tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304406780299180546.post2175097264807167890..comments2022-11-07T04:13:16.647-08:00Comments on Bookends Farm: Winning BattlesBookends Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11097973354681584986noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304406780299180546.post-58366065910444861992010-09-30T06:43:01.048-07:002010-09-30T06:43:01.048-07:00What can be difficult for some people to get is th...What can be difficult for some people to get is that bit about horses "not understanding". So many folks say "of course he understands, we've done this before". But unless I really know what I am doing to cue a behavior and what I am doing to reinforce or punish that behavior...I'm working in the dark, making all sorts of assumptions which lead to frustration on everyone's part.Bookends Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11097973354681584986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5304406780299180546.post-61756343626431271192010-09-30T06:32:55.268-07:002010-09-30T06:32:55.268-07:00My thought is that if you're fighting with you...My thought is that if you're fighting with your horse, something's wrong, big time. Sure "winning" can happen - we see it all the time when horses are coerced into doing things - this ultimately leads to explosions or else shutting down, depending on the horse's temperament. Dealing with resistance to what you're asking requires first figuring out why the horse is resisting - it's usually because the horse doesn't understand or because of a pain issue - and then being persistent and patient in asking and rewarding small tries. Clicker is one really good way to do this, as you point out. But too many people are into the "make the horse do it" school of thought due to their own lack of understanding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com