Quiet Riding

"Carrots ought always to be cut lengthwise and never across, in which case they might stick in the animal's throat."

"One of the most basic animal instincts is the drive to eat, and, in my opinion, it should be put to good use, but only after there are no more dominance problems. If the dominance relationship is not 100 per cent clear, then that annoying, snuffling begging for treats will begin, and that will disrupt the good, concentrated work atmosphere. So, no praising or rewarding with sweet treats in the beginning; once the dominance relationship is clear, in my opinion a timely treat is a wonderful aid."

"Many horse trainers oppose the use of food in training, believing that to do so will 'spoil' the horse and teach it to bite."

"Circus horses are commonly trained using food for positive reinforcement....Fredi Knie and his family, of Switzerland's National Circus, generously reward their subjects with treats. So do many of Europe's classical horsemanship schools, such as Vienna's Spanish Riding School."

"Clicker training and target training...use positive reinforcement with food and achieve magnificent results."