THE HORSE GAZETTE


PUSHER ROCKS! TRICK TRAINING, THE GIFTED & TALENTED CLASS FOR HORSES


imagine a horse


friends that have a very talented, in fact brilliant child in middle school. She thrives on difficult work and tasks and is also very strong minded. She flourishes in the Gifted and Talented program. With the help of this wonderful form of Alternative Education her future is bright. We like to think of


Enlightened Trick Training as Alternative Education for the gifted and talented equine. Pusher Rocks, is a To-


By Sue De Laurentis & Allen Pogue, © Imagine A Horse 2011 We have wonderful


field trial horse when he was first put under saddle and his riding skills consisted of rushing forward as fast and hard as he could go. He would absolutely roll over anyone or any obstacle in his path and was a danger not only under saddle but on the ground as well. When Carobeth Ben-


biano Tennessee Walking Horse that came to Red Horse Ranch for remedial training or “Equine Charm School” in 2007.The Pusher surname is from a well known line of Tennessee Walk- ing Horses. We recently rode the White Mountain Wilderness in New Mexico for our annual Rough Riders’ Club and Pusher and his family was in the group. He was a perfect gentleman all week and totally competent on the trails. If you didn’t know his story, you’d never guess he had been a very difficult horse. Pusher had been a


in training help horses make sense out of the world of humans which is why we use stage props; they are easily understood by horses. In Trick Training, horses quickly learn that release of pressure, praise or rewards is available at an incrementally faster pace than in most other training. Because of this vari- able reward system it is easy to inspire a horse to stay focused on the handler and on the task. Later on, the horse begins to gain satisfaction or intrinsic rewards in just responding correctly or in other words, the “trick becomes the reward”. Let’s look at some of the


ligent and personable horse that was suffering because his prior experiences under saddle did not prepare him for his new job as a pleasure horse. He didn’t understand the new expectations let alone the cues. He thought he was to just go fast and dash over obstacles and anticipation of go- ing full blast ahead made him a bundle of nerves and very hard to control. He just couldn’t find a correct answer to Carobeth’s requests. He was like a child in the wrong educational program which can be a miserable situ- ation at best! When he arrived at the ranch, he was a nervous wreck.


and to know what is expected of them and most are quite willing to offer an acceptable response if they understand the request. What correct behavior is to us humans often doesn’t make sense to a horse, especially in the learn- ing stages before it becomes a habituated response. Even in today’s age


able to mount Pusher only when he was cross tied in the hall way of the barn. She would place his halter over his bridle, mount him while he was still tied, and then reach up and remove the halter. Off they would go at full speed! She loved Pusher but sure did not enjoy trying to control him. Horses like boundaries


Carobeth had been


nett, Pusher’s owner had first contacted me to re-educate him, I was hesitant because rehabilitat- ing a speed horse can be a time consuming task. But Carobeth would not take no for an answer and kindly pointed out that we advertised our methods as “de- signed to create the Ultimate Companion horse”. Pusher is a very intel-


(he lived up to his name!), on the ground and under saddle. Pedestal training helped him to understand that standing still was a reward in itself. Giving him a place to anchor his busy feet gave him the confidence to stand quietly. It also made him taller which he seemed to enjoy AND he got a few minutes as a breather in exchange for his willingness to stand still on the pedestal. • He could not and would


behaviors that Pusher had when he came to Imagine A Horse for training and which methods we employed to change them. • Pusher was plain pushy


of gentler horsemanship, help- ing a horse to truly understand both physically and mentally the requests we make of him is often overlooked. Elements of Trick Training that can rapidly promote understanding by the horse and facilitate learning are the use of Objects and a Variable Reward system. Incorporating objects


really a friendly guy and wanted to please but he simply reacted quicker and more strongly with his body than he could think. His mind raced all the time and he had no self control or reason to hold still other than fear of pun- ishment which made him even more frantic. After he understood that standing on the pedestal was his reward, he could go on (from that position) to respond to ad- ditional cues such as those for the Jambette or Salute. In time, he responded appropriately and habitually to other cues. • Did not enjoy “being


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not stand for mounting. Pedestal training and also the Park Out po- sition helped him to understand that there was a real reason for standing still, a reason that made sense to him which ultimately helped him to relax. After just a week of pedestal training gave him the confidence to stand in the middle of a 60 acre pasture for mounting with no bridle on and never move a muscle. • He did not understand


his mind was too busy to allow him to hold still. Incremental rewards and releases come rela- tively quickly in Trick Training. For example, when teaching a horse to pivot his hindquarters around the front feet anchored on a pedestal, the horse may be rewarded for just a step or two at first. Pusher really needed reassurance that his responses were correct. When we broke the requests down into smaller than normal steps and rewarded him for his attempts, he really began to pay attention. • Over reacted to physical


cues and was totally nonrespon- sive to verbal cues. Pusher was


or respond to normal cues to step back, he just dug his feet in and refused-he was truly stuck. Pedestal training helped him to understand the Step Back com- mand and the associated cues as he learned to step back and down when dismounting the pedestal. The response became automatic (muscle memory) very quickly as it was presented to him in a way that he could easily understand. • Very short attention span:


had been ridden for field trials and seemed to have a fear of being forced to jump. When we lunged him toward a pedestal (in the beginning) he would leap clear over it and take off as though his life were really in danger. We helped him to solve this in a rather unconventional way by using what we called high rigging in the aisle of the training barn. We ran long ropes through rings that were attached to the overhead beams, The result was somewhat like long lead ropes run through tall and wide cross ties (that were not tied hard and fast) that would give in our hands. We then asked him to move to- ward the pedestal and encouraged him to halt instead of jumping it. The first time he understood that he could stop ON the ped- estal and not have to JUMP it he seemed very relieved. He actually NEVER rushed at one again or at a handler either. Instead he would happily hop up onto it with his front legs neatly tucked. Interestingly enough Pusher


with” people. There seemed to be nothing in it for him that he could comprehend. The more he wiggled, the more impatient people seemed to be. It was a very unproductive and stressful cycle for him. Standing quietly on the pedestal helped buy him the couple of seconds that he needed to slow himself down, think, and to enjoy his reward. When he began to understand the requests he started to really enjoy his work. • Rushed at objects. Pusher


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was extremely willing and com- pliant in learning the tricks in which he needed to lower his body to that of the handler such as the Bow, Sit Up and Sit Down. This was further proof that he was really a trusting and nice guy but just couldn’t understand what (and why) he was being asked to do. He learned to Bow on either leg in very short order. After he understood the physical sequence of the Lay Down and the Sit Up, he learned the Sit Down in one day! The first time that we tried out his new skills under saddle he gave us willing, perfect and correct responses! Pusher’s trick horse skills


help him maneuver the mountain trails in a quiet and obedient manner. He is still, three years later a changed and happy horse and a pleasure to be around. He loves showing off his tricks and loves to “play” and interact with Carobeth. She is delighted with her “new” horse and looks forward to many years of com- panionship shared with him.


Pusher Rocks!


26-equine study courses leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree, Professional Horse Trainer or Riding Instructor Certification, or any single course for your personal enrichment.


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Don Blazer teaches Conformation and Selection for Performance, Training Performance Horses, Bits and Shoeing and The Business of Making Money with Horses. Nancy Cahill teaches Perfect Lead Changes. Norma Fay teaches Fit to Ride. Tammy Fifer teaches Dressage: Foundation for All Riding Disciplines. Cathy Hanson teaches Preparation for Competition and Showmanship In Hand. Ruth E. Kochard teaches Legal Aspects of Horse Management. Betty Lindquist teaches Equine Massage. Todd Martin teaches Train for Rein- ing. Holly Mason teaches Flexibility by Design. Dr. Jim & Lynda McCall teaches Behavior Modification Techniques and Coat Color Genetics. Eleanor Richards teaches Nutrition for Maximum Performance and Stable Management. Dr. Jack Sales teaches Equine Health and Disease Management and Equine Reproduction. R.E. Smith teaches Traditional Vaquero Hackamore Training. Cherie Vonada teaches Riding Instructor Role and Responsibility and Teaching Techniques and Hunter Under Saddle.


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