Target Training Horses

Melissa Murphy
Apr 13
6 min read

Updated: May 6

Target training sits at the cornerstone of the positive reinforcement trainer’s toolbox. It is a powerful tool that simplifies communication and can exponentially speed up the shaping process. But what is target training, and why is it so effective?

If you want to demystify target training horses and start implementing the practice into your training regime, keep reading for a step-by-step guide that explains it all!

What is Target Training for Horses?

Chestnut pony reaching for a yellow target. — Targeting is not only useful, it's also fun!

Targeting teaches your horse to touch a specific object when presented. It’s widely used in zoos to help safely move and position animals like elephants, lions, and tigers without direct contact. And while we don’t usually need that kind of barrier with our horses, the principles behind targeting are just as useful.

Horses are often first taught to touch the target with their nose, but they can be trained to use any part of their body. Once your horse understands the assignment, targets can be used to position your horse however you want, explain complex behaviors, and get them moving force-free.

Targeting tends to be one of the first behaviors many trainers teach because it is versatile, easy to learn, and fun for the horse, making it a great way to introduce positive reinforcement.

Types of Targeting

There are several different types of targets used in training, each offering unique benefits and applications. By mixing and matching them, you can teach your horse a wide range of behaviors.

Handheld Target

This is the most common and versatile type of target. It’s typically a stick with something visible on the end for your horse to touch with their nose. Handheld targets are great for teaching foundational behaviors like standing still, leading, and going over obstacles.

Bay horse touching a stick held by a woman with a yellow ball on the end.

Stationary Target

As the name suggests, a stationary target stays in a fixed location—cones, buckets, and mats work well for this. These targets are perfect for teaching your horse to go to a specific spot, move away from you, or practice standing in place. They're especially helpful for developing patience and impulse control.

Horse standing next to an orange traffic cone.

Mats

A mat is a specific type of stationary target that your horse learns to touch with their hooves rather than their nose. Mats are excellent for teaching your horse to go to or stand in a designated area. They’re often used for practicing standing and proprioception or beginning liberty work.

Bay horse standing with front hooves on a black door mat.

Moving Target

Oftentimes, whatever you choose for your hand-held target can also function as a moving target. By walking or running with it, you can lead your horse at different gaits and teach transitions, build energy, or encourage forward movement around the arena. The key difference between a moving and stationary target is that your horse will be rewarded for moving towards a moving target instead of making direct contact with it.

Hand Target

You can teach your horse to touch your hand on command, turning it into a convenient target. Hand targeting is ideal for use in close quarters or when you don’t have tools handy. It can help with behaviors like coming toward you, stretching, or focusing attention. Just be mindful when teaching this to prevent any nipping or confusion about personal space.

Bay horse touching their muzzle to a woman's outstretched hand.

Body Part Target

Once your horse understands how to target with their nose, you can expand the concept to other parts of their body. Horses can be taught to touch a target with their shoulders, hips, knees, jaw, and more. Body targeting gives you more refined control over your horse’s movements and is a powerful tool for teaching advanced behaviors like lateral movements or tricks like the Spanish walk.

Bay horse moving their hip towards a target being held out by a woman.

What Can Targeting Be Used For?

This simple behavior has endless possibilities and can make teaching complex movements easier. Some of the most common uses of targeting include:

Leading

Teach your horse to follow a handheld target to practice leading force-free.

Bay horse walking next to a woman holding a target out in front.

Standing Still

Use a stationary target to help your horse learn to ground tie and stand calmly for grooming, saddling, or vet checks.

Trailer Loading

A nervous horse can be taught to confidently load into a trailer by following a handheld target or going to a stationary target inside the trailer.

Groundwork & Body Control

Various body part targets can be used to position your horse for a variety of suppling and strengthening exercises. Turn on hindquarters, shoulder-in, haunches in, leg yield, school halt, and more can be achieved force-free with targeting.

Horse being guided by a lead rope and hip target into a shoulder in position.

Haltering & Bridling

Teach your horse to target their halter or bridle, eventually shaping the behavior so they willingly put it on themselves.

Jumping & Obstacles

Encourage your horse to navigate jumps and obstacles by following a handheld target—an easy, pressure-free way to introduce new challenges.

Horse following a target over colorful raised walk poles.

Creating Movement & Energy

Use a moving target as a force-free alternative to lunging, helping your horse walk, trot, or canter around the arena while improving their movement and engagement.

Teaching Tricks

Targeting makes trick training easier, helping shape behaviors like bowing, Spanish walk, and rearing.

Chectnut pony touching their knee to a pool noodle held at their chest height.

Building Confidence in Spooky Horses

Targeting can help you turn fear into curiosity. If your horse is wary of new objects, teach them to target "scary" things and, over time, they’ll start seeing novel objects as opportunities for reinforcement rather than something to fear.

Selecting Your Target

Examples of targets: a door mat, traffic cone, trailer hitch alignment guide, whip with blue tape on the end, and orange pool noodle. — Cones, door mats, modified whips, and pool noodles can make good targets.

Almost anything can be used as a target. However, to make training easier, you will want to put a little thought into what you choose as your horse’s target.

First and foremost, your target should match your training goals:

For a handheld or moving target, you’ll want something lightweight, easy to carry, and long enough to give you space between you and your horse. Modified whips or trailer hitch alignment sticks are popular choices—and there are even ready-made horse-specific targets available online.
For a stationary target, go with something freestanding and stable, like cones, mats, or even a propped-up hand-held target. Just make sure it’s visible from a distance and won’t topple over easily during a training session.

Whatever you choose will have to be visible to your horse. Make sure your target is large enough to be seen from a distance. The color of the target can also improve visibility. Horses see yellow and blue best, so those colors make especially eye-catching targets.

TIP: To prevent your horse from getting overzealous and wanting to touch everything, only reward your horse for touching their designated target.

Teaching Your Horse to Target

Targeting is easy to teach most horses. Because of that, many trainers teach it as one of their first behaviors when introducing R+. The best place to start teaching your horse to target is with the handheld target. Grab your new target and follow the steps below to teach your horse to touch it.

Step 1: Determine Your Horse’s Baseline

Your horse’s level of natural curiosity will determine how you start teaching them to target. Some horses are eager to investigate new objects, while others may be fearful of the target and require a slower approach.

TIP: Hold your target about a foot from your horse's nose so it is close eoungh that they can easily touch it but far enough that they can see it.

Chestnut pony looking at a target held out in front of them — Start by rewarding your horse for looking at the target

Start by offering them the target and access how they react.

If they act fearful, you will have to start by counter-conditioning the target and rewarding very small approximations. In this case, reward them initially for just looking at the target.

If your horse is bolder, they may reach out and touch the target the first time you offer it. If that is the case, click and reward the second they make contact.

Most horses will fall somewhere in between and may not show any interest in the target. These horses should be rewarded for looking at the target or making any move towards it.

Chestnut pony reaching for a target — Reward successively closer aproximations

Step 2: Shape A Target Touch

If your horse did not touch the target on their own, you will have to shape the behavior. Start slow and reward them for their baseline whether that is moving towards the target or just looking at it.

After a couple of repetitions of looking at it, watch for any movement towards the target and reward them for it.

Once they are consistently reaching that tiny bit closer, reward them only when they get even closer to the target.

Continue to shift your approximations closer until they finally make contact with the target. Give them a big reward and end the session for the day.

TIP: Lower the target after every click and then reset it after your horse is done chewing. Removing the target after every touch makes the target more meaningful to your horse and helps them connect the act of touching it to getting the treat.

Chestnut pony touching the end of a target — Give your horse a big reward when they finally make contact with the target

Step 3: Strengthen The Touch Response

Once your horse knows to make contact with the target, you can phase out all other approximations and start strengthening the response to touch it.

Now, you will only reward your horse for making contact with the target

Reward your horse for about 5 to 10 touches, and then end for the day.

Over a couple of sessions, continue to reinforce the touch response until your horse is confidently seeking out the target every time.

Step 4: Generalize Touching the Target

Up until now, you have probably been standing in the same position and offering the target in the same location. Now, you want to start generalizing so your horse knows to seek out and touch the target regardless of where it pops up.

Chestnut pony reaching for target held over his head — Hold the target at different angles to encourage your horse to search for it

Generalize touching the target by first standing in different positions. Offer the target from in front of your horse, off to the side, next to them, etc.

Then, start switching up where you position the target. Hold it low, high, and off to the side so your horse has to move their head to touch it.

Slowly increase the difficulty until your horse is confidently touching the target regardless of where it is held. If they get confused, go back to holding it in an easier position.

Now that your horse knows the handheld target, you can start using it to shape more complex behaviors.