| The use of horse treats in training is a subject with | | | | an example of using treats as a bonus. |
| passionate opinions on both sides. Some are adamant | | | | Another example might be stashing a pan or bucket |
| that feeding horse treats by hand causes horses to | | | | with a few treats out on the trail before riding a barn |
| become spoiled and nippy; others swear by training | | | | sour horse on that trail, allowing the horse to discover |
| methods which rely heavily on treats, such as clicker | | | | the treats along the way. In this way, the barn sour |
| training. Still others just like to feed their horse treats as | | | | horse begins to associate leaving the barn with |
| an expression of their love. | | | | positive things. |
| As with so many things, the answer is probably | | | | Once you have decided that you want to use treats |
| somewhere in the middle. Well-known natural | | | | as part of a training program, the next question |
| horsemanship educator Pat Parelli advocates using | | | | becomes what sort of treats to use. Horses love |
| treats mainly with horses who are extremely | | | | sugar cubes, but that doesn't mean sugar cubes are |
| food-motivated to begin with; the stereotypical lesson | | | | good for horses. Pure sugar is no better for a horse's |
| pony who will barely break out of a walk, but will do | | | | dental health-- or metabolic health -- than it is for a |
| anything for a sugar cube, for instance. Also, he warns | | | | human's. Carrots and apples are healthy alternatives |
| that treats should be used as a "bonus" when a | | | | that most horses enjoy, but they can be messy. |
| desired behavior is performed, not as a bribe. | | | | Apples, especially, can cause copious amounts of |
| Consider a horse who is reluctant to load on a trailer. If | | | | sticky horse slobber. Fruits and vegetables can't be |
| the owner stands in the trailer, holding a carrot just out | | | | stored at the barn during very hot or very cold |
| of his horse's reach, he is attempting to bribe the horse | | | | weather, either. |
| onto the trailer, using the carrot. This approach works | | | | The ideal horse treatsare shelf stable, don't leave your |
| sometimes, though not as often as one might think-- a | | | | hands sticky, and are made of healthy, wholesome |
| horse who is truly frightened by the trailer is unlikely to | | | | ingredients. There are a few companies making such |
| overcome that fear just for a bite of carrot. | | | | treats, and the best ones have such a good nutritional |
| A different owner, however, might choose to put a | | | | profile that they are similar to feeding your horse a |
| selection of horse treats in the manger of the trailer | | | | vitamin and mineral supplement. Though more |
| before bringing the horse out, so that the horse is | | | | expensive, these horse treats are well worth the extra |
| unaware that the treats are there. That owner could | | | | money. |
| then work with the horse using training strategies, such | | | | Perhaps the simplest and most telling test of the quality |
| as approach and retreat, to overcome the horse's | | | | of a horse treat is whether the smell makes you want |
| fear of the trailer. When the horse cautiously enters | | | | to try one yourself when you open the bag. If it does, |
| the trailer for the first time-- lo and behold!-- it discovers | | | | try to confine yourself to just a nibble-- otherwise, your |
| a manger full of treats waiting. All of the sudden, this | | | | horse may get jealous. |
| "trailering" thing doesn't seem quite so bad, right? That's | | | | |