Using Treats to Train Your Horse? Here is what kind of treat to use and why

[@ceciltheminiaturejersey6531]

I trained my Arab that when I tapped his shoulder and said good boy, he would get a commercial horse treat. This made it very easy to train him. For example, I taught him to go slow up and down hills in one day by rewarding him every time he didn't rush. Later, when riding with friends who let their horses charge up hills, Expo went calmly and slowly up the hill since he knew he would be rewarded at the top. It got to the point that I had to spell the word good, because if I said it, he would stop and turn his head expecting a treat.

[@MrsC48]

I started using treats in training sessions when my mare was 6 years old. She's now 18 and I've never had a problem feeding treats. I taught her to 'look away' (physically move her head away) before she gets a treat so she's never in my pockets or scanning me looking for a cookie. I use Timothy pellets, gingersnaps broken up into small bits, Cheerios, and at the end of a ride, sugar free peppermints. My mare definitely works for food and that's fine with me!

[@Primrose.ponies]

That’s really clever!

[@ingridblohm-hyde805]

What a great idea to use different treats. I used to use carrot slices but my gelding started biting at me to get treats. Now I have Teff pellets and it is going better.

[@oasisflyer]

I mostly use Smartpak SmartCookies but if I find I'm going to need to give a lot, I use plain Timothy hay pellets. Been doing clicker training to kind of 'restart' my horse and get us both out of the loop of anxiety we got in with riding.

[@grannyhorsetraining878]

Great topic, we can change the emotions around the training by the type of treats we use 🤠🐎

[@terrylawhitlatch]

I have an Off the Track Thoroughbred mare currently in dressage training. I use a variety of high value treats--sliced carrots, commercial horse treats, and peppermints. She is a sweet natured, very inquisitive horse, and quick to learn, ready to go on to the next thing, so these treats are a higher motivator for her than hay. She gets the peppermints after the ride (about 6 Brach's 'Starbrights' or 6 Lifesavers peppermints).

[@emilymullerthibault4321]

I use alfalfa pellets for about 90% of my training sessions, and supplement with commercial treats or apples/carrots when I'm working on a more difficult behavior or in a situation where the horse needs higher motivation (like if we are training on grass, to help keep her focused on me instead of wanting to graze)

[@SylviaDiPrisco]

Struggling with a very defensive horse - trying to find something to motivate him - he did get nippy quite quickly just giving him random treats so I feed them in a bucket. I just hoped that food during training might show him that it can be fun, not threatening.

[@Jean-zp1le]

I do not see the link to treats/manners.

[@marilynmiller546]

I trained my horses to go to the tie rail in front of our tack room when they see me coming into the paddock so they are not crowding around me when I walk down there. They wait on the opposite side of the rail and then I give them a treat. I also give my horse a cookie after putting the bit in his mouth. Now he reaches eagerly for the bit and grabs it in his mouth. I've had to back off treats at times, though, as he gets way too excited about them. Here's a question: Has your horse ever refused a treat because of stress? Sometimes my horse will not take a treat if he's at a new place. Just overly worried, I guess.

[@kuldipsinhsolanki4785]

Wow....so...nice....

[@golde325]

Hello were are you located. Inquiring about riding lessons

[@alext7268]

I would be more excited about cauliflower…

[@tesudarshan1750]

Wow look at quarter horse I love it because I am a horse lover 😘🤗😘😘🐴🐴🐴

[@ramawatarverma3361]

Same

[@laurasoper8020]

I have a friend at the barn and she uses sugar cubes during her ride.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

If a person is using bribery (I mean food) to train a horse, then they do not understand a horse.

[@sarahbrochu8144]

And you think a person who uses blackmail (I mean violence and punishment) understands a horse more?

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@sarahbrochu8144 Those that use pain, fear, and intimidation (the old cowboy method) do not realize what is possible with horses. Does it work? Yes. Would I do that? No. I use finesse not fear. I understand the horse's language (body language). I 'speak' so that we understand each other.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@sarahbrochu8144 You are not mentioning the third way..............Using finesse, not fear.

[@horsecrazycrafter]

Nice to know people are still unable to use a google search and learn about horses through recent scientific studies 🥰🥰

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@horsecrazycrafter In general using food to train a horse to do a task is a cheat. It shows a lack of understanding of a horse and how they communicate. Or it shows that the person is afraid that he/she can't accomplish the task without a cheat.