Q learning to lay down

Second day of Jack Leiser Clinic Dec 2007. Q is starting to learn to lay down. Once he's down, he loves it!!! He'll stay there all day for me to pet on him. One of the best days of my "horsey" life.

He wasn't stressed at all. He was rubbing his face in dirt and completely relaxed through the training session. We worked long beforehand making sure he would relax and be comfortable with the ropes and taught him to give to pressure. You can see the slack in the rope at most times, so there was no forcing-only guiding. He did have to figure things out, so it did take him a little while. But, we gave him the time he needed and did not force the lay down at any time. The ropes were used to guide and for me to see how his own procedure is, and so I could keep my distance the first time. After this initial training, I was able to pick his foot up and have him follow the 'feel' of putting his leg down and keeping it there until he understood it was for him to lie down. He is an extremely extroverted horse and would let me know in a second if he didn't want to do something. He's 17 hands tall and frankly I can't Force him to do anything he doesn't want to do. A kind, gentle approach is what we used and it worked!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Laying
• Down
• Horse

[hlowthorp]

oh my...then just go slower. Don't ask him to lay down, just get him to the point where he is comfortable with you asking for him to give to pressure a little. Once he is comfortable with that, you can proceed.

[gurr15]

how do you go from getting a horse to lay down when you are on the ground to guide him, to getting him to lay down when you are on him? that is where i am at right now

[hlowthorp]

I have started a cue with a dressage whip to get him to lay down by tapping on his shoulder. I haven't gotten there yet, but am hoping when I am in the saddle, he will follow the cue just the same. It worked for the Spanish Walk. :)

[KingOGITH]

now is There a way to do that if you have no Rope?

[hlowthorp]

yes, you need to teach your horse to give to pressure. So pick up the foot and the moment they relax and come back to you with their foot, reward them and put the foot down. The further you go back with the foot, the more they come down until the knee is on the ground. Don't go too far too soon, or they can loose their balance and accidentally topple on you.

[KingOGITH]

how can Picking up a Horses Foot' Make them lay Down?

[hlowthorp]

when I pick his foot up to lay down, I'm facing forward. When I pick his foot up to clean, I'm facing backward. He knows the difference.

[horsesls]

I used to ride with miss mary out there! I loved laying down izzy to get on her!

[SpookRunner]

Im trying to teach my horse to lay down, but everytime I try he just rears.

[HorseRidingQueen]

I have a question... All you did was have to rope on his foot and stand there and he knows to go down??? I have to hold my mares head aorund and her foot.

[15moonlight]

how do you get them to lay down my mare can bow

[Daniellaofsweden]

I don't like this method. The horse is perfectly capable to lay down on it's own, you just have to find the button.

BUT you are gentle, and it's nice to see :) Good work anyways

[Shumpizenblogg]

That's horrible, don't use a rope!

[MsEmolover96]

what a beautiful horse he is!!

[babyhorsey6]

awesome!