Enough food for the whole session.
Working at liberty over poles, with food in reach of either hand.
Reward-based training gets through a lot of food, particularly when you use your horse’s own forage pellets or chaff rather than small treats. A pocket-sized treat pouch runs out halfway through, and every refill breaks the flow of the session. This apron carries enough to keep going.
Plenty for non-contingent feeding too. Some sessions call for food given freely, whatever the horse is doing, to keep them relaxed. Having enough to hand keeps those sessions calm.
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Forage as the reward
Room for pellets and chaff, not just a handful of treats. Three large food pockets take the bulk.
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More than one reward value
Keep the good stuff separate. Two smaller pockets hold higher-value rewards, a clicker or a target.
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Training on the move
It stays where you put it. An elasticated waist, wide poppers and a clip belt hold it steady when you jog alongside.
Five pockets, each with a job
Three large pockets carry the main reward food. Two smaller ones keep anything you want separate within easy reach.
Front
Back
Side food pockets
A large, open-topped pocket on each hip for your everyday reward food.
Rear food pocket
A large pocket across the back with an opening on each side, so you can reach in with whichever hand is free.
Upper pockets
Two smaller square pockets on the front, for a higher-value reward, a clicker or a handheld target.
Stays put when you move
A full apron is heavy. Three fastenings work together to keep the apron secure.
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Elasticated waistband
Gathers to fit a wide range of waist sizes and moves with you, rather than digging in.
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Wide front poppers
Two poppers close the front panel, so the apron holds its shape even when the pockets are full.
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Adjustable clip belt
A webbing belt with a front-release clip carries the weight of the food and keeps the apron steady at a jog.
One size. Take the belt in for a smaller waist, or let it out to wear the apron over a winter coat.
Moving with the horse over poles, food still within reach.
Compare it to a treat pouch
Four things change once you train with more than a handful of treats.
Everything, in detail.
Made for
Whether you are teaching a first touch to a target or working on more advanced exercises on the ground, the food stays within reach of either hand.
The reward is part of the diet.
Food used in training is still food. Over a long session it can add up to a real share of the day’s intake, so what you reward with matters as much as how you deliver it.
A good reward food is
- Low value and often low in sugar and starchFor insulin-resistant or laminitis-prone horses, the ECIR Group guideline is under 10% sugar and starch combined (ESC + starch).
- Chaff or chop, hay pellets or grass pellets
- Food rewards can be counted in the daily feed total
Not sure what to reward with?
Tell us what your horse eats now and we will suggest reward foods that fit the diet.
Get in touchThe things people ask us
Still have a question? Send us a message and you will get a written answer from someone who trains horses using positive reinforcement and food rewards. Get in touch.
Will it fit me?
It is one size. The elasticated waistband gathers to fit, and the adjustable clip belt takes it in or lets it out from there.
How much food will it hold?
Enough forage pellets or chaff for a full training session, which is the point of it. The three large pockets carry the bulk, so you are not stopping to refill.
Can I reach the back pocket with either hand?
Yes. The rear pocket has an opening on each side, so you can reach in with your left or right hand without turning or reaching across yourself.
What are the smaller pockets for?
Anything you want kept apart from the everyday food: a higher-value reward for a breakthrough moment, a clicker, or a handheld target.
Can I run in it?
Yes. The poppers and clip belt hold it in place when you jog alongside your horse. The pockets are open-topped for quick access, so very fast work may shake a little loose chaff out.
What kind of food can I use?
It works with any food reward, such as low-value hay or grass pellets, chaff, treats or carrots. If your horse is insulin resistant or laminitis-prone, check the sugar and starch content of whatever you use, as many commercial treats are high in both.
