is all fascinating stuff and well worth the effort to perfect.