Karen: I give up! Clicker training is not a secret language! All it is is a "Yes" signal to tell a horse when he's done something right. People use the same pressure/release cues and "horse language" as with any other training. You just have an extra "good boy" in there.
Your example of going out and trying to catch a horse using a clicker makes no sense. You can walk out in the pasture of clicker trained horses and catch them like any other horse! You don't have to have a clicker! I understand that a horse never exposed to a clicker will not understand that a click means good, but a horse who's never been trained will not understand "Good Boy" either. A horse does not automatically understand that running you hand down it's leg means to pick it up or that a carrot stick tapped on the ground means back-up. Using a clicker to teach an occasional behavior will not create a monster. If they offer a behavior you don't want, just ask for something else! If he's backing up, just ask for a go forward. I for one, think it's neat when a horse wants to participate in training and is trying to figure out what you want. If you don't want an animal to offer behaviors don't reward it when it does something random. Parelli horses will often offer to start a yo-yo game or a circle game when you take them to the place they normally are trained. If I didn't ask, I will just send them off doing something else. There is a learning process in every type of training. I Parelli train, but you can't put a halter on a non-Parelli trained horse and get a perfect Yo-yo game right from the start either! They understand to move from pressure but don't inherently understand the exact move you want! I also agree with Sue that Brenna did not bite because she is clicker trained and I would like to add that Sue takes Brenna to dressage lessons and her instructor rides her without clicker training and it does not confuse Brenna or the instructor. Cherie
