The Principles of Training Season 3 Episode 12: “Teaching a Better Backup by Working a Horses Mind” 

Thanks.

You have to find SOMETHING to start with. The behavioral concept is called "successive approximations".

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Yes! 😁😁😁😁❤️

Good. For. You!! (ending the lesson)

Bravo Carla Hawks for standing up for your horse and humane training! Way to promote change in the horse industry!

Neuroscience is absolutely clear that a horse can't process two commands at once.

It's definitely a lost art!😍🥺

Step forward to the bit, the bit redirects backwards...

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I saw a video of a big time clicker trainer have their horse back up a long way, at liberty, on the ground. The horse moved each foot individually, meaning the horse asn't really wanting to back up, it was only going backwards to get the treat, not because he was thinking backwards. It was a revelation to me to see that, because it told me you can "force" a do something with clicker training, even though the +R people would tell you different.

I don't really like clicker training. It's not natural unless you're a dolphin. What do they do... bring a clicker on a trail ride or eventing course? 🤯 I agree, you can "train" an animal to do almost anything for a treat but if they're not mentally understanding what you are asking of them, you get a mentally shutdown, mechanical response. Awesome video & explanations. Thank you.

@@mdee860 Not everyone likes CT but it isn't an all-or-nothing deal as perhaps you're thinking. It can be fun for horses and make them feel empowered because they can "suggest" things and it definitely communicates to them that you understand them. But you don't need to do it all the time to get a good ride. Many clicker trainers (myself included) probably don't do any clicker work while trail riding -- certainly not while eventing. And I don't see why you think it's natural for dolphins but not other animals. And in situations where they aren't doing clean backups, it's not necessarily a question of understanding. My horse totally understands what I'm asking (if I'm asking) and what he's doing. It's that there isn't necessarily a mental commitment. Interestingly, since this video I've been paying close attention to his feet when he backs up and sometimes it actually is a two beat move, like it's supposed to be; other times it's the "back up shuffle" I described earlier.

irene coermann ~ my QH is 1200 lbs and my Cream Draft is around 1800 lbs at 16.3hh. I'd guess that 18hh Shire is 2000-2200lbs

Yes! I can't believe he said 1200lbs! I would have thought he would know better! My 17.2 WB is 1450lbs

Great work.

Drafts are cold blooded horses, they weren't breed to be high energy or react but to be really layed back and sorta lazy. So what she was able to do on him and actually get him to gallop, trop etc in western is amazing.

" If I leave my legs on, I of course get forward that runs into my hand and his head comes up or he steps his haunches out. " I'd say this is your problem, the back up is a bit false, meaning the contact should still work when you add leg. If you add leg and the head goes in the air and your horse walks through the bit, the contact doesnt really work.

WarwickSchiller My downwards transition from trot to halt (through a few steps of walk as this is a prelim horse) is seat, close/squeeze hand leg. Once I have square halt, legs come off (this is where he might step back), I have contact with corners of his mouth and need to put reins in my left hand to salute. If I feel him move back my leg comes back on and that’s when it risks getting sloppy i.e, step forward, hind leg step sideways. So, I think you’re saying I am not getting true back up and that to do this exercise (in your video) will address this problem. I hope I have that right. Thank you.

@@DizeeGiz Id say if you have to close you leg to have a good downward transition, then thats your problem.

@@WarwickSchiller I will try it without leg. I probably don't as the moment between leg and response is a millisecond. It is just the way I have always done it i.e. half halt (gear change). Thanks for the reply. Happy Easter and stay safe and sane :)