How to train your horse to perform a certain behaviour
Lure and reward training for horses uses a lure, such as a tasty treat, to encourage the horse to perform a certain behaviour, and then rewards it for performing that behaviour. This can be useful way to quickly introduce a horse to new behaviours and overcome resistance to pressure. A common example of lure and reward training is getting a horse to move its body a certain way and adopt a particular stance i.e. stretch its neck forwards without moving its feet (a common halter showing stance).
In this article, we take an in-depth look at lure and reward training for horses, its benefits, drawbacks, the desired outcomes, and also provide a step-by-step guide to help you with lure and reward training for your horse.
What are the Benefits of Lure and Reward Training for Horses
Although more commonly associated with dog training, lure and reward training for horses can be beneficial in certain circumstances…
- It can quickly teach new behaviours. Food is a powerful motivator for encouraging a horse to follow desired cues. Therefore, using tasty treats as the reward in lure and reward training can very quickly, and effectively, teach horses new behaviours.
- It can be effective for overcoming resistance to performing a particular activity. Using food both as a lure and as the reward can be a good way to get a horse to do something it doesn’t really want to do. For instance, luring a horse into the float (or to let us catch it) with a bucket of feed, and then letting it have the food as a reward, is something most of us have probably done at least once (or twice!).
- It is a good way to guide a horse into a desired position. Lure and reward training is commonly used with dogs to get them to perform certain things, or adopt certain positions. Horse trainers use the same principles to guide the horse into specific positions without resorting to physical force or pressure.
- It often works well with horses that are resistant to pressure-based training methods. Horses that may be resistant to traditional training methods involving pressure often respond well to lure and reward training. The use of an attractive lure encourages cooperation without creating stress.
What Are Some Of The Drawbacks Of Lure And Reward Training For Horses
Although lure and reward training has its place in horse training, it comes with certain caveats. In particular – whilst the ultimate object is to teach the horse to associate the lure with a reward, if both the lure and the reward are food (which is often the case), the lines between lure and reward can get blurred.
For example, if the food lure is simply handed to the horse when it performs the desired behaviour, the horse just learns to ‘perform’ for a tasty treat. In which case – you run the risk of forever handing out treats. The horse will see you coming and do whatever it knows will earn it a treat. Whilst that’s fine for fun things, like teaching the horse to bow, it isn’t so convenient for other types of training! There’s also a risk with using food that if a tasty treat isn’t forthcoming, the horse will quickly lose its motivation to perform the behaviour!
Teach your horse the process
So you ALSO need to teach the horse that the process is – perform, mark, reward. In other words, lure and reward training, particularly when both are food, should be done in conjunction with some kind of marker, like a clicker, between the lure and reward stages. This teaches the horse that it doesn’t get the reward merely for performing the activity. However, it must also receive a mark BEFORE the reward will be given.
Similarly – if you’re using food to lure a hard to catch horse into being caught, understand that this too is a type of lure and reward training. However, for it to be successful, you have to make it clear to the horse just what behaviour you are rewarding. If you simply give the reward when the horse comes up to you, rather than after you’ve actually caught it, it may just learn it can walk up, grab the reward, and run off again before you can catch it!
Therefore, in order to associate the reward with being caught, be very deliberate about giving it once the horse has allowed you to catch it. A good option is to reward the horse when it comes up. Then reward it again once the halter is on… That way, you’re rewarding both desired behaviours. This confirms that the desired behaviour is coming up to you AND allowing you to put a halter on.
How is Lure and Reward Training Different to other types of Positive Reinforcement Training
Other types of positive reinforcement training for horses, like clicker training, typically use a CUE to ask the horse to perform a certain behaviour. Performing the correct behaviour is ‘marked’ with something like a clicker or a verbal indicator, and then the horse receives the reward, which may be food, a pat, or verbal praise.
Lure and reward training uses a LURE, like food, to ‘persuade’ the horse to perform a particular behaviour. Ideally, performing the behaviour is then marked (with a clicker or verbal indicator) before the reward is given.
In other words, one CUES (signals) the horse to do something whilst the other LURES (entices) the horse into doing it… Ask vs Tempt…
Both have their place in positive reinforcement training. They do need to be done correctly to reap the full benefits.
What Are The Desired Outcomes
Lure and reward training for horses rewards the horse, usually with a treat, for performing a particular behaviour. However, given that food is such a powerful motivator for horses, there is always the chance that the horse will also learn to ‘perform’ just to receive a treat. Therefore, the desired outcomes of lure and reward training include teaching the horse that although the lure is associated with a reward, it must also ‘earn’ a mark like a click or verbal indicator.
Generally though the desired outcomes of lure and reward training for horses include…
- Teaching them the lure is associated with a reward. The primary goal of lure and reward training is for the horse to learn to associate the lure with receiving a reward. This connection sets up the lure as a powerful motivator for the horse. This in turn allows it to be used to encourage the horse to perform a wide range of behaviours.
- Assisting the learning of new behaviours. Lure and reward training helps set the scene for horses to learn and perform new behaviours willingly. It is particularly useful for horses that may not respond to other types of prompts but will readily respond to food!
Step-by-Step Guide to Lure and Reward Training for Horses
If you want to try lure and reward training with your horse, here is a quick guide to help you.
1. Choose your lure. Select a lure that your horse finds attractive. Usually it will be a tasty treat but be aware of the downsides of using food! However, your chosen lure should still serve as a tempting reward for the horse.
2. Use the lure to encourage the horse to perform the desired behaviour. Position the lure where the horse can see it, and ask for the behaviour.
3. Click or praise the horse for the behaviour. This step is important. You avoid teaching the horse that it will get the reward just for performing the behaviour. It also needs to learn that a reward is only provided in conjunction with the click, or praise. This reinforces an association between the behaviour and a mark THEN the reward, rather than the reward alone.
4. Reward the horse with the treat or reward. Immediately after the click or praise, offer the horse the chosen reward. This reinforces the positive behaviour and creates a positive association with the training process.
Final thoughts about Lure and Reward Training for Horses
Lure and reward training for horses can be a positive and effective way of introducing horses to new behaviours. This can help with overcoming resistance to pressure in horses that don’t respond well to other types of training.
When we use a lure the horse finds attractive (like food), we increase the odds of the horse responding in a favourable way.
We can then reward that positive behaviour. This in turn reinforces the ‘training is fun and enjoyable’ concept for the horse. This creates a learning environment that is both enjoyable for the horse and conducive to the development of new skills.
