Has anyone ever trained their horse to do tricks?

[patandchickens]

Quote:
The difficult thing is, some actions are a trick if done when you intended to cue it, but dangerous behavior when done at any other time... such that a horse that *thinks* she saw/felt/heard a cue, or is trying to offer it to get a reward or because she knows you want *something* but she isn't sure what, can end up doing some serious damage, all unintentionally.

Anything involving waving body parts around is, to my mind, in that category. And thus should perhaps be taught to a more restricted 'audience' of horses than other tricks like 'flap your lips' or 'pick up the dropped crop' - not that they *can't* backfire, but it's more likely to be a nuisance than something that gets your health insurance coverage involved.

I know a dressage trainer who got hurt pretty good by a horse who thought he was being asked to do the Spanish Walk (where one or both forelegs are raised really high and straight out forward as the horse walks)... so it is not only something that happens to amateurs and young horses.

Pat

 

[chickenzoo]

I think it is like anything, if you are going to teach it, teach it well. Use certain words not often said as a cue,( Have fun, learn German etc.) or use a clicker as the"do this trick now" cue, or a whip as a cue. A horse doing any maneuver can be dangerous if not taught to respect you, respect YOUR SPACE and do the cue only when cued. If you reward the trick when the horse decides to do it, not when you tell him to, then you are reinforcing that behavior and the horse's right to choose when it is done. In training my horses w/ tricks, I found that the horse became a better learner because he understood I was asking a certain task, just not forcing him to move.

 

[Cara]

Problem is, it only takes one incidence of 'waving hello' without asking and you're minus an operative kneecap. It's bad enough having a dog that wants to shake hands all the time, much less a 1200lb hooved animal.

 

[chickenzoo]

I'm sorry you are afraid of horses. I have had mine since he was 3. I trick trained him at age 7. He is now 15-16 years old and as never hurt me. I understand some can, and mine could, but I have taught him to respect my space and it is hard for a horse to strike you if he is 5 ft away from you. It is hard for a horse to kick you if he has never been allowed to turn his butt to you.
When working with my horse I stand at a 45 degree to his shoulder or close to his hindquarters, it would push me away if he tried to kick. People should train themselves as well as their horse.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Part of it may be using really specific cues, too--the kind that aren't likely to be given by accident? I'm just wondering, because Misha has never once in 18 years (after the initial learning period of a couple weeks, anyway) offered any of his "tricks" without being asked. I actually have several things I ask him to do with his legs (all four), and even when doing those I don't get an accidental response.

And then, on the flip side of my personal horse-training coin, I currently have two young ones who are wild as March hares, and will be much more trouble to get started, because I did NOT have the opportunity to do the extensive groundwork with them that I'd like to have done.

 

[Cara]

Quote:
It is not fear that prevents me from teaching 'tricks', it is common sense. You won't be 5ft away from your horse at all times. Parking out is somewhat useful, and not inherently dangerous. Practicing waving legs around is.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I think there is always the risk of injury around a horse, whether they are being taught to do tricks or not. However, I do believe a horse that is taught to respect your space is a lot less likely to hurt you than a horse that has no respect. I've been trying hard to teach my horse about personal space and it seems to be working well. When we first bought her, she liked to rub her head on me. While I don't think she was doing it with nasty intentions, I realized it could very quickly turn into a problem. Instead of whacking or hitting her every time she did it, I would just keep an eye on her and back her off every time I saw she was going to rub. The behavior stopped once she realized what I was doing, but it took a couple of training sessions to do. I still have more "personal space" training to do, but I think a very big reason people are injured is because a lot of horses just don't respect it. My dad's horse does not respect personal space yet and seems to be a little more stubborn than my mare about it. I don't think I would ever trust that gelding enough to teach him tricks. However, I think there are certain horses you can teach and teach well. Right now I'm at the point where I THINK Cheyenne might be a good candidate, but I am not yet sure as I still need more months time to get to know her. That's why I appreciate all the advice here because I am able to use other's experiences to make my own decision when the time comes.

I think Chickenzoo is absolutely correct though...people need to train themselves to be safe around horses too. A horse cannot be safe on its own, people need to watch themselves as well. Almost 100% of the times I've been injured have been my own fault. Horses kick, bite, stomp, etc...but people can usually prevent injury through awareness of their own position, as well as the horse's. However, I think Cara is also right because there ARE times when you will not be 3-5 feet away from your horse. Its difficult to avoid all injury at all times, but I think clear cues and good training are invaluable when it comes to handling a horse. I know when I trained my first horse to lift her feet for me, she never offered to do it unless I asked. I believe it may be due to the fact that I never gave treats as a reward for this behavior, but I may be wrong. She did enjoy when I stretched her out, but her respect for my personal space prevented her from doing it when I wasn't expecting. I also used a clear cue and tapped the leg I wanted.

I think its interesting the different views everybody has on trick training! I didn't think there would be so many opposing opinions. I realized that there may be a danger to training some tricks, but many of the things people have brought up never occurred to me so I am glad I asked. I think if I do decide to teach any tricks I may start with things like holding something in the mouth or one of the other simple tricks brought up in this thread. I have a lot to do before I get to that point though.

 

[notsostupidafterall]

It has taken me many years, but I have finally taught my gelding to run like hell to the far corner of the 10 acre pasture the minute he sees a halter in my hand.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Now that ONE trick my first horse always did whether I asked for it or not! Personally I think she was training ME. As soon as I put that halter down, she'd come prancing over to me happy as could be. Picked it up again, and there'd she'd go running like heck!

 

[CountryMom]

Let's face it folks, every time a horse is trained it is trained to do a trick. Trick of pacing at a certain gate when asked, turning, rolling back, stopping for goodness sake. Flying lead changes, side passing, and even simply standing to have it's face hosed off during a bath. I have horses that are dangerous in the fact that their responses to what is asked is so quick that most riders can't handle. I also have horses that someone could easily trigger a reaction to a trained movement of them that could be considered highly dangerous. Like I sure wouldn't put a beginner on one particular cutting horse of ours and dare ride around the cattle.

So basically, with all safety in mind, there are always people out there that are in the wrong place at the wrong time, or doing the wrong thing around a horse. Kind of like the story of the Dressage trainer getting hurt by a Spanish Walk that the horse was doing. May not have been something the trainer asked, but obviously the trainer was in the wrong place for certain. And reminds me of an accident that a cutting trainer we know had last year. His saddle slipped so he grabbed the horn with the remote button on that hand to try to brace himself as him and the horse were headed to the ground. Well, needless to say the remove button triggered and the electric flag moved and the horse tried to jump up and follow.....trainer cracked ribs.

We all need to be more concerned with our safety no matter what the horse has trained buttons to do. I think more obvious no no woulds be like teaching a horse to rear. But then, get a newbie on a good horse who pulls too hard on their mouth and you are bound to see your dead broke horse rear too.