Praise and reward!

MelissaH · 12-08-2005, 11:34 AM

I can't express more than enough to my daughter about praise and reward! Also just talking to her horse when she is on him.

We go riding and I am constantly talking to Dubie, like he was my husband or something. When he does good I praise him like crazy. My daughter has a hard time doing this.

How will that effect her relationship with her horse? We may get a new horse for her and I can't tell her enough about praise etc...Please tell me your thoughts on this. I would like her to read this thread if I get enough input. She has learned to be assertive and gentle but she does express how pleased she is with horse. If we get Mike for her, she has to know. It's almost like she does not realize she has a relationship with a real living breathing creature.

Lindsayanne · 12-08-2005, 11:54 AM

I bet it's something she'll start as she develops a relationship with her horse. But it's not the end of the world if she doesn't as long as she gets the concept of reward. A horse doesn't neccessairly need a verbal cue as long as it has some way to understand when something they did was right. I don't talk to my horses much at all when I'm riding, (in dressage, you aren't allowed to, so they say it's easier never to do get in the habit lest you do it by reflex in a test) ocassionally I do, but but I release and pat my horses on the neck or shoulders to let them know they did something right.

When Regal does something really good we stop, I lean down and scratch him on the bottom of his neck/op of his chest and he lifts his head and starts grumbling.

SammyDoodle · 12-08-2005, 12:02 PM

If you get him for her I expect she will soon develop a special bond with him - there are lots of quiet times she will spend with him - grooming, just being with him - and I bet she will start talking to him and this will carry on when she is riding too

Thrills · 12-08-2005, 12:04 PM

A lot of people show affection and praise in different ways....the main thing is that the horse can recognize what is praise.

I personally dont; talk to my horses...I feel too subconcious about it. If I am rewarding my horse for something done well and correctly during an intensive training session..I reward my horse by giving her a "breather and a couple of pats on the neck. You should see how her ears perk and she tends to look pleased with herself as she's getting a pat.

If I am just hanging out or grooming...a pat on the neck and scratch behind the ears seem sufficient.

Xiphias · 12-08-2005, 12:24 PM

I was taught by my first trainer to reward my horse with a pat/scratch on the neck with a verbal praise too, I worked him on the longe line, teaching him all the verbal cues, I got him to the point that I only had to say the cue one time , and he would do what I asked, I used verbal praises and also sugar cubes to get him to this point....it was really funny in hack classes, he would listen to the announcer and walk, trot, walk , canter, walk, almost with out me asking him to do it...yup verbal praises do really work.....Cathy

TravelingGirl · 12-08-2005, 12:33 PM

Keep in mind that, just as horses can sense when their people are afraid or stressed, they can sense when they're pleased also. I'm a firm believer in letting the horse know verbally and physically that he's done a good job, but I also believe they instinctively know when we're pleased with them also.

Dawn · 12-09-2005, 05:39 AM

People express themselves in different ways. Doesn't make one right or wrong. But it can affect compatibility (not only between the person and a horse (or other animal), but also between the person and other people).

I know that I have a difficult time being a verbal praiser in front of people. But if I'm by myself, I'll talk my head off.

When's your daughter's birthday?

MelissaH · 12-09-2005, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawn

When's your daughter's birthday?

October 7th...why? Are you trying to figure out her sign?

MelissaH · 12-09-2005, 05:41 AM

oh, and I have no problem talking my head off to my horse no matter what the situation.

But I am also the one that talks loud and clear all day at home by myself!

Dawn · 12-09-2005, 06:03 AM

Yes, I was just curious.

I remember before (I believe) you saying that your daughter tended to be quieter anyway (if I remember correctly).

I believe you can be confident that your daughter is communicating with her horse in non-verbal ways.

12-08-2005, 11:34 AM	#1
MelissaH Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 5,108 Images: 163 Blog Entries: 4	Praise and reward! I can't express more than enough to my daughter about praise and reward! Also just talking to her horse when she is on him. We go riding and I am constantly talking to Dubie, like he was my husband or something. When he does good I praise him like crazy. My daughter has a hard time doing this. How will that effect her relationship with her horse? We may get a new horse for her and I can't tell her enough about praise etc...Please tell me your thoughts on this. I would like her to read this thread if I get enough input. She has learned to be assertive and gentle but she does express how pleased she is with horse. If we get Mike for her, she has to know. It's almost like she does not realize she has a relationship with a real living breathing creature. __________________ So unless your normal riding route is a haven for wild tarps on the loose or domesticated tarps that someone has let off their leash, I'd give poor Dubie a break and let him have his one phobia.~Liz

12-08-2005, 11:54 AM	#2
Lindsayanne Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joplin, MO Posts: 9,584 Images: 377	I bet it's something she'll start as she develops a relationship with her horse. But it's not the end of the world if she doesn't as long as she gets the concept of reward. A horse doesn't neccessairly need a verbal cue as long as it has some way to understand when something they did was right. I don't talk to my horses much at all when I'm riding, (in dressage, you aren't allowed to, so they say it's easier never to do get in the habit lest you do it by reflex in a test) ocassionally I do, but but I release and pat my horses on the neck or shoulders to let them know they did something right. When Regal does something really good we stop, I lean down and scratch him on the bottom of his neck/op of his chest and he lifts his head and starts grumbling. __________________ Bashkir Curly Poster Child NE Prime Time Regal - 2006 ABCR National Champion & 2008 Breyerfest Demo Horse HAVE YOU SEEN MY STOLEN PONY EXPRESS HORSE TRAILER?*

12-08-2005, 12:04 PM	#4
Thrills Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,767 Images: 370 Blog Entries: 60	A lot of people show affection and praise in different ways....the main thing is that the horse can recognize what is praise. I personally dont; talk to my horses...I feel too subconcious about it. If I am rewarding my horse for something done well and correctly during an intensive training session..I reward my horse by giving her a "breather and a couple of pats on the neck. You should see how her ears perk and she tends to look pleased with herself as she's getting a pat. If I am just hanging out or grooming...a pat on the neck and scratch behind the ears seem sufficient. __________________ Some days you are the dog...some days the hydrant HR director of the FF Club

12-08-2005, 12:24 PM	#5
Xiphias Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maryland, horse country USA Posts: 16,335 Images: 627 Blog Entries: 29	I was taught by my first trainer to reward my horse with a pat/scratch on the neck with a verbal praise too, I worked him on the longe line, teaching him all the verbal cues, I got him to the point that I only had to say the cue one time , and he would do what I asked, I used verbal praises and also sugar cubes to get him to this point....it was really funny in hack classes, he would listen to the announcer and walk, trot, walk , canter, walk, almost with out me asking him to do it...yup verbal praises do really work.....Cathy __________________ Member COL Club- hand over the Oil of Olay and nobody gets hurt! http://www.freewebs.com/xiphias21034/ I was on HGS the day we made 2 million posts

12-09-2005, 05:41 AM	#9
MelissaH Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 5,108 Images: 163 Blog Entries: 4	oh, and I have no problem talking my head off to my horse no matter what the situation. But I am also the one that talks loud and clear all day at home by myself! __________________ So unless your normal riding route is a haven for wild tarps on the loose or domesticated tarps that someone has let off their leash, I'd give poor Dubie a break and let him have his one phobia.~Liz

12-08-2005, 12:02 PM	#3
SammyDoodle Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,283 Images: 67 Blog Entries: 1	If you get him for her I expect she will soon develop a special bond with him - there are lots of quiet times she will spend with him - grooming, just being with him - and I bet she will start talking to him and this will carry on when she is riding too

12-08-2005, 12:33 PM	#6
TravelingGirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 2,202 Images: 240	Keep in mind that, just as horses can sense when their people are afraid or stressed, they can sense when they're pleased also. I'm a firm believer in letting the horse know verbally and physically that he's done a good job, but I also believe they instinctively know when we're pleased with them also.

12-09-2005, 05:39 AM	#7
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,629 Images: 1283	People express themselves in different ways. Doesn't make one right or wrong. But it can affect compatibility (not only between the person and a horse (or other animal), but also between the person and other people). I know that I have a difficult time being a verbal praiser in front of people. But if I'm by myself, I'll talk my head off. When's your daughter's birthday?

12-09-2005, 06:03 AM	#10
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,629 Images: 1283	Yes, I was just curious. I remember before (I believe) you saying that your daughter tended to be quieter anyway (if I remember correctly). I believe you can be confident that your daughter is communicating with her horse in non-verbal ways.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For the Mothers..a little praise goes a long way !!	Dancinglite	Off Topic	3	06-10-2005 10:29 AM
Great reward... update on my new mare!	BHFMini	Horse Chat	1	04-22-2005 09:18 PM