The horse is being touted as a possible clicker animal. Clicking is fine for teaching your horse tricks but does not excuse you from putting in years of foundation training. Dogs and horses have been together a long time working side-by-side on farms and ranches, but they are different in their mental and physical evolution. Do you really want your 1000-pound friend to run across the field and jump in your lap or fetch a ball?
Exaggeration maybe, but do you need to depend on a small noisemaker to teach your horse? If your dog needs manners then read the interesting articles by dog trainers on the above listed Web sites. But do you really want a specialist who trains dogs teach you to train your horse? It would be like asking your small animal vet to operate for the first time on your sand-impacted horse. The small animal vet has the knowledge of the horse's anatomy but lacks direct experience and exposure to hundreds of horses.
Proper body language and voice commands work just as well on the ground as does a lead rope (think round pen training by John Lyons and other experienced trainers). Seems people are always looking for a faster method of training horses: the magic bit, magic saddle, magic clicker. . . . Training horses to perform on cue, under saddle and on the ground isn't magic, it's hard work that takes time and patience.
Is training your horse a click away? Teaching him tricks, click yes. To enjoy a safe and relaxing ride on the trail, click no.
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