Comments on: Carrot Stretches

By: Suzette

Suzette — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:58:37 +0000

Some of the comments here make me shake my head. There are lots of ways to achieve the same the result. This is one way to achieve flexibility. I have done these types of stretches, using treats, for years with no bad habits formed by my horse. I know many folks who use this method and guess what? No bad habits formed. So it’s okay if this is not your preferred method, but that does not make it wrong. It works. So use it or don’t but don’t criticize what you haven’t tried just based on an assumption of the result.

By: janice

janice — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 12:50:30 +0000

my horse steps back alltime to get to carrot

By: Galadriel

Galadriel — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 23:26:29 +0000

I always wonder why people’s horses stand still for this. My horse is very flexible but if I try something like this he just turns his whole body around.

By: Laina

Laina — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:48:38 +0000

I do this with my horse. It has not caused bad habits such as snatching food or nipping. Many people believe that any hand feeding leads to this type of behavior. This is one of the great horse myths that lives on. If you are letting the horse call the shots, as in, hand over the food or else, it would be trouble. Done correctly, it is fine.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 03:24:50 +0000

I do positive reinforcement training with food so I am not opposed to handfeeding. But I think Ralph is right in saying getting the horse to grab it from difficult positions teaches the horse bad things. Better to make a target for the animal to touch, then reward it for doing so.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 14:08:43 +0000

Sorry, but I don’t like this method of achieving flexibility at all. Flexibilty can easily be achieved with pressure and release. Using a carrot or any food for training is unecessary and in my view dangerous. Using a carrot like this will encourage many horses to make a snatch for the food potentially taking your fingers with it if you are not just enough out of reach. Next they will be reaching (snatching for it)out of your hand when you are leading them in and you are carrying one or have it in your pocket. You are going to end up being bitten any time they think you have feed or they can smell it.I don’t like this idea at all.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:04:37 +0000

Any ideas on helping an 8 year old stud horse who is gentle but never been rode? He takes the saddle well, but has no idea about the bit. We are working on flexibility but need advise on helping him move his feet.

By: A

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:37:08 +0000

Thanks!