if I get this right kelly ...... the pic must show something "trained" the whole way by postive reinforcement / clicker / food rewards rather than negative reinforcement / pressure release
eg
this was the end result ..... defined as a "trick" when shown thus but started out with very definate serious intentions.
Taz did not trust enough to give her feet and all usual advice worked to the point that she would let me touch them ... but she still resisted or leaned heavily even once we got to the point she would let me pick them up
I wanted HER to lift them and keep them up !
modified to add re kellys request ;D
so free shaped foot off ground .....
step by step
Taz already knew "X" (I use voice instead of a clicker) marked an action that would get a reward ( herbal treat)
In a quiet area just standing around
* watched for left front foot to be lifted off ground ... as it left the ground X treat
* repeat and repeat several times till actually offering the action lifting that foot only and without actually moving away.
SAFETY .. do not stand tooo near said foot in case gg really catches on and does spanish walk style lift as in pic above !!!* introduced a cue .....as I saw her weight shift to start bringing foot up I tapped front of leg lightly
* started to reward only the leg lifts I had cued
* put my hand just behind and above her foot and when it touched my hand BIIIG X and mouthful treats
* delayed X a little so that if she just snatched the foot down where was no reward and treated if she held foot up to count of 2, then 3 , then 4 etc
* started to put hand round toe of hoof and "X" / reward
* delayed treat as before till I could LIGHTLY hold toe for a few seconds ..... if she snatched it away..... no treat.
the period of foot being held up gradually lengthened and once I could get the action on a cue reliably I started on the other legs ...... they of course took a lot shorter time
It sounds simple but it took weeks and weeks because she had serious distrust of people and we were still working our way through several issues. With a horse already trusting of people this could be done in days ( or less!)
. now offers feet up to cue and no weight on them when i am working with them. I can hold the foot in place with one finger and its a great back saver for me too !!!!
balloons ..... well that started out as the usual spook busting stuff as , well we all see the things attached to doors and gateposts for birthday parties etc so a definate need imo ....and they burst even without said kiddies around so needed get used to noise !
.... had already target trained Taz to touch my hand or an object its near to.....handy for getting her to rouch brollies etc !
Had included me bursting them in the spook busting bit and it was just a "shall we try this".
I planned it to take a few days ......... prepared for small steps and lots repitions !
as I was bursting them however she wandered over and stretched out neck ..... so click treat, within minutes I was bursting them under her nose.
I put balloon on end of whip (great uses for whips folks !!!!!) and cued the leg lift. put the balloon under where foot would land .... and viola ... one balloon burst and BIIIG reward !!!
It had taken 10 minutes from start to finish ...... shocked me to say the least ...... and we repeated it later that day.
Taz will do almost ANYTHING for food ;D
ps she does not normally lift her leg THAT high ... she must have had a spanish walk moment because of the cameras
plan for step by step intro would be
better if horse already been intoduced to targeting ( touching hand / object on request but if not
* hold one balloon fairly near the horse ( this refers to all equines be they long ears, short ears or smallish ones) and as soon as he looks towards the balloon ...... X / treat
* then wait nose to touch the balloon..... x /treat ( could introduce cue word if wanted)
* move further away so horse has to step towards you to touch the balloon ... X / treat
* you can put it on a wall or something a few steps away and let the horse step away from you to touch the balloon ... X treat
once that is firmly established
introduce them bursting.
start far away as you need and apply desensitisation princples till horse comfy with them bursting right next to him.
SAFETY . horse may run in oppsite direction or right over you . do this in a not too small enclosed area ( stable NOT a good idea)with no smallish ones around or things horse could impale self oncue the leg lift ( or spanish walk) and put balloon under foot . I rewarded any contact at first even if the balloon did not burst .... then only when it burst so she kept on trying.
SAFETY stand at side /shoulder in case of spansich wallk lift againShe remembers it soooo well that although I not asked her to do it at all for at least two - three years ... when i brought the balloons out and put one on the floor for the spooky vid ... she did it right away, first take !