Useful Tricks

[NicNJr]

After moving to the south, I have found that some days are just too @#*% hot and humid to go for a ride. I have already taught a few very useful tricks (including a few complicated tricks) and I am looking for more ideas.

Things he can do already:
-align himself to any mounting block or fence by voice command only
-pick up objects off the ground and hand them to rider (really useful if you drop your whip; gloves are still a work in progress)
-turn the arena lights on (seriously useful, because they are on the other side of the wall and he is the only one of the two of us who can reach them from inside the arena)

What are some things that you wish your horse knew how to do that would make your life easier, less frustrating or just really impress your friends?

[tikihorse2]

Get all the strides in and find all the right spots all by himself? :lol: :winkgrin:

[ShotenStar]

Gates. I have one gate that needs a solid push to close. I’m working on maresy to supply that push.

Go into a particular stall on command. I sometimes need to shift mares around; being able to just open doors and say ‘go there’ would be very nice.

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[2DogsFarm]

@ShotenStar

Go into a particular stall on command. I sometimes need to shift mares around; being able to just open doors and say ‘go there’ would be very nice.

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:congratulatory: NeenerNeener!
My horses all know “Go to your house” as a command & sort themselves into “their” stalls from turnout (pastures connect to drylot that connects to barn - stall doors to barn open 24/7)

What do I Wish they knew?

Poop outside!
They mostly do, but 1 stall seems to get assigned Toilet Stall & there can be multi-piles to pick from that one :no:
All 3 use it as I can tell Horse, Pony or Mini-size piles.
Really, Boys? :mad:

[rockonxox]

If I could just open all the pasture gates and everyone could go to their stalls that would be lovely. Only one of ours does that - and it’s because he is very old and just wants to eat his food and knows where it is at. No shenanigans for him!

[BellaLuna]

You are recovering from an injury/illness and I know that you want out and I WANT you out.

How 'bout if I turn you out and you happily and quietly rest that injury/illness in a very small area of the pasture, refusing all offers to run and play. Oh and wait for me to walk you back in.

[SnicklefritzG]

I started working with Rex Peterson last year on trick training when he comes to my area for clinics. I’ve taught my horses the following:

*Bow
*say “yes” and “no”
*pick up feet on command either voice or hand signal
*Play fetch
*smile, or in the case of my OTTB “show your tattoo”
*Answer with a nicker when their name is called
*Pick up items on the ground and put them in a bucket
*Stop on command from a voice or hand signal (i.e. traffic cop style)
*Learn how to distinguish verbally between apples and carrots or other snack. If you say “carrot”, they move to one side of the stall to get it, say “apple” and they go to the other side.

Janelle

[springdaisy]

@NicNJr

After moving to the south, I have found that some days are just too @#*% hot and humid to go for a ride. I have already taught a few very useful tricks (including a few complicated tricks) and I am looking for more ideas.

Things he can do already:
-align himself to any mounting block or fence by voice command only
-pick up objects off the ground and hand them to rider (really useful if you drop your whip; gloves are still a work in progress)
-turn the arena lights on (seriously useful, because they are on the other side of the wall and he is the only one of the two of us who can reach them from inside the arena)

What are some things that you wish your horse knew how to do that would make your life easier, less frustrating or just really impress your friends?

How did you train to pick up objects? Were there any tricks in particular that seemed to work? Seems like a very useful little skill!

[NicNJr]

The first day I teach something I let him explore and kinda tell me what he might want to do. It’s a kinda play time for us with no objectives. Sometimes I put an object in front of him and see if he is interested in it. If he starts doing something that I think I can shape into a trick, I will start to shape it - mostly clicker training, though I am quick enough I can use my voice, just like in dog training. And sometimes I have my dressage stick if I need to direct him, or if I need impulsion.

One day I dropped my dressage stick when we were playing around and he liked picking it up and swinging it around like a crazy mad man, I actually had to stay out of his way to keep from being hit. LMAO. And then from there, I just shaped it the way I would for my dog.
Then I was joking around one day while riding and discovered that not only would he pick up my whip if I dropped it, but he would then try to hand it too me, except that I was still on his back at that point. So we did some more work and now, I have a cool trick.
Gloves are hit and miss, because once he picks them up he will fling them around. They are too much fun to give back, and I have to be careful, because once he starts chewing on them, they go all the way in and I am afraid that he might actually try to swallow.

[myamego]

It sounds like your horse is really quick with verbal commands, so why not try to work those into lunging and riding? You can start on the ground if you don’t feel like riding. Once your horse knows “woah”, “walk”, “trot”, “canter”, “back”, etc, you can start transferring those commands to under saddle work. If he gets really good, maybe you could start teaching him more complicated commands, like “switch” when you want a lead change!

You’ve taught him to give you things, and if you’re afraid he might swallow something, why not teach him to drop it like a dog? I think anything you could teach a dog, you could teach a horse! Stay and come touch (both very useful if your horse gets out), jump whatever you point at…if you have the patience, you can teach it.

I’m glad that you’re so interested in practicing fun groundwork with your horse. So many equestrians I know ride day in and day out, and if they don’t ride, then they don’t do anything with their horse at all. Groundwork and trick training is so beneficial for a horse’s mental and physical well being, so why ride on a horribly hot (or cold) day when you and your horse would both really rather not?

[Texarkana]

I had one horse of mine who could free lunge around the arena walk, trot, canter, whoa, back, change direction all off of voice commands. I wish I could say I trained him to do so, but really he was just a smart cookie. I taught him those commands on the lunge line and he would obey them in any enclosed space, even the pasture. It sure was handy!

[NicNJr]

Thanks @myamego . These are actually things he already knows, as I once had aspirations of driving him. I use the word “Out” any time I want him to drop things, he just usually prefers to ignore me with things like gloves. For awhile I used an old towel, with no success. The object and the fun it creates, is just worth way more than praise or his favorite treat. So I have shelved that particular trick for now.

I am really looking for unusual things to teach, as my creative juices are low. We have had quite a lot of non-riding time in the last year, as he damaged his suspensory and we are only now back into full work.

[right_horse_at_the_right_time]

My horse LOVES tricks! He’s very trainable, and we have a blast. Most of his are not useful but are very cute ;).

He will do anything for a treat!

[walkinthewalk]

I haven’t been able to ride for a few years so I spend a lot of time trying to teach both my horses useful Liberty things.

However, This is what I wish one of my horses did NOT know how to do:

Check the alley way gate to see if it’s locked, on the days I didn’t lock it, while I’m busy with something else, and I find him quietly at the counter trying to flip the lid on the cookie jar.

the cookie jar sits next to an identical container full of mane combs and believe me, that horse knows which is which, lol

[Xanthoria]

My horse slides the arena gate latch and pushes it open if I stand him in front of it while mounted - handy, but also a bit scary!

I have also clicker trained him to stand at the mounting block, grab the bit if I hold it in front of him, and pick up whichever leg I point at.

I taught my old horse to nod yes or shake his head no. That was very useful - if you ever get in an argument w someone, the horse would ALWAYS agree with me. :lol:

[Alittledownhill]

Maybe this one is too elementary, but it’s made my life easier: I taught my horse hand grazing manners. Like your horse, he responds really well to verbal commands. When I bought him, he was pushy around food (pulling to grass, grabbing hay I aisles etc). Now when he is grazing, he responds immediately to “Head up” and “graze.” He will stand in a field of clover and not pull or even put his head down until told. He’s also stopped hay grabbing and pulling barn workers towards grass when they lead him. I taught him using pressure/release, “good boy”, and initially some cookies when he lifted his head or waited very patiently.

We also do “hug,” “pick it up” (cone or jolly ball) and some other totally useless things. Trick training is really fun, particularly if you have a playful/curious horse who already has good ground manners.