The words you use to cue your horse to do tricks need to be words that you DO NOT use at any other time.
Humans tend to chatter around horses and this can sound like general noise to our horses. If you don’t use special words for cues they will get lost in this noise and it tends to dilute their effect.
We recently received a clever suggestion on our Facebook Page:
Use words from languages other than your native language for cue words.
For example, if you speak English around your horse most of the time, use Spanish words for your cue words. They sound very different from the English version and you are unlikely to use them at other times.
Some useful trick training words in Spanish are:
- Good = Bien
- Touch = Toca
- Kiss = Beso
Most importantly, reserve your cues words for when you are teaching your horse tricks and don’t use them at other times. That way your horse will know when you really want them to do something and they will learn a lot faster.
