What a Marker Signal Is and How to Train One

What a Marker Signal Is and How to Train One

Author: Chandra August 29, 2023 Duration: 28:10
Clicker training requires a marker signal. This marker is usually a click from a handheld clicker or a tongue click. The marker signal tells the horse that what he is doing right now is what you wanted and he will be getting reinforcement soon. The signal creates a bridge between the behavior and reinforcement. It can be very hard to feed at the exact right moment when the behavior you want is happening and that is where the marker signal comes into play. I’ll talk about how to pick out a good marker signal for your horse and how to start clicker training with a fearful horse.

Chandra hosts Contemporary Horsemanship Podcast, a space dedicated to thoughtful conversations about working with horses. Rather than presenting rigid rules, this podcast explores the nuances of equine behavior and the practical application of modern training methods. Each episode feels like a candid discussion, breaking down why horses react the way they do and how we can build clearer, more trusting partnerships with them. You'll hear specific insights on interpreting subtle body language, refining groundwork, and applying riding techniques that prioritize mutual understanding over dominance. It’s for anyone who spends time around horses and wants to move beyond simple commands to a deeper, more collaborative connection. The focus is always on sharing accessible, useful knowledge that listeners can immediately relate to their own experiences at the barn or on the trail. By tuning in, you join a community curious about the evolving art of horsemanship, all delivered through Chandra’s grounded and relatable perspective. This isn't about quick fixes; it's about fostering a lifelong, rewarding dialogue with these incredible animals.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Contemporary Horsemanship Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Start Buttons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:51
Start buttons are a tool used in clicker training where the animal performs one before to let the handler know he is ready for another behavior. I have found start buttons to be very helpful in horse training. I’ll cover…
How to Get Your Horse to Cross a Tarp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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The usual ways of training a horse to cross a tarp include chasing, pulling, and pressuring the horse until he does it. By forcing a horse to cross in this way you can very easily make going near the tarp a source of pai…
What to do About Spooking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:12
All horses spook at some point. I’ll give you some tips on how to help your horse when he is afraid. Keeping the horse under threshold and slowly building their confidence is key.
All About Whips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:12
Whips are a highly debated topic in the horse world. Much of the debate comes from tradition or opinion and not from science. I’m going to talk about the science behind how a whip functions in horse training. I’ll also c…
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Duration: 35:22
There is a lot of myths around why a horse licks and chews. The behavior is often explained as a horse showing that it is relaxed. Licking and chewing is actually a calming signal. I’ll explain what a calming signal is a…
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Duration: 29:26
I’m explaining the science behind ‘relationship training’ or getting a horse’s focus to get them to relax. Then I’ll talk about the different types of clinics and how they effect horses. Finally I’ll give my thoughts on…
What Protected Contact is and How to Use it [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:30
I use protected contact quite a bit in my training, especially for horses who are fearful or display potentially dangerous behaviors. By using protected contact I can still train the behaviors I want, while we both can h…
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Duration: 31:34
Most people overlook this critical piece of training with their horses. How the horse takes the treat and when are extremely important as this information tells the horse what behaviors are being reinforced. I’ll go into…