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How To Train Your Horse To Smile
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This is a really cool party trick. It doesn't involve any complicated equipment, the horses love it and it's very effective! The trick is the smile.
Goal
To create a big "smile" with your horse. He'll lift up his lip and hold it, usually raising his head up in a big "grin". This is a natural behaviour, a horse will do this movement when he smells something funny as a reflex. Some horses will have really flexible lips, others will only lift them a tiny little bit.
Time
Sessions shouldn't last more than 10 minutes, or after his first "smile" or he's starting to get it, leave him alone and move onto something else. Always quit on a positive note. He should get this down-pat within a week.
Cue
The final, polished cue is to simply point at his lip and say "smile!"
Method
A very simple trick to teach. You can use a clicker or verbal cue as he starts to lift his lip, but it's not required. I'm going to show you two separate methods, and I've never seen one or the other not work for a horse. I personally used method "B" to train Ted to smile.
Equipment Required
Halter, leadrope, horse, a pocketful of treats (carrots, chopped up apples, gumnuts).
1) Have your horse in a regular halter with a leadrope attached. You can stand him in a stall to reduce distractions.
Method A: Stand beside your horses head, or in front of him, and offer him a smell of a strange scent, like a chopped up onion or garlic (please don't use ammonia, it is poisonous.) Use your imagination, but keep it natural and no fine powders. Another option is to tickle the top of his upper lip with your finger until he lifts his lip - this works really well for some horses.
Method B: Lift a carrot out of your horses reach, like over a fence or hold him in place and make him reach for it. His lip will reach for the carrot upwards. Tease him with the carrot, encouraging him to arch his neck upwards and lift his upper lip.
2) As soon as the horse lifts his lip in response to the smell, or trying to reach the carrot, reward the horse. Reward the horse for even the slightest try, and be enthusiastic when he successfully offers a smile.
3) He should make the association very quickly. When he starts to get the idea, introduce the verbal cue "smile!" and a point towards the lip. It really shouldn't take him long to make the connection and start smiling when your finger goes near his lip. Be sure you reward for every try and successful smile. Eventually your horse will realise it's a trick and add his own expression to it. Horses love to smile when they get the swing of it, and will offer it to people in hope of a carrot.
Don't forget, don't overtrain. I know it's tempting, and like you hear in the cutting circuit, "just one more cow!" - quit while you're ahead on a light happy note. That's what tricks are all about. |
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Jun 12, 2011
• 14,354 views
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Unique
Hehe. that's so cool! :D
Hehe. that's so cool! :D
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Jun 12, 2011
• 14,339 views
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Spyricale
Awww....how sweet! ^^ I trained our Miniature to smile. Our guests just loved it!
Thanks for posting this article. I'm sure you'll help many people out who wish to train their horses to smile.
Awww....how sweet! ^^ I trained our Miniature to smile. Our guests just loved it!
Thanks for posting this article. I'm sure you'll help many people out who wish to train their horses to smile.
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Jun 12, 2011
• 14,346 views
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Milly
I'm going to have to train all our horses to do this and get them all to do it at the same time xD
I'm going to have to train all our horses to do this and get them all to do it at the same time xD
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Jun 12, 2011
• 20,177 views
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Jun 12, 2011
• 14,374 views
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Carpe Diem
Awesome! I'm so gonna try this! Lets hope my girly doesn't bite me, though xD haha
Awesome! I'm so gonna try this! Lets hope my girly doesn't bite me, though xD haha
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Jun 12, 2011
• 18,514 views
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Labyrinth
We had a horse in the barn I work at who'd smile if you got anywhere near his nose with anything even slightly scented and he made a whole production it. He's a long necked upheaded Morgan and he'd stick his head straight up "smiling" for a good ten seconds!
Hahahah and if you washed your hands with strong scented soap, you might as well let him get his "smiling" out of the way before trying to bridle. He was too funny to get annoyed with even when you were in a hurry. haha
We had a horse in the barn I work at who'd smile if you got anywhere near his nose with anything even slightly scented and he made a whole production it. He's a long necked upheaded Morgan and he'd stick his head straight up "smiling" for a good ten seconds!
Hahahah and if you washed your hands with strong scented soap, you might as well let him get his "smiling" out of the way before trying to bridle. He was too funny to get annoyed with even when you were in a hurry. haha
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Jun 12, 2011
• 18,713 views
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ImaCoolCowgirl
Aww BLT!! I love your pictures of Ted!! He looks like such a fabulous horse!! I hope to see more articles from you in the future!
Aww BLT!! I love your pictures of Ted!! He looks like such a fabulous horse!! I hope to see more articles from you in the future!
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Jun 12, 2011
• 18,510 views
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JennyLynSrpris
I've been teaching my horse to smile and I didn't quite know how to do it... I just read this and I've been doing exactly this! haha Love it!
I've been teaching my horse to smile and I didn't quite know how to do it... I just read this and I've been doing exactly this! haha Love it!
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Jun 12, 2011
• 18,662 views
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Valkyrie
MOD
How interesting! I'll have to give this a go with my Starbaby :)
How interesting! I'll have to give this a go with my Starbaby :)
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Jun 13, 2011
• 18,515 views
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Deleted Accounts
that's so cool:') must train haze to do that.
that's so cool:') must train haze to do that.
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Jun 13, 2011
• 20,409 views
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Jun 13, 2011
• 20,399 views
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Jun 13, 2011
• 20,794 views
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Jun 13, 2011
• 20,442 views
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Artista
Great article love. One of those simple stress free tricks anyone can do ... Kurt learned pawing and nodding his head this way too. Carrot tease out of reach = frustrated neigh = nodding/pawing. GOOD HOERS.
Great article love. One of those simple stress free tricks anyone can do ... Kurt learned pawing and nodding his head this way too. Carrot tease out of reach = frustrated neigh = nodding/pawing. GOOD HOERS.
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Jun 14, 2011
• 21,072 views
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Jun 14, 2011
• 22,019 views
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Prarie Rose
Awesome. I want to try it now. :)
Awesome. I want to try it now. :)
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Jun 14, 2011
• 22,035 views
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Jun 15, 2011
• 22,022 views
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Jun 15, 2011
• 22,040 views
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Jun 15, 2011
• 22,045 views
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Arialr
My horse does this all the time.They do it when they smell a bad smell or if it is a stallion they'll do it if a mares in heat. It's called the fleshmen response
My horse does this all the time.They do it when they smell a bad smell or if it is a stallion they'll do it if a mares in heat. It's called the fleshmen response
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Jun 16, 2011
• 22,063 views
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Aslans Roar
hahahahaha, thats funny!! :)
hahahahaha, thats funny!! :)
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Jun 17, 2011
• 22,028 views
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Jun 17, 2011
• 22,025 views
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Jun 18, 2011
• 22,181 views
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Sunny Daze
I have a Pony of America's back at our ranch. His name is Bart, he is black gelding with white speckles on his rump and I taught him how to smile. I used both method's but the second worked best. Now he smile's whenever I give him the command or even taunt him with a carrot. My two words are It Works
I have a Pony of America's back at our ranch. His name is Bart, he is black gelding with white speckles on his rump and I taught him how to smile. I used both method's but the second worked best. Now he smile's whenever I give him the command or even taunt him with a carrot. My two words are It Works
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Jun 18, 2011
• 16,215 views
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Jun 18, 2011
• 16,294 views
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DustyRider
My pony already new how 2 do this but we sold him last year :'(
But now i have 2 horses i have 2 ride...i will teach them both!!
My pony already new how 2 do this but we sold him last year :'(
But now i have 2 horses i have 2 ride...i will teach them both!!
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Jun 19, 2011
• 16,220 views
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lovehorse
Lol, i'm definetly going to try this with Cherry! x
Lol, i'm definetly going to try this with Cherry! x
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Jun 20, 2011
• 16,210 views
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Jun 20, 2011
• 16,208 views
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Estella Noire
Lol! If I had a horse I would totally train him/her to do that :D
Lol! If I had a horse I would totally train him/her to do that :D
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Jun 23, 2011
• 16,214 views
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