Feeding Treats By Hand?

minihorses4ever · 07-01-2009, 10:07 AM

I don't use treats as a method of training, but my horses definitely get their share of them. They always get one whenever I catch them, and usually one or two around grooming or something. I always feed by hand.

haunani · 07-01-2009, 10:29 AM

It depends.

Depends on the horse, their behavior, their tendencies, my mood, etc.

For my two, I do feed treats by hand. I've never had a problem with them getting mouthy.

JBandRio · 07-01-2009, 11:25 AM

I forgot - I also put a treat in the bottom of the muzzles the 2 boys have to wear. Makes both our lives SO much easier.

OrangeRikki · 07-01-2009, 11:36 AM

When I'm riding I use verbal praise and patting to let my horse know he has done a good job. If the ride goes extremely well, I sometimes give him a treat after I have finished untacking and grooming him. I NEVER let my horses eat while undersaddle, develops bad habbits.

Tallpine · 07-02-2009, 02:54 PM

For better or worse, I give hand fed treats as a training reward.

To start with, I give them as a reward for doing any "task" like being haltered, standing for grooming or saddling, going through a gate, etc. I give one from the back for letting me mount, too. Later I try to reduce those for well learned tasks.

Biggest problem I have is having deep enough pockets

rageandglory · 07-02-2009, 03:09 PM

treats, 'specially cookies, grow in your pocket, Tallpine : ). MY horses are convinced of this!

Blaiz889 · 07-02-2009, 05:39 PM

I've never had a problem with horses getting mouthy. I give a peppermint when I bring a horse in, and one or two more after I ride. On trails I'll give my horse a treat from the saddle.
Blaiz hasn't figured out the whole pocket thing, but he does no the sound of the plastic bag.

View Poll Results: Do You Feed Treats?
No, I don't believe in treats I use verbal praise.	3	5.56%
Yes, but not by hand - I but them in a bucket.	5	9.26%
Yes, I feed them by hand when my horse is doing well.	19	35.19%
Yes and No, it depends on what my horse has done/is doing.	27	50.00%
Voters: 54. You may not vote on this poll

07-01-2009, 10:07 AM	#11
minihorses4ever Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: TX Posts: 1,552 Images: 28	I don't use treats as a method of training, but my horses definitely get their share of them. They always get one whenever I catch them, and usually one or two around grooming or something. I always feed by hand. __________________ -Bre Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.

07-01-2009, 10:29 AM	#12
haunani Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Trumansburg, NY Posts: 3,832 Images: 278 Blog Entries: 1	It depends. Depends on the horse, their behavior, their tendencies, my mood, etc. For my two, I do feed treats by hand. I've never had a problem with them getting mouthy. __________________ Carmen & Meteor & Mars

07-01-2009, 11:25 AM	#13
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,000 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	I forgot - I also put a treat in the bottom of the muzzles the 2 boys have to wear. Makes both our lives SO much easier. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

07-01-2009, 11:36 AM	#14
OrangeRikki Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Indiana, PA Posts: 5,396 Images: 399 Blog Entries: 4	When I'm riding I use verbal praise and patting to let my horse know he has done a good job. If the ride goes extremely well, I sometimes give him a treat after I have finished untacking and grooming him. I NEVER let my horses eat while undersaddle, develops bad habbits. __________________ Rikochet::Conspiracy::FutureStorm "Don't be so busy doing good that you neglect to do what's right."

07-02-2009, 02:54 PM	#15
Tallpine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 655 Images: 7	For better or worse, I give hand fed treats as a training reward. To start with, I give them as a reward for doing any "task" like being haltered, standing for grooming or saddling, going through a gate, etc. I give one from the back for letting me mount, too. Later I try to reduce those for well learned tasks. Biggest problem I have is having deep enough pockets

07-02-2009, 03:09 PM	#16
rageandglory Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,428	treats, 'specially cookies, grow in your pocket, Tallpine : ). MY horses are convinced of this!

07-02-2009, 05:39 PM	#17
Blaiz889 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Central MN Posts: 572 Images: 2	I've never had a problem with horses getting mouthy. I give a peppermint when I bring a horse in, and one or two more after I ride. On trails I'll give my horse a treat from the saddle. Blaiz hasn't figured out the whole pocket thing, but he does no the sound of the plastic bag. __________________ He is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him. He is indeed a horse: and all other jades you may call beasts.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hand feeding treats	AtomicTop	Horse Training	41	05-19-2008 02:33 PM
Hand Feeding/Treats	bay_blnd jmpr07	Horse Training	17	12-26-2006 07:59 PM
Feeding Treats: by Hand or by Bucket?	Rein-Back	Horse Training	16	01-16-2006 10:08 AM
training to eat treats from my hand?	Chlover	Horse Training	13	02-10-2004 02:44 PM
Feeding Treats out of Hand!!!	QHGirl	Horse Training	8	10-01-2003 07:54 AM