Shaping Backing Up with Clicker Training

How to train an equine to back up, without pressure.
When you're training and conditioning really fearful equines, there can be a temptation to focus on the urgent tasks and behaviours. There can be a lot of pressure to get things done, get them haltered, get them trimmed, get the vet out, etc. Notice if you are on the fence about R+ training, that "pressure" to get things done with your equine, is not a fun experience!!
But the danger of this approach is that training can be less fun for the equine as well.
This happens not necessarily because we are causing them worry or discomfort, but because we approach things with a different demeanour. We have a lot more intensity and focus, different body language, we want, hope and expect more behaviour, we are tense, maybe even rushed and we have some strong and clear goals in mind.
Our equines can see that and it WILL affect their behaviour and how they feel.
I've come out of a period with Seymour where he was in a lot of pain, there were vet visits, x-rays, investigations, digging around in his hoof, soaking, treating, bandaging and boots.
Worse, he didn't always have a choice or a voice, but I always tried to make it the best it could be for him. I relied on my Trust Account a lot and on previously positively reinforced behaviours and their positive reinforcement history.
I think I may have been swimming around in the dregs of our Trust Account by the end of it all.
I noticed afterwards that his Start Button had weakened and faded during our R+ training sessions.
So I set out to rectify things.
Forget about hooves for a little while and do some fun stuff.
Do some Shaping with Positive Reinforcement!
Yay! Fun! Easy! Using our brain! Problem Solving! Lots of food!
It worked and yet, bad me, I asked if he would lift his hooves and could I check and clean them out and he was great with it. But only after all the fun, problem solving and food had taken place, not before.
It's kind of like when you want the hard stuff, you need to put the time and effort into the relationship and the fun stuff first. Build the Trust Account and positive emotional experiences first and then ask for the harder stuff.
I don't think I put the misfires in this video, otherwise it would be way too long, but there were many times where he didn't give me a Start Button and then times where he offered behaviour without it and we both fumbled a bit.
He's at the stage where it seems like he doesn't need the Start Button anymore for a lot of things. But it has a strong reinforcement history and it gives structure and rhythm to our training sessions. We both like it, but at the same time it does seem like it's becoming redundant, as Seymour progresses in his training and comfort levels.
I think that's a truly wonderful thing.
Oh, and I hope you enjoy some shaping of an equine backing up without needing to "pressure" him, step into his space, use gear, whatever.