How to reward your horse in a way that it understands!

Rewarding your horse effectively is a cornerstone of successful training and a strong bond. We must understand the importance of using rewards that horses truly appreciate and comprehend.

Many riders don’t realize that scratching instead of patting to reward your horse can be more effective and enjoyable for your equine partner. As Lisa Ashton mentioned in the Horse Welfare Summit in Sweden – these are “low hanging fruits” for Social License to Operate (SLO) that is easy to accomplish for all horse people.

In this post, we’ll explore various reward methods and how to implement them for the best results.

How to Reward Your Horse Effectively

The Power of Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement transforms horse training. When a horse performs a desired action and immediately receives something pleasant (like a treat or a scratch), it’s more likely to repeat that behavior. This method builds trust and encourages willing participation, creating a more enjoyable experience for both horse and rider.

Food Rewards: A Delicate Balance

Food treats can motivate powerfully, but require sparing use. Choose healthy options like carrots or low-sugar horse treats. Limit treats to prevent overfeeding and treat-dependent behaviors. Always offer treats from an open, flat palm to avoid accidental nipping.

Physical Rewards: The Power of Touch

Many horses prefer physical rewards to food. A scratch at the withers or base of the neck can be an effective reward. This action mimics natural grooming behaviors.

Emily Hancock, MSc, under the supervision of Sarah Redgate, PhD, both of Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham, the United Kingdom did an iteresting study presented at ISES conference in Denmark where they observed 16 horse-rider pairs during the Grand Prix Special dressage test at the 2012 London Olympics. Their findings revealed that pats overwhelmingly outnumbered other forms of non-aid contact, with riders delivering 350 pats and only three strokes throughout the competition.

Hancock suggested that scratching might enhance the bond between horses and humans, potentially serving as a more effective form of reward. She explained that scratching is a natural behavior for horses, whereas patting is not. “Riders and handlers should be encouraged to scratch their horses rather than pat them as a reward,” she added.

During the Olympics in Paris, 2024, it was unfortunately possible to observe a lot of riders that still haven´t adopted modern reward methods – it was still possible to observe a lot of patting – or should we say “slapping” as it looks like, in a lot of cases.

How Horses Interpret Rewards

Horses are incredibly perceptive animals. They pick up on subtle cues and associate them with outcomes. Research has shown that horses can remember human facial expressions and link them to past experiences. This means your horse constantly learns from your reactions, even when you’re not actively training.

Timing: The Key to Effective Rewards

The effectiveness of a reward depends on its timing. Horses learn extremely quickly when rewarded. Some horses prefer a food-based reward, while others are content with a scratch at the withers or a vocal ‘good’. It’s important to provide the reward promptly after the desired behavior for effective learning.

Release of pressure serves as another powerful physical reward. Soften your aids immediately after a correct response to reinforce the desired behavior.

We know that effective horse rewards extend beyond treats. Let’s explore practical ways to reinforce positive behavior in your equine that you are a guardian off.

Verbal Praise: Your Voice Matters

Your voice impacts your horse significantly. Use a low, soothing tone for praise. Keep it short and sweet – a simple “good” or “yes” often suffices. Consistency proves key; use the same word or phrase each time to help your horse make the connection.

Rest as a Reward

Short breaks during training sessions can reward horses highly. After a particularly good effort or when learning something new, allow your horse to stand quietly for 30 seconds to a minute. This pause gives them time to process and can improve retention of new skills.

Tailoring Rewards to Your Horse

Each horse responds uniquely to different rewards. Pay attention to what your horse prefers and adjust your reward system accordingly. With patience and consistency, you’ll develop a communication system that your horse understands and appreciates.

Now that we’ve covered effective reward methods, let’s address common mistakes to avoid when rewarding your horse. These pitfalls can hinder your training progress and potentially create unwanted behaviors.

Avoiding Common Reward Pitfalls

Overreliance on Food Rewards

While treats motivate horses, excessive use creates problems. Horses can become pushy, expecting treats for every action. This unhealthy dynamic sometimes leads to dangerous behaviors like nipping.

Fact - How Long Should You Wait to Reward Your Horse?

Vary your rewards instead. Use food sparingly (once or twice per session for exceptional performance). Combine this with other forms of positive reinforcement like verbal praise or a good scratch.

Mistiming Rewards

Timing plays a critical role in horse training. A frequent error involves rewarding too late, which confuses the horse about which behavior receives reinforcement. For example, if your horse performs a perfect halt but you delay the treat, they might associate the reward with fidgeting after the halt.

Try to reward immediately of the desired behavior. Immediate feedback helps your horse make the correct association. If you miss the moment, it’s better to skip the reward than risk reinforcing the wrong action.

The Role of Treats in Horse Training

While treats are popular, they’re not the only way to reward your horse. Many horses respond well to physical affection, like a good scratch on the withers.

Treats can be an excellent tool for rewarding horses when they learn new skills. However, their use should be carefully considered, especially during groundwork exercises.

Why Avoid Treats During Groundwork?

1. Shift in Focus: Treats can divert your horse’s attention from their body to the external reward.

2. Trick Learning vs. Body Awareness: Using treats may lead to your horse performing actions merely to receive the reward, rather than developing true body awareness and control.

3. Internal Connection is Key: The primary goal of groundwork is to help your horse feel internally connected and aware of their posture and physiology.

4. Emphasis on Relaxation: Groundwork should encourage your horse to focus on internal relaxation and self-control.

The Distraction Factor

Even if you execute groundwork patterns perfectly and your horse maintains internal focus, introducing a treat can immediately disrupt this state. It becomes an external distraction, counteracting the intended purpose of the exercise.

Recommendation for Groundwork

When engaging in groundwork with your horse, it’s best to set treats aside. Instead, concentrate on fostering your horse’s internal relaxation and body awareness. This approach will lead to more meaningful and lasting results in your horse’s training and development.

Remember, the ultimate goal is to help your horse understand and control their body, not just perform actions for rewards.

Tailoring Rewards to Individual Horses

Every horse is an individual. What works as a reward for one might not be as effective for another. Pay attention to your horse’s reactions and preferences to tailor your reward system. With patience and consistency, you’ll develop a communication system that your horse understands and appreciates.

Fact - How do horses learn and respond to rewards?

Now that we understand why horses respond to rewards, let’s explore some more things to think about in your training routine.

Unintentional Negative Reinforcement

Riders sometimes inadvertently reward undesirable behaviors. For instance, if your horse paws the ground and you respond by giving attention or treats to distract them, you actually reinforce the pawing behavior.

Stay mindful of your responses. If your horse exhibits unwanted behavior, it’s often best to ignore it (as long as it’s safe to do so) and wait for a moment of calm to reward. This teaches your horse that good behavior, not acting out, leads to positive outcomes.

Ignoring Individual Preferences

Not all horses respond equally to the same rewards. Some riders persist with food rewards for horses that clearly prefer physical affection, or vice versa. This mismatch can frustrate both horse and rider.

Observe your horse’s reactions to different rewards. Do they perk up more for a treat or a good scratch? Do they seem indifferent to verbal praise? Tailor your reward system to what genuinely motivates your individual horse.

Inconsistent Reward Patterns

Inconsistency in rewarding can confuse horses and hinder training progress. If you reward a behavior one day but ignore it the next, your horse won’t understand what you expect.

Allow for escape and avoidance options when applying cues. Give the horse an identifiable reward by applying simple, consistent cues with appropriate negative reinforcement. Consistency helps your horse learn faster and more effectively.

Final Thoughts

Effective horse rewards strengthen relationships and improve training outcomes. Scratching instead of patting to reward your horse often proves more enjoyable for your equine partner. You should provide reinforcement within seconds of the desired behavior to ensure correct associations.

Fact - How to Reward Your Horse Effectively?

Experiment with different reward methods to find what works best for your horse. Pay attention to their reactions and preferences, and adjust your approach as needed. Every horse is unique, so what works for one may not work for another, make sure to be the best possible guardian of your horse.

At Equimade, we provide products that support your horse’s wellbeing and performance. Our focus on sustainable, high-quality equipment (such as our innovative tie-ups) aligns with positive experiences for horse. Try combining thoughtful reward systems with top-notch gear to set yourself and your horse up for success.