Update

I stopped using the blog because it didn't seem like much was happening with the clicker training. In retrospect, we have come a long way.

Some of it would be a road better left untraveled. Training by positive reinforcement has enabled me to teach them a lot of things, however, I have come to believe that part of training horses is teaching them to deal with their fears and yeild to your request even if they are afraid. If you don't do this, they can have "learned" the task quite well but when something happens to frighten them (and it will) they will not have learned to override the flight instinct and follow your orders.

Case in point. I was letting Paisley run along with us on a trailride. I was riding Loretta and John was riding Chester. A mile down the canyon is a ticking well pad. They all were frightened. I got off to lead Loretta up to the well. Paisley came up, cut Loretta off and they both turned back toward me. I think they expected me to run with them or something. They were pushing shoulder to shoulder against each other as they ran over the top of me. Chester bolted and everyone disappeared around the bend. I was laying on the ground, just checking to see if I was still alive and if they had stepped on me... they hadn't. I got up and dusted myself off and started walking. Around the first bend, John was trying to lead Chester back to where he last saw me. It was then I noticed my sleeve was all wet from blood and there was blood dripping off my hand. The arm still worked, it was just a gash at the elbow, We walked around the next bend. The mares were there, snorting at some cattle across the Largo. They were glad to be rescued. We got back on and rode back to the ticking well pad. Chester and Loretta crossed, but Paisley stood on the other side and screamed. After this adventure, I decided it was a good idea for them to fear me at least a little bit. Override your flight instinct, girls, and swerve for the human.