Trick Pony Goals
So I thought if I wrote down some of my goals for the Trick Ponies in 2010 it might actually help me to accomplish them. Hopefully our cold winter doesn’t last too long and I can get to training them soon! So here’s my list (in no particular order):
1. Teach Minnow to rear
2. Teach Blitz and Boomer to lay down on command
3. Finish teaching Ammo and Boomer to paint
4. Come up with a new skit for Minnow to perform
5. Make a new video of all of the trick ponies (and the Dachshund) performing
6. Move Boomer up to compete in the Masters Division in Mounted Games
7. Take Blitz to a bombproofing clinic/and or some Dressage events
8. Teach Ammo and Minnow some tricks together
9. Find more venues/performances for Minnow to do – events that raise money for charities would be great.
10. Spend more time doing “nothing” with the boys
Blitz is the first of the Chincoteagues to learn to lay down
So what do you think? Anything I should add? Suggestions on new tricks to teach the boys? I’d love to hear your goals – maybe you want to learn more about clicker training – maybe you just want to teach your horse one trick? Whatever it is, I wish you much success in the new year! Click on!
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Hey my name is Sara and I volunteer at a horse adoption program. We have over 30 abandoned and neglected rescue horses and many of them are elderly and so smart, but the chances of them being adopted is slim. I decided I wanted to teach them how to do very simple tricks to boost their chances of finding wonderful homes. I was wondering if you could do videos on how to teach them to do these tricks step by step. Thanks so much!
Your friend,
Sara
I can probably do that sometime. Great Idea! I love your plan to teach the elderly horses so that they might be more adoptable.
I might not be able to get to making videos RIGHT away….its very cold here and honestly its hard to be out at the barn for any long length of time.
But in the meantime you can check out my youtube channel for some ideas. http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=51253A681BDA4052
There are also many great books out there that can be helpful. One of my favorites is called “Trickonometry” by Carol Fletcher. Its the first trick training book I ever owned.
Good Luck! I will try to make some videos to help you as soon as I can.
Hi Sara!
How great that you’re working with rescue horses! Any simple tricks or training you teach them will probably help their chance of being adopted.
All of the horses I currently train are rescue horses. (You might want to check out my blog. http://stalecheerios.com/blog)
You also might want to check out the clickryder blog–it’s full of neat videos!
http://click-ryder.blogspot.com/
I’d suggest starting out with something simple, like targeting. The neat thing about targeting is that you can later build on it to teach other skills, such as pushing a ball, picking up objects, playing fetch, playing basketball, etc. You can even use targeting to get them to play a bit of music on a plastic kid’s keyboard!
Mary
“2. Teach Blitz and Boomer to lay down on command”
I’ve found nice sand is wonderful for motivating horses to lie down. Especially wet horses and nice comfy sand!
I look forward to reading about all your adventures with your ponies in the coming year!
Mary
I’m excited to work more on the lay down – I had started with Blitz on this trick last winter but never got to perfect it. (snow works really well too! hopefully I get a lot this winter!)
Hopefully I’ll stay on track and actually get it perfected this year!
Those are great resolutions! I can’t wait to see how you progress. 🙂