KBR Horse Net
Training Case Study:

"Shiloh"
Part Two

Day 7:

Sharon worked with some basic clicker activities and Betsy came over and haltered Shiloh a few times and groomed her. Shiloh was a bit edgy about having someone different in her space, even though she new Betsy.

Day 8:

The clicker activities from the previous day showed. Shiloh touched the halter and was haltered up in no time and I had less difficulty getting into traditionally scary places on her.

The weather was calm so I decided to try taking her for another walk in the stable. This time it took very little encouragement for her to leave Mustang Manor and we had a great half hour walk, visiting various points of interest and being greeted by a few grazers who were loose in the stable.

I took her to a regular paddock that was available and she was a little wary going into the barn, but I touched all of the items of concern and she continued to follow with little resistance. She did have some difficulty walking onto the wooden stall floor, and we went through a number of baby steps and click reinforcement until she made it across the floor into the open area of the paddock. I turned her loose to explore.

Shortly after that, Betsy arrived. I went in to halter Shiloh and she was still a little bit keyed up in her new environment. I could touch and scratch her and even handle her muzzle, but she wouldn't stand still long enough to halter. I didn't have my carrot back and tried simply haltering her by positioning myself but I was having little progress. Betsy offered that she had some carrot slices, gave me a few and I click targeted the halter on in less than a minute.

On the way out of the paddock, we had the same issue with the wooden floor. It took at least five minutes to cover 10 feet, then we were out in the open. Shiloh led more tentatively for Betsy but she didn't give her any trouble. We wandered the stable and ended up out in the horse course.

We tried leading her across the bridge. She had to check things out but she came across and the one inch "rock" as she passed center didn't spook her. We walked around and over the mound. Then I tried her on the steps. She seemed stuck. She would look at me but it wouldn't occur to her to step up and over the timber step.

I let her up the mound from the side and asked her to come down the steps, which she did with no problem. She didn't seem afraid of them; it just didn't occur to her to step up and over them. Sharon suggested taking her over the cavaletti which she did nicely. Next we elevated the cavaletti pole one position higher. As with the step, Shiloh seemed confused and basically shut down.

I tapped the cavaletti and asked her to "Touch it." Upon about my 4th verbal request, she focused on the cavaletti pole and touched it. I clicked and rewarded her, then asked her to walk across it. No problem! Not only would she clear the pole smartly, but she'd stop with a hind leg perched on it and snag a bite of grass!

After several passes over the cavaletti we went back to the steps. Up she went like a pro! We repeated the exercise just to make sure and she had no problem with them. On the way down the other side of the mound, its steepest slope, Shiloh stopped to check out the forage. This is a pitch which usually makes the horses pretty nervous. Apparently if Shiloh is focused on the task at hand, she doesn't get too worked up over things.

We next tried a fairly advanced maneuver, crossing the bridge sideways. This requires stepping over some huge utility pole side rails, stepping across the narrow width of the bridge and navigating a second utility pole on the other side. She made it look easy.

We left the horse course and headed back to her paddock. By this time she had enough self confidence that I simply had the leadrope draped over my shoulder. Once we reached the paddock, she walked over the wooden floor with little effort. At feeding time she didn't hesitate to walk into her stall and chow down and she also greeted and accepted treats from the other boarders who came by.

Navigating the bridge
in a relaxed frame

Looking at the stairs

Providing assurance but she
is still hung up

Coming up from the side
and starting down

Coming quietly down the stairs

Navigating the cavaletti

A little tougher when it
is higher

Getting her to focus on the
obstacle by touching it

Crossing it easily

Even stopping for a snack
at a vulnerable point

One of the secrets to working obstacles is for the horse to engage with a curious interest about what is going on, pay attention what he is doing and move comfortably through the obstacle.

Up the steps with ease

Stopping on a very steep section
to check out the forage

Traversing the downhill nicely

Crossing the bridge the hard way

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