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Equine Clicker Training

About the Site

In the last 10 years, clicker training for horses has started to spread through the horse community. Many owners started to clicker train their horses after finding success with their dogs or with exotics. Others were just intrigued by the idea of teaching horses in a different way. As part of a support network for this rising interest in clicker training horses, I have put together this web site as a way for clicker trainers to share their stories, their horse’s stories, training tips, and resources. I am hoping it will become a place where clicker trainers can find each other (through the Community list), help others with training tips on the Training page, and share their pictures on the Photo page. In addition, the site has a Links page to help you find other related sites, a Calendar for information on upcoming clinics, performances and demos. I have recently added a What’s New page to the menu so you can quickly see what I have added. If you are new to clicker training, be sure to read the articles in the sidebar on the home page. They explain what clicker training is (in the technical sense) as well as what it means for you and your horse.

At this time, one focus of this web site is to collect names of clicker trainers everywhere. A clicker trainer is anyone who is clicker training their horse. You don’t have to be a professional or someone with a lot of experience. I would encourage everyone who is clicker training to be listed here. This will provide a way for clicker trainers to find each other, whether you are looking for someone to help you, or just someone with whom to share your clicker training experiences, training ideas, and progress. Even if you can’t find someone locally, you might find someone who is willing to provide internet or phone help, or even to just be an email friend. I think that having a support network is really important, especially for those of us who are isolated from other clicker trainers, or working alongside horse owners with more traditional methods.

In addition to being listed here, clicker trainers can contribute to this site by sending photos, stories, book recommendations, training tips, web sites, and information on anything they have found useful. I would like to keep the calendar up to date with appearances of clicker trained horses, clinics, demos, etc.. My goal is to help people find clicker training resources and spread the word of clicker training. I would like this site to be a place to come to for ideas, inspiration, and support.

If you are interested in learning more about clicker training, a good place to start is Alexandra Kurland’s website theClickerCenter. Alexandra Kurland is the author of “Clicker Training for your Horse” and has a very informative website as well as books and videos available. You should also check the Links section. There are a lot of good web sites that go into the technical details and history of clicker training.

About Me

I started clicker training in the winter of 2000-2001 after buying Alexandra Kurland's first book, Clicker Training for Your Horse. I read the book and thought it sounded interesting and started playing with clicker training my horses. Since then I have been hooked. Prior to this I had spent 20+ years riding and training my own and a few other horses. I am primarily a dressage rider, although I like to jump a little (I evented when I was younger and braver) and my horses all hack out. I had always been interested in animal behavior and having a good relationship with my horse and clicker training combined all my interests together. No wonder I enjoy it so much.

I attended my first clinic with Alexandra Kurland in 2001 and have been a regular attendee at the Groton clinics since then. I originally took my gelding Willy, but have taken my mare, Rosie, for the last two years (2005 and 2006). Clicker clinics are wonderful experiences for both horses and handlers. Rosie learned about traveling and working in a new barn in a low key and positive environment and she is now quite settled working there.

Since attending my first clinic, I have been working through Alex's exercises and learning about single rein riding and how to apply clicker training to horses. Now I continue to focus on that, but I have also been working on integrating Alex's exercises and clicker training into more traditional dressage exercises and training. In the last year, I have been exploring starting young horses with clicker training and how to use clicker training to create a safe, confident, and happy riding partner for trail riding and other fun activities. I am trying to continue my clicker education by learning more about clicking dogs and other animals and attended Clicker Expo in 2006, where I had a great time and learned a lot.

These days my clicker projects include Willy and Rosie (my original clicker stars), Finale the Shire, Red the Quarter Horse, 2 dogs, various cats and a pair of guinea pigs. I have even been known to try it out on my kids (there are 5 of them) and my husband. I have recently started doing some local teaching in addition to internet coaching and hope to do some demonstrations and presentations in the coming year.

Thanks and enjoy the site,

Katie Bartlett