equine clicker training

using precision and positive reinforcement to teach horses and people

Chapter 7: A Relaxed Stand

This page contains additional resources for the book “Teaching Horses with Positive Reinforcement.” I will be adding to this page as I have time.


It’s a little challenging to find interesting pictures of horses standing in a relaxed stand. For me, it’s ended up being a default behavior that the horses do all the time, but I rarely think to take a picture of it.


Teaching a relaxed stand is a foundation behavior that becomes a component of many other behaviors. It can be one of the most challenging behaviors to teach because clicker trained horses like to do things. I start introducing it early but I try to be mindful of the horse’s emotional state. Even if it’s a behavior that I “need” when the horse is tense or anxious, I have to start working on it under conditions when it’s possible.

Mary Hunter writes about this in her blog http://www.stalecheerios.com. She has a few blogs on emotion, but the one I had in mind is the one titled Starting off on the Right Emotion.


Additional resources: