----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:41 AM
Subject: Re: [IceHorses] treats
>>>> I personally don't like the variation of clicker training that varies
>>>> giving of the reward for the correct behavior because of this
>>>> sentiment.
>
>
> Can you clarify? I'm not sure what you mean by "varies the giving of the
> reward."
My Clicker Training book is currently on loan (and I'm thinking I'll
NEVER get it back at this point and it's time to buy another copy -- GRRRR)
and I can't think of the term I'm speaking of. Oh well -- maybe Trish or
Judy can help here???
Anyway, as I understand it, there's a group or theory within clicker
trainers that think it beneficial not to reward the horse EVERY time he gets
the right answer when training and establishing a new behavior. I think
Alexandra mentions this in her book. It's different than weaning the
horse off of the treats once a desired behavior is learned, ingrained, and
habit, or making the horse "hold" a behavior (such as staying in a certain
gait, or holding a foot up) longer and longer before treating.
I have always felt the sporadic treating method is unfairly bending the
rules as they've been established with the horse, during that first stage of
targeting in clicker training. Just my own opinion. Obviously, there's
got to be some merit behind it or people wouldn't do it. . .if nothing
else, it saves on treats I guess. : )
-- Renee M. in Michigan
