As a coach and a rider, I have heard every reward technique under the sun and it got me thinking, what one is actually the best? Which one should we all be doing?

Different coaches and riders have very different views on what should be the reward for the horse, should the horse just know they have done well and be grateful, or do they need more than that? Do giving treats cause a horse to be rude or bite? I heard Joe Bloggs’s Grand Prix rider does XYZ to reward his horses I will do that too, but I ask you is Joe Bloggs right?

Certainly a lot of food for thought, and in reality, a minefield as to how does the horse owner know what to do when everyone says something different.

There are endless pros and cons to them all so I decided to put them to the test on some young horses I had a few years ago and I did a different technique on each one. As a result, I created a very unique way of training my horses I ride, as well as coach with, in order to get their true potential.

Horse 1 – I gave only the pat/scratch on neck reward with vocal praise.

Horse 2 – I gave a monetary reward of a high-value treat eg polo , carrot and the pat/scratch

with vocal praise.

The base of my research was to see which horse performed better and was more willing to work with me, and as a result, build a better partnership.

The results were extremely clear to me after only a week doing this testing, horse 2 was more willing to work with me as there was a monetary element to them working! They got something out of it apart from exercise and just like humans, the horse got paid for their work. I began to test it with older horses and horses that I was teaching with and the results were speaking for themselves, especially with riding school horses. The once dull, sour, lesson horses were happy to see me and wanted to work with little or no issues or reactive behaviours, behaviours that would have normally been present, and as a result, incidents were reduced.

Which then got me thinking, what else could I use this reward technique for? Again It became very apparent, EVERYTHING, any obstacle or difficultly could be got around. For example:

A horse not standing at the mounting block, I would train them using a monetary reward to get them to learn to stand at it while I got on. The method was, they would get 1 polo when they stood at it, no matter what dance they did as I got on. I would ask them to halt and then they would get another mint from the saddle, so they associated me in the saddle with something they wanted, and eventually they didn’t need the polo, at the start of the session they would just stand and wait until all work was done for the reward.

Whilst under going this testing I was asked multiple times – is it not encouraging rude behaviour and biting? The answer is no it doesn’t – if a horse wants to bite or be rude, they will do so without treats or rewarding. Just like not every human is a morning person before they have had their coffee, and over the years my reward technique has worked so well for those who are rude, bargy and biters as I reward them when they listen and behave.

There are so many benefits to rewarding your horse properly, and it must be something that they really like – for my current horse Jack Sparrow aka BFG, he would sell his soul for a stud muffin so I always have them in my tack box or car for when we have something we need to work through.

Some benefits to rewarding our horses are…

• Overcoming obstacles by asking the horse to work with you and get paid.
• De-stress for the horse and encourages relaxation as there is reduced tension.
• Handy to regain the focus of the horse in stressful situations reminding them that there is something in it for them, and in return, they will also now look to you for guidance.
• Creates a very strong partnership on and off the ground as from the minute you arrive, the horse will want to be with you and work with you rather than the opposite.
• Sour behaviours disappear and a happier horse is created!

When you have your horse happy in their work and partnership is building, the world will be your oyster as there will be nothing that can’t be achieved. It’s child’s play, and remember if no one is having fun, you or the horse, then there is no partnership and everyone is unhappy in the training. So get a head start with your horse in 2022, reward your horse and build that valuable partnership!