The Higher education for your horse! Trick training is one of the best-and most enjoyable-ways to enhance the intelligence, adaptability, predictability and desire of today's companion horse. In the process of teaching your horse many new skills you will discover - a safer, more confident equine companion-a "thinking" horse a horse with a "can-do" and "want-to-do" attitude a horse who displays willing compliance a better performance horse, whether in the show ring or on the trail And you will improve your horse's desire to interact and engage with you move beyond mechanical, rote learning to a new level of intelligence and self expression give your young horse a curriculum of learning that will send him to the head of the class improve everyday skills such as trailer loading, veterinary treatment, working with the farrier and hoof trimmer interact with your horse on a reciprocal level beyond your wildest dreams "Sue and Allen's Enlightened Trick Horse Training is, to my knowledge, the first trick-training method that honors the horse's intelligence and individuality." - Susana Gibson Founder and Publisher trailBLAZER magazine The Trick Horse Companion brings Trick Horse Training into the modern age of animal behavioral science. It bridges the human desire to be as one with the horse and develops a lasting and functional bond with the horse. Today's more enlightened horse enthusiasts want to know how to forge a closer relationship that includes the happiness of the horse. The Trick Horse Companion clearly explains how and why horses think and act as they do which is elementary to creating a mutually satisfying and sustainable horse/human bond. Most animal behaviorists agree horses are among the smartest of all domesticated animals, and the authors believe they are capable of much more than is ever asked of them. Horses make strong associations between objects and actions which is why we utilize plenty of props, including pedestals to mount, large balls to herd, small balls to retrieve, beanbags to sit upon, Frisbees to retrieve and cleat boards for targeting. Enlightened Trick Training is not an end point but rather a bonding and educational journey. It encourages communication and desire for interaction from the horse which promotes willing obedience as he learns to engage and respond on a higher level. All categories of Tricks are presented seamlessly and build upon each other to result in a highly- educated and responsive horse. A horse who is truly a companion, an individual that will enrich your life. "Companion" signifies the horse is elevated in his relationship with us and is a pleasure to spend time with. A companion horse may be a performance horse of any discipline or sport, a saddle or trail horse or a rescue horse-and he is a safer horse. Horses make powerful associations between objects (props) and actions, and by adding positive reinforcement including food treats, you can expect to see rapid results. Horses love this education because it is easy for them to understand and it's fun-not like work, but more like play. In all elements, the trick quickly becomes the reward rather than the work."