BY DALE RUDIN
ANNA50/SHUTTERSTOCK
Hand-feeding your horse will make him mouthy, disrespectful, and dangerous! This conventional rule of horsemanship has been taught for years. In truth, many horses accept food without a hint of adverse behavior. Some do become overly excited when tempted by tasty tidbits, but food rewards can still be effectively utilized to shape equine behavior, even in food-aggressive horses. Another common misconception is that treats used during training disrupt learning and offer no benefit. However, science disproves this theory and confirms the use of systematically delivered food to accelerate learning, boost cognitive function, enhance memory, and increase retention of information.