Really Big News!
Blitz and Boomer watch as Minnow paints
On Sunday (as planned) I lugged out Minnow’s paints and easel so that he could create some new artwork. We spent about an hour creating lots of new works (that will be available soon)….but I will post more about this later. While Minnow painted I specifically set up his easel infront of our dutch doors at the farm so that Blitz and Boomer could look out of their stalls and watch.
Why you may be wondering? Because I wanted them to learn by watching Minnow. And it worked.
After painting with Minnow I decided to pull out Blitz (the next oldest at age 7 and the furthest in his clicker/trick training). I haltered Blitz but let him have free range in the paddock where the painting supplies were set up. Surprisingly Blitz decided to take the exact spot Minnow had occupied infront of the easel. So I attached a new piece of Bristol paper to the easel and decided to let Blitz have a try with painting. About 6 months ago or more I had begun working with Blitz on holding brushes in his mouth. At that time we was able to get the concept down but was too afraid of the easel and strange setup to actually touch it to the paper. Since then I had also taught him to play fetch and generally pick up objects in his mouth. So those skills were already mastered.
Blitz and his first painting on 9-20-09
I handed Blitz the brush and he touched the paper with it! Interestingly he began making marks on the paper in an up and down motion (the same way that Minnow had been doing it). He took to the painting with ease – simply as if he had learned by watching Minnow do it. You can watch the video below of Blitz creating his very first painting.
Blitz loving his first painting
I was thrilled that PonyPaintings.com is now home to two painting Chincoteague Ponies. But then I remembered Minnow. I actually started to feel really sad, because painting had always been the special thing that Minnow and I shared. He was special and unique because he was the only one. Now Minnow has to share painting with Blitz – and he’s also no longer the only painting Chincoteague Pony in the World. I almost feel a little guilty for teaching Blitz. I took away something special from Minnow. 🙁
But a long-term goal I have always had was to teach all three of my boys to paint so that someday they could all paint on the same canvas. And Minnow has become such an influence and a teacher to my two younger Chincoteagues. I think they learn a lot by watching him and the way that he interacts with me. The fact remains that Minnow will ALWAYS hold a very special place in my heart. I’ve NEVER (as much as I would love to) felt that way I do about Minnow with any other horse in my life…and I don’t know that I ever will. Minnow will always be the pony that introduced me to clicker training, and trick training, and basically taught me everything I know now about training horses using positive reinforcement. Without Minnow I would probably never have found another way, a kinder/gentler way.
Blitz
So as sad as it makes me that Minnow’s unique talent is no longer unique at my farm, I know that teaching Blitz was a necessary goal in order to better my relationship with him. Minnow will always be special to me and I’m happy that he’s now able to take on the roll as teacher more than ever. I can’t wait for the day when I bring home my very own Chincoteague foal from the Island and Minnow can help me to train him as well. And I guess I’m just going to have to teach Minnow an even better trick so that he can be unique again! What about painting while standing on his hind legs? Or while sitting on a bean bag chair?
Look for artwork by Blitz to appear in the PonyPaintings.com shop soon. But for now you can watch the video of Blitz painting on his first canvas 9-21-09:
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Thats awesome!
I’ve been thinking about teaching some of mine to paint. Do you just use regular (but large) paint brushes, or do you modify the brushes in some way? I assume the first step is to get the horse to hold the brush…
What kind of paint do you use? Something that is non-toxic?
thanks,
Mary
P.S. Thanks for the article on mounted games! I really enjoyed reading it and seeing some of the videos.
I use rubber handled painting brushes – mostly because Minnow was SUPER picky about his brushes. He would spit out the wood handled ones…or break them (I think on purpose) haha.
So I sometimes tape other brushes and things to the end of the rubber handles.
And I just use regular acrylic paint. They have learned they aren’t supposed to touch the paint unless they have a brush in their mouth. We still get the occasional “let me smear my nose all over it” method….but it shouldn’t hurt them. I only had one issue where Minnow tried to eat a big glob of yellow paint. I frantically tried to rub off his tongue with paper towels – he still ended up with a yellow tongue. But I think the bad taste made him realize that was probably not a good idea. He’s never done it since.
And you are correct. Holding the brush is the big issue. I always teach my guys lots of other mouthy tricks first. Picking up and carrying things – so that they realize they can use their mouth as a tool. Minnow knew about 20 tricks before he learned to paint and Blitz has about 10 or so under his belt. So its kind of a process that builds on lots of other things.
Hope it works out for you. Let me know if you have any success – or if you have any questions!
-KD
http://www.ponypaintings.com