GALLERY OF CLICKER STARS

Aimee
Magic
Nikita (Quarter Horse)
Nikita (Dutch Warmblood)

Eli (Arab)

Scroll down to read more stories:

Clicker Star: A Tribute to Paloma

Building Relationships: Jodie

Clicker Success Stories: Grace

Please bookmark this page. There are many more “Clicker Stars” to be added.
If you would like to nominate your horse for inclusion in our “Clicker Gallery”,
please contact me for details at:

kurlanda@crisny.org

Aimee: an Abused Horse Turned Clicker Star!

When Julie rescued Aimee and her pasturemate Spirit, they were both so weak from starvation that they could barely walk. Aimee had scars on her back from saddles that had dug into her withers. She was a timid, frightened, sad horse. Today, she is one of our clicker stars!

Here’s an email on Julie, updating me on Aimee’s progress.

Hi Alex,

I got the Step-By-Step book yesterday. I am almost half way through it. Good Job, I think it is incredible! I wanted to teach Aimee how to lie down but didn't know how. I read instructions in your book and taught her how to lay down today. The great part about it is I only have the scary part of my outdoor arena to work with due to mud problems. She actually laid down on the scary end. I think this is a breakthrough for her. She is such a great horse to work with.

I also wanted to show you these pictures. The bottom picture was the one I showed you at the Olympia Clinic. It was taken 3 weeks before that clinic. The top picture was taken December. Look at the difference in her neck especially. She is also very willing to let me photo her at a great distance at liberty. I take her halter off, walk back 10 feet or more, say pretty girl, and she gets right in the pose and holds it. I am so proud. I am so thankful to you for making clicker training interesting enough for me to get involved with. It takes a lot to get my interest. You need to take a bow. Looking forward to January.

Julie Jacobs, Washington State

Aimee showing off her pose October, 2003	Aimee in "pose" December, 2003

Magic
by Debra Olsen-Daniels

My horse used to be a big time bolter. I was told by my old teachers, when he bolted, to run him until he tired. Sigh...(I didn't do that, I wanted to live). He was so green and scared of everything. When I discovered C.T., I went back and started over. I quit riding him. We practiced head lowering for a winter. And touching tons of scary things. When I started to ride him again, I rode in the round pen. And I started to teach him John Lyons give to the bit. I learned to listen to my fears, for that meant a piece was missing in our training.

And slowly my horse and I made progress. I listened to my tummy to tell me when we were ready for the next step out in the world. ("train where you can, not where you can't"- J. Lyons) We still practice the above. But he is a different horse now, I tell you! Even people who 'knew him when', can't believe he is the same guy.

I am sharing this with you, so you know you can win your own horse’s trust in you, and help build his confidence in the world. My horse and I couldn't even go on the trails in the early days. After I started C.T., I placed mats like every 10 feet on the trails, and had him focus on each mat until we were walking calming on the trails (me leading him). He became so focused on 'his mats' that the scary woods just went away. (And we now ride on the trails, calmly). Very cool!

Magic has helped me come up with many ideas to help him. He so wanted not to be afraid. I could see him trying so hard to be brave. All the bravery exercises we do, touch me deeply. It is a big deal to this horse. I have great compassion for the hell he has been through, and the heroic efforts he makes today.

Some days now he goes to get his 'scary flag' so we can play statue game while I swirl it all around him. This has taken I would say a year of flag work off and on, to get him to this point. We are both very proud now of the flag work. Big deal for us.

He also used to jump and run when I fed him his hay. The poor guy! I had to set it down gently. I don't need to do that anymore. Magic had trauma in the past. And trauma takes time to heal. But it does. Horses are so amazing. And they teach us so much, don't they?

I hope me sharing a little bit of what we have been through can be supportive to your journey too.

Debra Olsen-Daniels and Magic
The Magic Center, Toutle, WA

P.S. At a clinic I asked Alex, “What do I click for when you aren’t here to watch?” She told me, ‘Click for what looks pretty and feels good.” Big assignment. . . . And I lived on that for quite a while. When she saw us again at the next clinic, I asked, “Okay, this is my version of pretty . . . did I get close?”

Alex told me I didn’t just come, Magic was gorgeous!!!!! I have to admit, that in the beginning I thought she was just being kind, trying to make me feel good. I knew Magic and we were just starting. How could he be pretty so soon? I just couldn’t quite believe it. But I’ve got to say, sometimes lately when Magic is doing his in-hand work, I gasp at his incredible beauty. I hope this doesn’t sound weird or anything, but this horse has taken my breath away with his dance exercises. (No more take my breath away from his old bolting days.)

Sometimes I just like to have him move out around me for my personal visual pleasure. Being an artist, it is like he is a moving sculpture piece. And I actually am finding this a much more 3-dimensional-creative experience than creating art with inanimate objects . . .i.e. canvass, steel, copper, silver, gold, paper, etc…

This “art piece” is alive, sensitive, intelligent and has feelings and grace, and we are starting to dance together. Sometimes it is the most incredible feeling, when we really connect and flow like birds in flight. Some people call this dressage, but to me it has no name. It is grace and beauty in living form. It is a work of art.

When I saw Julie Varley ride Allie last July, I had never seen such lightness and beauty before under saddle. It touched me deeply. And I knew I wanted to learn that for Magic and myself. This is the work that Alex is creating through clicker training. It is so much more than just riding. It truly is art in its highest form.

Debra Olson-Daniels

Nikita (Quarter Horse)

When Nikita was three a dealer bought her for three hundred dollars. She was a handsome, big mare. He figured he could iron out the wrinkles in her training and make a quick profit. Several months later he gave her away to her current owner, Sandy. Sandy very quickly discovered why Nikita had been a “throw-away” horse. Bucking, rearing, spinning, bolting were all part of her arsenal of defenses. But to look at her today, you would never guess that. Nikita is gorgeous, soft, round, and so wonderfully calm. You can watch her first under saddle clicker lesson on the Lesson 4 video: “The Click That Teaches: Stimulus Control.”

Nikita (Dutch Warmblood)

Nikita is a Dutch warmblood mare owned by Sarah Stuurman. Nikita went through some hunter/jumper training which left her very confused, frightened and resistant. And towering over everyone at17 hands plus she was quite the handful to deal with. Sarah has done a superb job turning this once reactive mare into a calm, steady lesson horse. She is one of the horses featured in my “Step-By-Step” book.

Hi Alex,

Just wanted to let you know that I have recently had a MAJOR revelation, which I wanted to share with you, particularly because your voice has been playing over and over again in my head throughout this experience!

How many times have I heard you say "head lowering is not a forward-moving exercise"? A lot! And I thought I knew what that meant. HA! Lo and behold, Nikita has given me quite an education on that front.

You know how I was experiencing some extremely reactive behaviors from her, and how things were progressing really slowly because she was in such a state of fear that she couldn't really take much in? Well, I had done a little head-lowering with her under saddle, but most of the head-lowering was stationary and was fairly confined to certain locations. I wasn't doing much when she was moving because she always felt like she was about to spook and I felt more confident about managing that in lateral flexion. Consequently the lateral flexions have undergone a MASSIVE improvement, which is great. She needed that. But they weren't giving me anything in the way of emotional control when she got really stressed out (which was taking place at about half the "spots" in the ring-- no fun). I could get her to go by the worrisome areas with some deft single-rein work, but there was never an "ah, okay" moment. And she's one of those horses that you can't leave with a worried thought in her head, 'cause it just comes back to haunt you big time the next day. So we had some very long sessions involving lateral flexion!

So the lateral flexions were really important in terms of developing control over all her "parts", and feeling like I could handle any kind of avoidance behavior. But they still weren't giving me a calm horse. I decided to look at head-lowering some more, primarily to figure out why it was that I wasn't particularly drawn to it even though she would be a textbook case from a logical perspective. Somehow, I discovered that what was wrong was that Nikita's version of head lowering was that it was really "head-down and barge". There was a very uncomfortable and destabilizing pushing down into the bridle, and there was also a total lack of connection to the feet. Chanting the head-lowering mantra, I proceeded to "reset" the inappropriate aspects of the behavior with rein back. And what do you know? EVERYTHING changed. I mean everything. It was just amazing.

Today she showed me that she really remembered what we had done, and she settled in with very few rein backs. It is pretty amazing to witness the power of that one exercise. It literally took all the wind out of her fear. So now it looks like we'll be able to come out of this ok. YAY!

So that's the revelation... just wanted to share it with you! Thank you thank you thank you for all that you have taught me.

Sarah Stuurman

For more on the head-lowering exercise see “The Click That Teaches Video Lesson Three : Head Lowering”, and “The Click That Teaches: A Step-By-Step Guide in Pictures”, and “The Click That Teaches: riding with the Clicker".  Go to the Bookstore Section for informationon and reviews of these resources.

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Clicker Star: A Tribute to Paloma

Hi,

I was wondering if my mare could be added to the clicker stars. Here is her story.

In early February 2005, I found Paloma, a 13-year-old beautiful chestnut mare. She had been abused and was 300 pounds underweight, had the worst sore back, horrible feet, but was the most loving, sweetest mare anyone could find.

After I got her home, I gave her 4 months off for her back to heal, put weight back on, etc. I would go out everyday and visit with her, not working, just rehabilitating her. It was enough for me just to spend time and get to know Paloma better.

During this time, I was also working on getting her feet back up to par. Her feet were so badly cracked and chipped that my farrier put Equilox on her feet to hold them together. During this time, she was sound and ridable. I rode her about 3 times during this period and those rides remain the best in my life.

Paloma was one of the best mover's I have ever seen; she floated across the ring. Soon though, her feet took a turn for the worst. She was on stall rest for about 2 months. She was so bored during this time, and I was trying to find something I could do with her to mentally stimulate her, and try to prevent bad habits before
they started (i.e. Weaving, cribbing, etc.)

One lady at the barn I boarded at had changed her mare's life around with clicker training, so I decided to give it a try. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Paloma quickly caught on to the target training, and her real personality started to shine through. Over the course of her stall rest, she learned how to nod, give kisses, give hugs, pick up her foot when I pointed at it, "smile" by raising her upper lip, and pick up things and hand them to me.

Because of Clicker training, Paloma and I developed a bond that could not be broken. She trusted me, and in turn, I trusted her. She and I were the best of friends, and I know she loved me and knew how much I loved her. It was the way in which I was the only one who she would let rub her face, and the way her eyes would light up, and how she’d nicker softly when I approached her stall.

She developed such a wonderful and funny personality through clicker training. If I would get out the clicker, she would start by nodding, and if that didn't work, proceed to run through her repotoire of tricks untill she found the one I was waiting for. She got so good at clicker training that I could teach her her a new trick in one session.

Paloma was also extremely intelligent, and the clicker training really showed me how smart she was. Using a small cone on the ground, I could get her to mouth certain parts of it, i.e. Only mouthing the top of the cone, or only touching the base of the cone. Paloma was one of the most intelligent and funny horses I have ever had the absolute pleasure of owning.

Sadly though, tragedy struck in October of this year. I was on the bus to school (I am a freshman in High School) when my mom called me on my phone; she was crying and told me that this was the hardest thing that she ever had to tell me. She proceeded to tell me that there had been a horrible barn fire in the main barn at the farm Paloma was at. None of the horses had made it, with 10 dead in all. My beautiful sweet Paloma had died. The only consolation was that when the investigators and the vet's were going though the ruins, they found Paloma in a sleeping position, with her head tucked in to her chest. She hadn't had to suffer through the flames; she had died from the smoke inhalation first, and what probably happened is that she went to sleep and never woke up.

Paloma was the best horse I have ever had. Her lively spirit is engrained in my memory forevermore. She gave me my confidence with riding back, and in turn, I like to think that I have done a good thing by making the last year of her life a good one after her previous abuse. Clicker training saved her life when she had to be cooped up in a stall for months at a time. Paloma loved life to the very end, and I know that she is waiting for me in heaven,
ready as always to offer me a smile or give me a kiss.

Alie Dec. 16, 2005

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Building Relationships: Jodie

Dear Ms. Kurland:

I communicated with you last fall with a question about riding with the clicker and you were kind enough to write me personally. I know you're busy, however, so I don't expect a reply this time, but I just had to write you to tell you about the incredible success I'm having with clicker training.

The background is that a year ago, at 60 years of age, I decided to relive my youth (during which I rode horses casually on my grandmother's farm in the summertime--bareback, no lessons, etc.) and bought a Belgian draft mare named Jodie from a close family friend in Vermont (I live in Virginia). The friend unfortunately had to sell some horses and was afraid whoever bought Jodie might work her too hard as a pulling horse. Since I had been taking some riding lessons for several months from a good friend and neighbor who's a certified instructor, and who could board Jodie for me, buying Jodie seemed a "meant to be" moment. She is a nice riding horse, although unsophisticated in the finer points (like me), as she'd been under harness for many of her 13 years but more a pet during the last several. She has a very nice disposition and is mannerly, although a little willful (in an endearing kind of way).

The move to Virginia must have been traumatic for her, however, even though she has a wonderful new home, because right away she was excessively herd bound in a way she hadn't been at her former home. This made it nearly impossible for me to work with Jodie one-on-one. As my friend's home has no formal stalls--lovely pastures and large run-in shed only--the other horses intruded into our space, yet away from their immediate presence Jodie was extremely anxious--a different creature from the one I'd known in Vermont. She'd even balk and whirl to rejoin the others when I tried to ride her, or rushed at fences to rejoin them.

This was scary, and, the Vermont former owner told me, completely uncharacteristic--he could hardly believe it. My instructor friend here at home tried to help, but her knowledge, based on a lifetime of experience, is so intuitive she was unable to communicate exactly what to do, nor could I expect her to "hold my hand" every time I went to see Jodie.

Since I don't even know how to lunge a horse, we muddled along, with me trying to walk her a little further each day from her pasture mates. I even bought a Monty Roberts Dually halter, with limited success. Then, late last summer, Jodie developed a tendon sheath injury that required surgery and 12 weeks of stall rest in a local lay-up facility. I visited her there several times a week and, in looking for something we could do together to form deeper bonds while she was a "captive audience," I discovered your clicker training books and tapes. I'd become very discouraged, but I was committed to making our relationship work somehow, and clicker training offered hope toward achieving the deepened mutual trust and respect that the training implicitly promised.

It was breathtaking to see how Jodie took to it! Before clicker training, she'd sometimes turn her back to me or step restlessly around her stall when I'd try to brush her. But after two brief episodes of my teaching her targeting, she began to greet me with her head over the stall door, nickering, her eyes bright. It was unbelievable. She gave me her complete attention and it was clear that she was engaged and having fun.

My husband, who accompanied me occasionally on my visits to her, was immediately struck by the positive change in her whole demeanor. In her stall, I taught her to ground tie, drop her head, back up smoothly, and stand still without jittering about while I'd pick through her thick, long mane. When she was able to be hand walked in a ring, she worked hard to learn to stop and turn quietly instead of lunging against the lead to get to the grass on the periphery of the ring (although I couldn't really blame her for that).

She was pretty mouthy the first couple of days, it's true--and still is sometimes when she gets overeager--but I have diligently followed your advice and she knows she only gets a treat when she gets clicked. She was also very head shy and would toss her head when I'd try to brush her face or forelock. Now, for the most part, she stands still as a rock and and even lets me caress her muzzle. I think some of the harnessing in her younger life by possibly rough owners may have taught her to avoid hands.

Since she returned home (on December 12), she's been a different horse--mellow, not herd bound, and very responsive to me, even eager to be with me. I've taught her to "come" like a dog, and unless she's wa-a-a-a-y out in the pasture, she readily responds (leaving the other horses far behind with nary a glance back!).

I rode her last weekend for the first time since her return. She has always hated her bridle and, true to form, she tossed and raised her head so it was difficult to get it on, so I decided to start using clicker training to help her "like" it.

On Day One, I put the reins over her head but held the bridle in my hand. She wouldn't even look at it, so I carefully and slowly "arranged" for her to bump into the bit. CLICK + treat! So I held it out for her again. She stood absolutely still with her lips about 1 inch from it and WOULD NOT MOVE. Then finally she blinked and turned her head a FRACTION of an inch (barely perceptible) toward me. CLICK + treat! I held it out again. Finally, after standing still for a long time but very tuned in, she bumped it next to the bit, on the leather. CLICK + treat.

Looking at me sideways, she continued to avoid touching it, but finally moved her head closer to it. CLICK + treat. I tried again, with much standing still (she was completely unrestrained). I could just SEE her thinking about it and weighing the threat of touching the dreaded bridle versus getting a yummy treat. Then she reached out and deliberately touched it. BUMP. Oh boy, CLICK and treat and I left while we were ahead! Then yesterday she deliberately touched the bit several times. Today, Day Three, she put the bit right into her mouth while I held the bridle itself up in front of her face as if I were about to bridle her.

I apologize for this long, rambling letter. You must get dozens of them, but I just had to tell you how thankful I am that you've produced your books and videos. I'm convinced clicker training has led to Jodie's being a much happier and relaxed horse, and it has allowed me to enjoy her on a level I never dreamed. I'm so grateful. I enjoy our clicker sessions so thoroughly, I really don't much care if I ride her or not!

I have attached a picture of Jodie and me while I was hand walking her during her lay-up. (I'm sure you just LOVE all this feedback from people...sorry!) But you'll be interested to know that my instructor friend, who is amazed at the change in Jodie, wants to know more about clicker training, as does another old friend who's an experienced horsewoman. Suddenly I'm the local expert! I tell them to read and study your materials to learn to do it right.

Thank you so much for your work. I can hardly wait for the next book and/or video.

With much appreciation,

Kathy Hollen  Jan 15, 2006

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Clicker Success Stories: Grace

Hi Alex!
 
I talked to you at the equine affair. I told you a story about a horse Ii saved from death - her name is grace and her owner was so scared of her - and the horse was severely injured - that she was having the vet come THE NEXT DAY to put her down. talk about pressure!! I want to write the story down, becuase it is one of the most amazing things I have been blessed to experience.
 
Grace is a PMU mare who was purchased 2 years ago in foal. The owner (I'll call her L) bought her thinking enough love would build a bond. She never had a horse before.

A year after Grace had her foal she was sent off for training to an old fashioned trainer. That's when I met her. I could see grace was freaking out by going deeper into herself...but it was not my place and i simply sent her Reiki whenever i saw her.
 
After Grace fwent back home, she flipped out and got her leg caught in the hay rack. She pulled it off the wall and ran around with it until it fell off. The vet checked her out, and she seemed fine - but a week later her tendon popped, and that front hoof started flipping up. L was terrified of her now, so no one approached her at all. they dumped meds into her feed and that was it. The trainer came by to try to help, but Grace saw her and ran for the hills.
 
That was the last time anyone even touched her, and now, a month later L is going to put her down.
 
What a set up, eh? so I walk in thinking "ok, maybe being put down is the best thing here - I just want to see"
 
My challenges - an already abused horse (PMU scars all over her) sent to an aggressive trainer, horribly injured, owned by a terrified woman (who happens to be getting a divorce, so add to the charge) and the place where she lives is next to a sand pit - with big trucks driving by all day, and she is terrified of the trucks. 4 kids 3 dogs. get the picture?
 
It is the level of intensity that made me want to submit this story to you for use.
 
So first I target train the yearling who is dear and sweet. just to get my feet wet with the mare watching. We put him away, and L advises me not to go out to the paddock alone - but I must. Grace takes off, and it is painful to watch with that hoof flipping up.
Then I apply the simplest round pen ideas - however the twist is that I  DO NOT  want the mare to move....and i am in an acre field.
 
I appraoch from behind - gently circling inward slowly and in full view. I go to the left, wait till she looks at me, and go to the right. I am 30 fet away and at the edge of her bubble. After doing that for a while, I go to the front. same thing...always stopping on a 45% angle to keep my midpoint in a non threatening position.

It works! She get curious! I am round penning her only I am on the outside, and she is the center. I am "herding" her to stay put. If she goes to move, I take pressure off. Finally, I am able to come up to her about a foot away and stand directly in fron of her. No touching.

I click and offer food. She takes it...but starts to walk back to the barn. However, she is walking slow and careful. So I just pace with her like we are a driving team. I match her steps and mirror her. Stopping when she stops.  Look at her when she looks at me. No touching. She goes into the barn. I go around and into the barn so we are seperated by the stall door.

She is ready and curious. I begin to target train her to my hand. My goal is to be able to touch her head - my big goal is to lead her and work on that leg and touch her and all kinds of stuff - but for now, I want to be able to touch her head. She allows me to touch her forhead as a cue. WOW! L cannot believe it. L starts to cry. It is the first time anyone has EVER touched her head.  i have been working for  one hour, and I can safely touch her head. we end.
 
The next day I again do the "you stay put" round pen routine. I get her to stay put in a 5 foot space near the edge of the barn. I begin using a tiny once of energy pressure to show her that pressure from me does not mean harm. I walk into her space across her nose and she yeilds her head. C/R. I want to desensitise her to pressure and sensitise her to reward. She is really grooving on this idea - finally one of the human race is explaining things to her in a way she understands. she is not aggressive or angry in the least - just lonely and scared. We end the session with me standing back to front like horses do - with my hand restin on her wither. just standing there saying in my mind "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
 
Next day I want to TTouch her. Again the reverse round pen. I walk in at a 45% angle and touch her wither, C/R. After doing that several times, I begin to hold her halter in one hand and work her body with the other. At first she tries to walk away or throw her head. so I back up and start again slower. This time when she goes to shy away, I move with her very calmly. She stops, C/R.  Then I gently work her neck and shoulders, along to her back and belly a little. I stop there. Her muscles have greatly relaxed and she is blowing and licking lips. i send Reiki to that bad leg.  We end there. L calls me the next day to say that her leg began healing overnight. She is using it better, and the swelling went down. I  only wish I could soak it or trim that hoof - but we are a long long way away from that.
 
Then the Alstead flood hit. L's new house (down the road from her husband) got washed away along with all her kids' possesions. Luckily the horses live up the hill at the old house. Now L has moved back in there and is an emotional wreck. I cannot even get to grace for 3 weeks. due to the roads being washed out.
 
When I do get back, Grace amazingly picks up where we left off. but now L needs to find a home for her. She is overwhelmed and cannot afford to keep her. I call the Live and Let Live Horse Rescue farm. Because of the success I've had with the clicker she agrees to take her. We are now waiting for transportation to happen - not having luck....but something will happen.
 
At this point Grace knows a come forward cue and a back up cue. I can swing a rope over her head, hold her halter, clip the rope on (she was afraid of the clink sound of the clip) she will target the rope, target my hand, and let me touch her head, ears and poll. I can run my hand down her leg briefly. I do not ask her to lift her leg yet - she is still scared of it. However, I can lead her safely and get her to follow a feel.
 
So, we reviewed all our skills. then I didn't know what to do next, and had an inspiration to turn my back to her. She began to gently touch my arm. Since she never tried to come into my space before, I C/R this .....I want to say now that the beauty of clicker comes for me when the horse gets an idea, and I build on it to become a cool thing.

We turned that timid touch into a skill - I stand with my back to her and hold my arm out to the side. She puts her chin on my arm and bends my arm down so that i am hugging her throat latch. Remember she is a PMU? You know what a big deal this is !!!!! The frosting is even better - after her treat she leaves it there and I bring up my other hand and hold her forhead. She is in a full embrace, and she is holding her own head there.

I turned mugging into hugging. I can calmly put her head away from me, and repeat this skill. she absolutely loves this one because she really does like touch and she came up with the idea!!! When we where done, i just stroked her head for a while in this "hug" position. she let out such a sigh!
 
Meanwhile, Grace's leg is almost healed. Her hoof is way long, and I actually feel ready to go ahead and click some foot work stuff. but she still has got to go to a safe place to live. L is calling the transport guy for the 4th time, but I am secretly happy it is taking so long.
 
Grace reminds me of a dove. and she has a feeling to her of that same sweetness that doves have - along with the timidity. Never have i felt threatened in her presence. Even when she gets big energy and almost loses her mind at a truck, i can snap my fingers and "bring her back to me" ....the whole family feels at least safe around her now that she doens't lose her head all the time.
 
Her colt is darling, and will probably get a goat for a friend when she leaves. he belongs to the husband.
 
so, that is the novel. thank you so much for your books and inspiration. now that i have the clicker riding book, i am so inspired to do all kinds of things with my own horses....all kinds of solutions to problems, too.
 
with great respect and love, Sharon Morelli