Hitting the Spot: Targets in Training

The use of targets in animal training has been common-place in captive collections for many a year; keepers of the animals use certain objects to get a animal to do certain things, allowing them to transport, health check or administer medication. Gaining popularity outside of zoos and parks, the equine world is beginning to catch on!

Target training is a method of training where the horse is trained to identify and touch certain objects with a part of their body and can be applied in a variety of different ways; this could be through the use of touching a nose to a hand, walking to stand by a target such as a cone, or even following an extended target for longing exercises and baited stretches. The use of a target, combined with possible other cues, offers a clear visual cue for the horse to perform a desired behavioural response as opposed to free shaping,

Target training is commonly used in conjunction with positive reinforcement training (R+), the addition of something to increase the behaviour, and clicker training, a noise (you can create your own bridge word) that acts as a bridge between the desired behaviour and a reward (such as treats or scratches).

So, how to get started with the basics?

1) Whether using your hand as the target, or you have a target marker (a ball on a stick, or even a fly swatter will do!) the starting principles are the same. Stand to one side of the horse, extend you arm or stick in reach of the horses nose, a few inches away, and wait.

2) When the horse reaches and HE touches the target (be sure not to bring the target to your horse), reinforce his response with a bridge word and a reinforcer as close to the touch time as possible. Do so by slipping your hand or target marker in to neutral (away by your side or behind you so its not waving about in the air) and present your horse with the reinforcer, be this scratches or a treat.

3) Allow your horse to process this, either for a few moments after applying scratches, or when the treat has been finished, and repeat these steps again. You may be surprised just how quickly they pick this up. Keep consistent with what you are asking your horse to do until you are sure they have picked it up. From there, you can move the target to different points around the head for the horse to then reach for the target.

Training with a target can be a great addition to the way you work with horses that offers positive motivation and clear communication, however just like all training approaches, ensure you familiarise yourself with the way to apply something or consult a local trainer/behaviourist.

As easy it is to apply, it is just as easy to blur.

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