Hand Feeding Mouthy Horses

by Alex
(Illinois)

I have recently purchased a 3-1/2 yr. old Fjord. She is very sweet, imprinted at birth. The owner told me no hand treats as she is mouthy. She is very curious, very smart, very, very, very food driven. I am working with a trainer at my barn that would like to teach her clicker training tricks to focus her. With the clicker training comes the hand treats though, should I be concerned?

She is very quick, picked up the first "trick" (picking up a napkin and giving it to you) in less than 5 min. Just don't want to create more problems for myself down the road.

Thank you


Hi Alex,

That is a very good question and a common concern for everyone when they first hear about clicker training. I too had this concern until I learned the “how” within this method.

When we look upon clicker training as a “training tool” not just a feeding method to train, everything will come into focus. This is where it is more important that the trainers understanding and delivery is solid and their timing is really good. (That goes for any good training method!)

Young mouthy horses are full of curiosity and if we were to just give them food from our hands, it would create a problem. However when we combine the food with a teaching session of learning manners, it does not become a problem at all. Instead we create a strong communication that creates respect.

We address how to deal with an over anxious mouthy, mugging horse in our Clicker Training Guide.

The rules for offering food to horses in general can and probably should remain the same. Meaning until my horse fully understands and respects that they cannot mug me for food, I would continue to feed in a bowl when delivery treats just because I love them.

The only problems we create are usually the ones we break ourselves by being inconsistent. For example, if I was to only use food during my clicker training sessions but then just for the heck of it I walk out into the paddock and offer my horse some food from my hand just because it makes me feel good, can you see from a horse’s perspective how this could be confusing?

Work closely with your trainer and learn how to deliver the treats effectively and correctly. Providing you are really consistent you should have no problems hand feeding your horse.

Sincerely,

Elaine Polny
Training Horses Naturally