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
Desensitization and Tying Things to Horses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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I’m discussing what the difference is between actual desensitization and flooding. Tying things to horses has been somewhat popular on social media recently and I wanted to talk about some of the potential issues with do…
How to Get Your Horse to Stop Making Noise at Feeding Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:01
Horses can easily learn to bang on gates and stall doors or paw in anticipation of their meals. To fix these behaviors is pretty straightforward. You need to set aside the extra time while feeding and really watch what b…
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Horses speak almost exclusively in body language. Some signs that the horse is tense can be hard to notice if they haven’t been pointed out to you. Being able to see small changes in posture, muscle tension, and body lan…
Why You Should Teach Your Horse to Stand on a Mat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:48
Trying something new with horses can be hard because we can get so stuck on doing things the way we’ve always done them. But the mat gives the horse a focal point to stand on and acts as a target. This can be helpful for…
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Duration: 19:26
Wondering how long a normal training or riding session should last? I’ll tell you what I do with my horses and explain what ending on a good note should look like in a lesson.
Why Horses Get Worried When They Can’t See Out or Other Horses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:45
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Duration: 20:45
Tying a horse can become dangerous fast if you don’t pay attention to the details. I’ll give some tips on how to keep you and your horse safe while he’s tied up.
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Duration: 23:51
Having a horse that resents being saddled can be very frustrating and even dangerous to deal with. I’ll talk about some ways to break the lesson down and rebuild tacking the horse up. I want the horse to have new, positi…
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Duration: 13:51
Riding with loose horses has become more popular with videos I’ve seen on social media. So I wanted to discuss some benefits and dangers of doing this exercise.
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Duration: 17:03
Having a horse who doesn’t want to stand for fly spray can be very frustrating. I had tried different methods of teaching my horses how to accept the spray and found that clicker training worked best for them and me. Her…