Can this training be applied to other animals?
Yes. The On Target Training system is very similar to the training methods used at Sea World to train marine mammals, such as 12,000 pound killer whales, walruses and dolphins. It's also been used successfully at many zoos around the nation, to train "wild" animals to allow zookeepers, veterinarians, and feeders to enter their enclosures and to be able to perform routine husbandry tasks such as physical examinations without stress to either the animals or their keepers. Many people have used this training in teaching their dogs obedience as well, and have had a lot of success with it.

 

Isn't this the same thing as "Clicker Training"?
Yes and No. On Target Training does include the use of a bridge signal (such as the sound of the clicker) between a good performance and a reward. We also teach people that the bridge signal doesn't have to be a clicker. At Sea World we also used whistles and our voice. However this is a small step in a much bigger picture with On Target Training. We're trying to enlighten people to the behavioral principles that influence our horses' lives. In some situations we can offer solutions with out the use of either clickers or targets, but by simply altering our actions or our horses' environment. While the bridge signal serves as an important tool for communication, the target is even more important to inspire performance and to begin establishing a good working relationship. On Target Training stresses the importance of setting your horse up to succeed. We teach them to touch their nose to the target. When they know to follow and hold on the target we can then set him up to succeed by using the target to help make it clearer for the horse to understand what we are looking for.

 
Can I use the On Target Training system with my existing training methods, or do I have to switch from one method to the other entirely?
On Target Training can be used as the primary method for training, or integrated into your existing training program. By using the On Target Training system, you'll see dramatic improvement in your horse's attitude, increased motivation, and a more effective way of communicating with your horse.

 
I see you can make your horse smile and nod yes or no, but what practical applications is On Target Training useful for?
On Target Training can be applied to any situation you want to teach your horse. We use it to teach our horses everything from the basics of good manners, standing still while mounting, and letting us into the stall to feed them without begging, to trailer loading and clipping, to complex scenarios such as lunging and flying lead changes. See our video and book (due out this summer) for examples of every day applications.

 

 

Using the On Target Training system
On Target Training tools
Undesirable Behavior