"You can get the end result a million different ways. But when you start to really value the PROCESS, the horse's emotions, and a horse's overall eagerness to work, positive reinforcement becomes a magical tool in your toolbox you couldn't imagine living without." ~Mustang Maddy

What's in it for your horse....

I’ve often heard the comment, "I want the horse to do it for me, not for the food." This is a common concern that I hear regarding positive reinforcement. I think that this comment brings up an important, fundamental point: There is a difference between training and bonding.

Bonding refers to time spent together without necessarily asking your horse to offer certain behaviors. It also refers to horses spending time together, grooming, playing, relaxing, and grazing together.

However, the moment you ask your horse to back up, spin, or sidepass you are now asking him to give you quite a bit of his precious energy! This certainly goes way beyond what one horse would ask another horse to do. So what is the energetic return on that energy he is giving to you in the training process? Food rewards give your horse that motivation—there is something in it for him.