[AtomicTop]

I am just wondering how most people feel about hand feeding treats. I used to do it and I have to say while my horse always came to me very quickly, he never mugged me. I notice most trainers recommend you don't use treats to reward, but other methods instead. I do sort of agree but can't help going out my front door with a couple of carrots or apples in my hand OCCASIONALLY. Am I being very naughty?

[Blondehorse]

Originally Posted by AtomicTop

I am just wondering how most people feel about hand feeding treats. I used to do it and I have to say while my horse always came to me very quickly, he never mugged me. I notice most trainers recommend you don't use treats to reward, but other methods instead. I do sort of agree but can't help going out my front door with a couple of carrots or apples in my hand OCCASIONALLY. Am I being very naughty?

IMO, no. If I had a horse that tended to be mouthy or nippy, I wouldn't do any hand feeding at all, but my mare is generally polite about treats, and if she's not, we discuss it. I don't hand feed a lot, but she definitely knows what the crinkle of a peppermint wrapper means!
Oh, and I don't use treats as a reward, ever. To me, that doesn't generate respect, which is what I'm looking for, it generates greed, and I only feed treats just 'cause.

Edited to add: I mean, 'IMO, no, you're not being very naughty.' Just thought I'd clarify!

[JBandRio]

I'm all for it as long as the horse has learned to be polite about it. Insane begging with the eyes is acceptable Coming at me and searching for them is not. Ever. So, until the horse learns not to invade my space, he doesn't get hand treats. After that I work on teaching him that the treat comes to him, he does not go to the treat.

I use treats as rewards for doing things like stretching. I haven't yet, but on a horse's back, a treat for a particular movement well done, or to teach the horse that lateral flexion is very rewarding I see nothing wrong with using them there either.

[Haas Horse Farm]

Hand feeding treats works until someone gets bit. It is just a question of when. Why start something that could become a problem ... feeding the treat is not the problem... letting the horse take it from anywhere on you is. Place it in the feeder or on a stump or anywhere but on your and you will never have to worry.

My concern it not for you the owner but a strange child thinking it is okay to hand feed the treat because they have seen you do it... they do not know how to hold their hand properly and they get bit.

I have also seen a young girl bit because she had a pocket on her jacket. The owner liked to keep treats in her pocket and the horse new that. Owner got sick and was in the hospital ... young girl is feeding to help out, her Dad is the local vet, horse has not had a treat for several days and reaches over the stall door and gabs this girls pocket as she walked by... young girl was hurt but luckily just bruised and sore and not a lot of broken skin... more of a bruised spot where the bit went all the way through the material and got skin too.

[JBandRio]

HHF, the problem wasn't the treats, the problem was the owners' lack of training the horse properly and that is exactly why some people should not hand-feed treats.

Mine might stretch their neck out and wiggle their nose to see if someone has a treat for them, but they DO NOT take a step towards that person, and they most certainly DO NOT open their mouth in search of a treat. Yes, they certainly did try those things with me once or twice, but they quickly learned that was a good way to get killed

[equestriandynam]

i hand feed a few when i see my horse.. just after she has been doing well, like standing in the crossties silently, and before i turn her out.
She tried to mug me when i had treats in my pocket once... i fixed her... and she never did it again.
As with anything horses can get pushy, its your job to make sure they knows where the line is drawn.

[equestriandynam]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

but they quickly learned that was a good way to get killed

LOL! I love your posts!

[Haas Horse Farm]

JB please go back and reread what I posted... no amount of training of the horse is going to keep a small child from getting hurt trying to hand feed a horse properly. All children do what they see others doing. If they see you putting feed in the feeder... they will do that... Likewise if they see you feeding the horse a treat by hand they will do that... Unfortunately they do not have the same size hands we do and many will not be able to balance a treat on their hand flat so they will hold their hand up for the horse to take it. How is training going to stop that child from getting bit accidentally?

I know parents should watch their children all the time... but guess what many don't. Accidents happen. If you never have children on your place you might be safe... but unfortunately if your property has neighbors stuff could be happening you do not know about. I was shocked to see a neighbors kid feeding my horse in one of the bottom pastures... yes she was in her yard but the fence line is the property line. I never thought that she would do that...

[JBandRio]

How is never hand-feeding a horse going to prevent any child from trying to give the pretty horsey a clump of freshly picked grass? A child doesn't have to see a horse's owner give the horse a treat, they can see horses being hand-fed treats on TV and in children's books.

A well-trained horse will know to never use anything but lips to take anything that is offered, and it is the owner's responsibility to do that. If they can't do that, then THEY never need to hand-feed treats at all, but that doesn't solve that particular problem.

Horses ARE classified as an attractive nuisance, so it is the owner's responsibility to take charge of reducing the danger factor as much as humanly possible.

[paintlver]

I discourage hand feeding..My horses get lots of treats from students and if they all hand fed my horses would become biters I am sure
I don't like hand feeding and it encourages nipping and grabbing..that's what their bucket is for