Posts Tagged ‘painting pony
Keep Going Signal
One of the blogs I frequent, Book Ends Farm, recently did a post on the Keep Going Signal used with clicker training. Honestly, I had no idea what that was – never heard of it before. If you have been following my blog from the beginning than you probably know that I openly admit I don’t read a lot of training books. The shame I know. I prefer to rely more on my instincts, and just a process of trial and error.
Minnow putting on the brakes during competition 2007
Don’t get me wrong, I do watch training dvds, and have been known to “internet” browse for training ideas, but I just can’t get into reading books on the subject. Mostly I think its just because I’m a visual learner, so unless there are lots of pictures – you’ve totally lost me.
So anyway, back to the real reason for this post, the Keep Going Signal. Apparently I have been using this method for years and I had no idea. From what I gather, the Keep Going Signal is a cue (probably verbal works best) that you give your horse (or any animal) to let them know you want them to keep doing what they are doing and they will be rewarded shortly.
Here’ are some examples:
Minnow performs at the Pony Centre 2008
When teaching my ponies to paint, once they’ve got the concept of target brush to paper, I use a “good boy” to get them to keep targeting the paper and continue on with strokes until I ask for the brush back and click/reward them.
I also use it in my mounted games training. A “good boy” for a really nice spin around the end pole, but I want you to keep going until you finish the race and I can give you your treat.
The more I thought about it the more I realized I use it pretty much everyday. It must have just developed over time with my interactions with my boys, but I realized they all recognize the “good boy” means your effort was correct and your reward will be coming. When all the ponies hear those two words uttered out of my mouth they offer me a more enthusiastic attempt at what they have been doing, maybe a burst of speed, or a free-er flowing brushstroke.
KD makes a litter dunk on Boomer. PHPC competition 2008
So how did it happen? I think it happened when I first started clicker training each of them. I would ask them to do something, offer up a “good boy” then click and reward them. I think over time, as I began riding them, I began to space them out. The “good boy” would come, then a little later the click/reward. Helps prevent the slamming on the breaks effect when clicker training while riding.
As Book Ends Farm mentions, I guess some people don’t like using a Keep Going Signal, as they feel it complicates things and can lead to frustration in some horses. I definitely could see how this could happen, but I think it also depends on the horse. Obviously if your horse just gets frustrated when you say “good boy” because they are expecting the reward, then you probably shouldn’t use it.
New Look
If you follow us on twitter you may already know that we’ve been working on making some changes to www.PonyPaintings.com
After 4 years I decided its time for a face lift! So with some proding, my graphic designer husband has been working on a new logo and new design for the website. I’m so excited I can hardly wait for it to be finished. My original website layout and design was done by me while I was in college – and teaching myself how to make websites. So needless to say its not very good, and I went through a brown stage or something, its ok you can say ew.
Anyway, the new idea behind the updated website will be Misty of Chincoteague, Beachy, Bright, and fun! No more dark and dank! Along with the new website look I’ve spent several days contemplating a possible name change too. When I first registered the domain name PonyPaintings.com many of the options I wanted weren’t available, but for some reason now they are! So I had my choice between…
trickponies.com
thepaintingponies.com
paintingpony.com
thepaintinghorse.com
I think I’ve finally decided to go with Paintingpony.com – so in the near future I will switch the website over to that domain name – although you will still always be able to reach us at ponypaintings.com. so what do you think? Do you like the name, or do you think I should have gone with something else?
Here’s what the new logo will look like:
Our online shop has already been updated to reflect the new look – with the website soon to follow. So what do you think? The likeness of the pony is taken from a photo of Chincoteague Minnow – since he was the very first Painting Pony. 🙂
All images are copyrighted by Painting Pony, PonyPaintings, and Kyley DiLuigi. Not to be used without permission.
