THE HORSE GAZETTE
imagine a horse
visten...express yourself! Part 3
By Suzanne De Laurentis & Allen Pogue © 2009
Visten has recently they usually outgrow it before A baseball cap, a sock to put
learned to retrieve as part of it becomes a problem. sweet feed in if necessary, a
his training at Imagine A Horse Retrieving an object is specially modified Frisbee
and he is extremely proud of not a natural behavior for most (leather tab sewn on top for the
his new skill! We taught him to horses as it is for dogs and it is horse to pick it up with), a toss
retrieve the Frisbee and as soon a “trick” that a horse absolutely and retrieve ball (available on
as he realized the action was can not be forced to do….. our web site) or other familiar
pleasing to humans he began he must decide to do it of his object.
rearranging objects in the barn- own free will. Visten quickly Proximity cue – initially
yard. Any item that has been laid learned to pick up the Frisbee stand very close to the horse to
down temporarily is tempting with the modified tab and it place the object in his mouth.
to him and he feels compelled took just a few days to teach Later it will be as far away as
to retrieve it and offer it to us-a him to pick it up from on top your horse will respond.
cardboard box, a tool, hat or of and exchange it for a treat. Physical cue -draw atten-
glove or even a manure pick. tion to the object by pointing
What a great example of how Why Teach the Retrieve the horse’s nose toward it (with
horses use learned behaviors or Teaching a horse to retrieve the halter).
tricks to engage with humans is a great way to increase one’s Verbal cue – “Pick it
and as a form of self-expres- abilities as a trainer because up”
sion. Retrieving is much more getting the horse to engage takes Steps-Touch the cap
than a trick and in Visten’s case practice and patience and the or sock with feed in it to the
it seems to have been the turn- usual support cues or aids aren’t horse’s mouth to see if he
ing point in his confidence and of any use. is interested enough in it to
desire to learn. “When the light The benefits of teaching a nibble or even take it in his
bulb goes on, the whole room horse to retrieve -- encourages mouth. If he does, offer the
and ask him to “pick it up.” If it in his mouth. Increase the Some horses are not
gets bright”. willing engagement, increases verbal bridge signal of “good”
the horse drops it, do not give distance slowly and take a step curious and are difficult or
I’m sure that lots of the ability to focus, promotes and reward him as quickly as
him a cookie. Say something away from where he picks up even impossible to teach this
folks would think this to be independent thinking and possible with praise and/or a
like “no” or “no dropping” the object. Turning away from trick to. If a horse is over
a nuisance but not us, we’re develops a work ethic, fosters treat. The bridge signal is the
and ignore him and pause for handler to execute a task is a trained he may lose interest
proud of him! It’s common confidence. same as the click in clicker
a few seconds, then repeat huge mental step for a horse completely.
for horses to pick up objects The retrieve is a trick that training. It tells him that the
your request. It is important so go slowly. What may seem With a little imagination
but retrieving on cue is a trick is useful in the rehabilitation response he gave was correct
to exchange the treat quickly like a reasonable increase in and a willing horse like Visten
that can be difficult to teach. of injured horses and emotion- and the treat is forthcoming!
for the object to help him holding time of the object or there is absolutely no limit to
Horses that use objects in an ally damaged horses and can Mouthy horses will catch on
understand the connection. steps toward you with it may what can be achieved including
attempt to occupy or entertain be taught in a stall without a lot to this very quickly as it is
When he is will pick be beyond the horse’s ability at unlimited fun!
themselves, or attract attention of physical exertion. (More in- an easy way for them to get
the object up from a close any given time. Pay attention To view a complimentary
are great candidates to be trick formation on this is available at a cookie without much work.
location, you may begin to your horse’s learning style. session of Taking Tricks to
horses. www.imagineahorse.com on the At first, if the horse will even
asking him to take a step Fetching an object that is the Trail” that features Visten
Colts like to explore their Friends of Sound Horses tab) let his nose be guided to touch
toward you while holding it. directly in front of the horse practicing with the Frisbee
surroundings with their mouths Retrieving a Frisbee or a the object, use the verbal cue
Tell him to “come here,” as is completely different than just cut and paste this address
and Visten was exceptionally Toss and Retrieve ball involves “pick it up” and reward him
you take a step back. At first, a to fetch an object to the left into your browser. http://www.
curious. Being confined to a separate actions linked together when he touches or lips the
horse may only be able to turn or to the right. Each direction screencast.com/t/yRo6Sar3
stall for the first 11 months that to create a Behavior Chain. object. Even though retrieving
his head a few inches from a is taught separately and at The password is uno. (in lower
of his life didn’t give him the As an example, Visten walks seems simple to us, each tiny
straight ahead position to hand his individual capacity to case)
chance to express himself with me at liberty, steps away segment of it has to be taught
you the object without losing learn. Again, go slowly. If a
physically or mentally, as young to pick up the Frisbee after I to the horse.
his concentration. Move back horse is pushed beyond his For help with teaching
horses would do. He looked at, have tossed it, he walks to it Keep the repetitions
(physically) a little more with understanding he can easily the Retrieve or any other
rubbed on and mouthed just and picks it up, comes back to short in each session to keep
each session until the horse can lose interest. Lessons can be trick contact the authors at
about everything including his the pedestal, steps up and then the horse’s interest high.
pick up the object and turn his frequent but keep them short. suesmonet@aol.com.
new friends both horse and hands it to me. All of those ac- Too many repetitions can be
head toward you while holding
human. We did not discourage tions are executed with verbal discouraging to the horse.
him as he was exploring his cues and encouragement with After the horse is proficient
new world. We feel that it is out the support of a lead. at holding the object for equestriansingles.com celebrates 8th anniversary
normal for young horses to incrementally longer periods
(Austin, Texas) Au- love of horses brought them parties, trail rides, and benefits
explore with their mouths as How to Teach it of time, lay it on a pedestal
gust 3, 2009: EquestrianSin- together at a local stable, where to help those in need. This year
long as they don’t use teeth and Equipment Required - or other slightly raised place
gles.com began as an idea to they instantly became friends members created a cookbook
connect people with a common and bought their first horses of favorite recipes with all
love for horses, and instantly just days apart. The following proceeds to benefit other mem-
developed into a one of a kind, year they launched Equestri- bers facing exorbitant medical
close knit community known anSingles.com which remains bills.”
word wide. After 8 years, the one of their proudest accom- EquestrianSingles.
site remains a leader in the plishments. com was featured on the Oprah
equestrian industry, garnering “Jan and I have both Winfrey Show when Zwilling
over 1.6 million hits a day, been successful in our careers, appeared as a guest and intro-
11 million page views and but creating a community for duced the online community
300,000+ visitors a month the equestrian industry which of horse lovers to audiences
Founded in 2001, has changed so many people’s world-wide. Also featured in
• General Medicine
EquestrianSingles.com has lives is the best feeling yet,” numerous prestigious publica-
always been recognized as says Marcia Zwilling, Presi- tions such as Entrepreneur
• Surgery • Reproduction
more than matchmaking. In dent/Founder. Jan Mirkin, Magazine and The Austin Busi-
• Dentistry • Therapeutics addition to thousands of suc- CEO/Founder, agrees. “In ness Journal, Cowboys and
• Acupuncture • Endoscopy
cess stories and marriages, addition to thousands of suc- Indians, Horse Illustrated and
EquestrianSingles.com mes- cess stories and marriages, our More Magazine, Equestri-
• Advanced Digital Radiography
sage board became an emer- community has organized relief anSingles.com continues to
• High Digital Ultrasonography gency communication center efforts, distributing thousands grow at the rate of 1000 + new
• Lab Services
to help to coordinate relief and of bales of hay to those affected members per month.
rescue operations around the by devastating hurricanes like In 2003, Mirkin and
country. The site also sponsors Katrina. We have also assisted Zwilling developed their second
Phone: 210-651-6202
many endeavors such as the Texas Equusearch on horse- equestrian community, Eques-
Fax: 210-651-1557
Mustang Heritage Foundation back to locate missing persons trianFriends.com. Mirkin says,
and Extreme Mustang Make- around the country. The sense “ We saw the need for a site
overs, as well as Lope Texas of community has exceeded our that would appeal to all horse
Emergency Contact which rehabilitates race horses expectations.” enthusiasts, not just singles.”
Day or Night:
from Texas race tracks. Zwilling believes it In the past year, they also pur-
210-651-6202
T h e o w n e r s o f is the members that make the chased CountryWesternSingles.
EquestrianSingles.com are two site successful. “This type of com and EquestrianMatch.com
extraordinary women with im- online community is unprec- adding those databases to the
8675 Marbach Lane 8 am - 6pm Monday-Friday
pressive backgrounds in music edented,” says Zwilling. “They EquestrianSingles.com fam-
San Antonio, TX 78266
www.BrackenEquine.com
Saturday: By Appt. Only
and television. Jan Mirkin participate as trainers in the ily under the umbrella of the
and Marcia Zwilling’s mutual Mustang Makeovers, organize Equestrian-Network.com.
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