Do You Use Treats For Horses When Training Them?

Something I have been wanting to get in a discussion with other horse owners is how they use treats for horses. What I am getting at is do you utilize treats in your training? I think a lot of people are inclined to do this because that is how many people train dogs to do things (at least at first). You get a dog to sit and then give him a treat. Later after he is learned the behavior then maybe you aren’t using treats anymore.

So the other day I was taping Eric at a lesson. He is against using treats for horses. He made a remark that stuck with me, which was that the alpha mare or stud in a wild herd of horses doesn’t use treats for horses to do what they want (obviously). So how do they get the horses to do what they want? By using body language. Eric’s training methods are pretty much based on teaching people how to utilize body language to communicate with their horses.

I often see people using treats for horse in an attempt to calm them in a stressful situation. For instance, I have seen people standing their with a bucket of treats when a difficult horse is getting his feet trimmed. They sit there continually feeding the horse treats hoping it won’t kick the farrier or freak out.

Eric Bravo says this ends up teaching the horse to be nervous. In other words the horse is in a state where he is acting all wiggy and here we are giving him treats. Does the horse think of this as telling him that he is supposed to behave that way?

One thing I can say is that the behavior of my horses has improved a lot since I have cut back on the treats. I haven’t eliminated them entirely. I mean I love my horses and life is short so why not give them something they enjoy. But what I do is give them treats either in neutral situations (like grooming) or after they have performed work. So I won’t give treats for horses o perform some groundwork task correctly, but I will give him a treat when we are completely done and I’ve walked him back to the pasture.

I have found that the horses are not as pushy as they used to be. So try cutting back on the treats with your horses.

These horse training ground tips and stories come from Eric Bravo and his horse trainers who offer natural horsemanship training at Gentle Horse Training. He has a set Of 7 Horse Training Videos That Teach You How To Train Horses Yourself Using Natural Horsemanship Techniques.

Learn More All About Horses Here:

• Learn Horse Training Breaking Secrets. Five Horseback Riding Video Lessons Teach Natural Riding Without Bouncing, Safely Controlling Your Horse And Riding Bareback And Bridleless.
• Learn To Grow Gorgeous Horses! Now You Too Can Grow Long, Thick, Luxurious Horse Manes and Tails and Make Any Horse Stunningly Gorgeous Amazingly Fast!

• The Ultimate Guide To Pampering Your Horse provides a gold mine of ideas and inspiration. "For grooming, bathing, and hoof-care suggestions to homemade treats, toys, parties, games (and even costumes!) You'll find step-by-step directions for guaranteed horse-pleasers such as: Slop and Slurp Delight, Homemade Bug-Be-Gone, Edible Christmas Wreath, Mad Hatter Birthday Party and much more!

• The Original Book of Horse Treats offers fun treat for horses. Recipes you can make at home for your Horse. Stuffed molasse apples, birthday cones, soups snacks, desserts and much more fun horsey food! All tried and true at the barn! Also includes a section on bran mashes, hoof oil, fly spray, and electrolytes!