Why You Should Ride With A Clicker (Riding With Positive Reinforcement)

"Kick to go, pull to whoa" is a common simplification of riding a horse. However, it is true that many (if not most) riders use their legs, hands, and seat to cue their horse to move. Traditionally, R- (negative reinforcement) is used to train horses to ride. If you don't listen to my leg, I'll squeeze harder until you do. This method has been used by horse trainers for centuries and has taken horses to the highest levels of training and competition.

However, today many riders don't want to use pressure to work with their horses: they want to create a bond based on understanding and joy. If that sounds like you, then it may be time to give riding with a clicker a try.

Why a clicker

When I say 'clicker' what I am really talking about is marker training. Marker training is when a specific sound (often a clicker) is used before giving a food reward to 'mark' a desired behavior. The major benefit is this is that you can delay the feeding of the treat to a few seconds after the exact moment of the behavior. The marker tells the horse that what they were doing was correct and a reward is coming.

The implications for riding are obvious.

You can't hand your horse a treat the moment of a smooth canter transition or exceptional jump but you can hit a clicker, finish the movement, bring them back to a halt, and then hand out the treat. This way you can implement the power of R+ into your rides to create a motivated and willing partner.

At this point, if you haven't already read The Ultimate Guide to Positive Reinforcement Training and How to Load a Clicker do so now. There you will find important information to help you ride with R+ successfully.

How to ride with a clicker

If you already use R+ on the ground, transitioning to under saddle will be a breeze! You likely already have your timing down along with a good reward history, and practice shaping. Now you just have to do everything you have already been doing from your horse's back!

If you haven't been clicker training on the ground, I recommend you give it a go before getting on board to avoid confusion when you suddenly start handing out treats from his back.

If you are still reading, I am going to assume you have already loaded your clicker and have experience using it. Once that is done riding with R+ is as easy as knowing where you want to go and breaking down the steps to get there.

Step 1: Have a shaping plan in place.

Know what you want to train and exactly what each approximation is going to be before getting started.

Step 2: Ask for the behavior.

Depending on your method this may include a voice command, the use of a target, or simply waiting for the horse to do it on their own.

Step 3: Click as soon as your criteria is met.

This will be determined by your shaping plan. Just like on the ground, click as soon as the behavior is displayed.

Step 4: When it is safe, bring your horse to a halt.

Don't slam on the breaks if you are cantering around! That's why you use a marker. Bring them to a halt swiftly and safely, you have some time before giving the treat.

Step 5: Give them a treat.

Horses' necks are amazingly flexible and can reach around to meet you by their shoulder for a treat.

Repeat Steps 1-5 until your ride is complete.

Tips for Sucess

Follow these steps for success riding with a clicker.

1. Riding starts with tacking up

Don't just throw your horse on the crossties and tack them up. Like with all training, they should be involved in the process. Notice if they are accepting of brushing and tacking. Do they stand willingly? Are they relaxed throughout the process? If not, break down the steps to getting ready and treat the process like a training session. They should be happy to be tacked and if they aren't, more training is necessary before riding.

2. Carry plenty of treats

When riding you can't run back to the barn to grab more food and a pocket may not cut it if you are training with a high rate of reinforcement. I use a waist bag that I can fill up with treats while riding. Find something that is comfortable and big enough for your needs.

3. Reward often

Especially when getting started. Even if your horse already knows how to ride with R- you will want to rewire the pathways with positive associations. When starting you might click and treat for a single step forward (especially if your horse is lazy or resistant). Eventually, you can add more duration and use fewer treats.

4. Break steps down

Resist the temptation to ask for more. Keep asks easy and achievable so your horse earns lots of treats in the beginning. Your shaping plan will help you out here. Keep steps small and if your horse gets stuck, go back to an easier approximation.

Once you get the knack of riding with a clicker, you can enjoy all the benefits of R+ training under saddle. Find out what it is like to ride with clear communication on a happy, willing partner.

Happy Training!