Does Clicker Training make your horse a treat monger?

Jody111: thanks for posting such a good description of how it works :)
I have been meaning to do something similar but work is overwhelming at the moment.

I think clicker training is doing wonders for my guy, he loaded on the trailer recently without a second thought...he is much more polite about mugging, etc. :)

Not usually, as you try to wean the horse out of treats only giving one every once in a while. Also the clicker separates the treat from the action, so the horse goes, "okay a click means I did the right thing and I get a reward" whether that reward be a treat, a scratch on the withers or the neck.

Today I was talking about this method as one without any pressure. I was never interested in it so I don't know how much can be reach only with it. I cannot imagine that horse would be train only with it from the beginning. I'm going to try this but as a game or something like this. What do you think about training only with this method?
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When used correctly, I think it can be very good. I use treats (not a clicker though, I usually just cluck) to train my horses to do tricks. It's a fun way to spend time with them and increase their trust in you without necessarily riding or working them.

However, I have seen MANY people use it incorrectly and they just create monsters. The horse needs to learn to be polite about taking the treats, and certainly needs to learn that they will NOT get treats by mugging you. Also, there are some horses that I just won't hand-feed treats. Last winter I worked with a little morgan with some serious respect issues. His owners gave him lots of treats...I did not. After months of working with him, I thought one day that he would be fine if I gave him a little treat...he reverted back to his old, pushy self. After that I would just put them in his bucket if I wanted to give him some. He actually seemed much happier with me too. It was like he knew where his place in the herd was (I was firm but not violent with him) and then he didn't need to constantly be fighting for the lead position. He actually went from almost impossible to catch in his stall, to coming over to the door and putting his face in the halter for me :)

How do you treat them that far away? Do you bring them towards you and treat them?

I mainly use free lunging when I'm clicker training. My mare comes in towards me once she's heard the click, then moves back out. It can be a bit disruptive in the beginning but soon she has to do quite a bit of lunging before she hears the click. I know it can be done on a line too, so I imagine one just brings them in.
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Treats are usually the easiest way to start with clickers, but it's not the only successful way to reward. It's all about them realizing they did something right and providing you a means of letting them know it immediately. You can do a click quicker than you can produce food or any other reward.

I have a horse that most people would have given up on. Compliant - he tried to be. Trust-very fearful. He was a master at zoning out and scaring himself. I tried clicker training that his treat came when he lowered his head so we were eye to eye and his ears had to be forward. This began getting him to relax, even a little. After doing this 3 or 4 x daily for several weeks, he was no longer quite as reactionary and I was no longer seeing the whites of his eyes. I then moved on to Carolyn Resnicks Waterhole Rituals and that helped build a lot of trust by giving him a say in the matter. He always comes to greet me. I could do the Parelli whip ground slapping all around him, didn't fizz, but the sight of the dreaded plastic bag sent him fleeing. He'd return but only to where he felt safe. We worked on this for weeks. Back to clicker work. He then learned to control his fear. I started with a large piece of flannel, and rubbed him all over, then tied it to the whip and within a few minutes I could wave it all over. Then the dreaded plastic bag - he was gone as soon as he saw it. He'd return but only to where he felt safe, about 10' away. Holding it behind me on the ground he approached and was treated. I invited him to check it out and soon he wanted to nose it and get a treat. Within 20 min. The bag was flapping above, all over and under him. The next day I couldn't get any reaction out of him despite carrying on like a lunatic. He politely asked for his treat and got it. As I wean him away from the treats it accomplishes two fold. I put them outside the fence and altho I have clicked for desirable behaviour he also learns to stand and wait while I fetch his treat. I will work him farther and farther away. He is at liberty so it's his option to leave or stand and wait. I don't use clicker for everything but it has certainly helped us over some sticky issues.

The most famous are shawna karrasch Shawna Karrasch and On Target Training | Positive Reinforcement Clicker Training | Horse Training and Alexandra Kurland, The Clicker Center. Both have written books and have great dvd's! Also is Leslie Pavlich. She specializes in young horse starting. A GREAT training method that enables horses to communicate and want to work with you!

Has been scientifically proven to teach horses faster than negative reinforcement (aka pressure/release method)