Are you interested in animal training?

Mary Hunter and her horse Apollo


On this site I share stories of my animal training adventures, information about the science of animal training and behavior, and tips and advice to help you improve your training.

Join me as we explore the best training strategies for creating fast learning, effective communication, and enthusiastic, willing animals.

If you’re new to Stale Cheerios, I recommend that you start by visiting this page to learn more about Stale Cheerios and that you visit my Top Posts page.

~Mary Hunter



Recent posts from the StaleCheerios blog


Screen Shot 2026-04-09 at 8.24.06 PM

Chewie’s Diary Week 63: Pool noodles!

One of my favorite horse agility obstacles is the noodle walk. It’s a fun obstacle, but also a practical obstacle. This obstacle can help a horse learn to be calm and confident if something unexpectedly touches their side or bushes up against them. In these types of situations, may horses are quick to spook, panic, […]

Continue Reading | 0
BARTA - injection

Chewie’s Diary Week 61: BARTA agility challenges

For March and April, the Horse Agility Club has offered a special fundraiser course in collaboration with BARTA. Read more about it here. BARTA is the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association. They are a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the welfare of animals in emergency situations. BARTA provides specialized training for firefighters, vets, […]

Continue Reading | 0