The Rural Voice, 2019-02, Page 31 • Some horses will feel that taking
them out of the field and away from
their buddies is a punishment. In
time, a horse that was willing to
come to you may stop. “So I am a
believer in giving a horse a treat
when it comes to you. It’s just a
normal behaviour but it is a good
behaviour.”
• If a horse reaches for a treat,
withhold it. “I won’t tolerate a horse
that is rude and grabby,” she said.
Rules have to be in place and if the
horse doesn’t obey the rules, it’s as
simple as withdrawing the treat.
• Every horse has some issue.
“They always have something but
you can untrain anything,” said Ellie.
When a horse has a difficulty,
owners need to ask themselves what
are they doing to make it stronger?
What are they doing to make it less?
• Do not use treats as bribery. You
can use them as a lure but not as a
bribe. The food is presented, you
wait for the right behaviour and when
it comes, you give them the treat as a
reward.
• Timing is important. Treats work
best when given within three seconds
after the good behaviour.
• Reward markers give you time.
When you associate treats with a
reward marker like a clicker or a
word like “yes”, then the horse
associates the sound with a treat.
reward. Eventually the horse’s brain
will respond exactly the same way to
the word as to the treat reward.
Ellie ended her presentation by
saying she doesn’t have anything to
sell. “I do this because I think mental
health with horses is often
overlooked and I want to see people
doing more with their horses.” ◊
February 2019 27
MEMBERS: NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT CROP CONSULTANTS
ONTARIO INSTITUTE OF AGROLOGISTS
Mervyn Erb
CPCC-I, T.Ag, CCA, 4R NMS, Cert. NMPD
Brucefield, ON 519-233-7100
Andy Megens
P.Ag., CCA
St. Marys, ON 519-284-3199
Greg Boon
CCA, 4R NMS, Cert. NMPD
Brucefield, ON 519-274-1415
Kelly Consitt
B.Sc. Ag. Bus.
Mike Hunter
Ripley, ON
BRUCEFIELD, ON N0M 1J0
BUS: 519-233-7100 FAX: 519-233-3444
MOBILE: 519-274-2929
EMAIL: erb@cropadvisory.com
www.CropAdvisory.com
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT CROP ADVISORY SERVICES
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING
Ask about the recongnized consultant program
NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT
Marvin L. Smith
B.Sc.F. (Forestry), R.P.F.
Farm Woodland Specialist
570 Riverview Dr.
Listowel, Ontario N4W 3T7
Telephone: (519) 291-2236