Trick training: steps for laying down (with pics)

maplelawnstables · 08-24-2008, 04:25 PM

Since I have learned and been encouraged so much by you all, I thought I would share a little of what I know. So here are the steps (and pics) to lay down your horse.

First off, what you need:
A horse

a halter (I use a nylon halter at first with the lead rope attached to the side ring to help exaggerate the cue. Once they get the first few steps, you can use a rope halter with the lead on the bottom if you want)
a lead rope (I like using a nice soft on in case they decide they don't want to. You may want to have a second handy to wrap around their pastern if they want to pull their foot away)
fairly level, rock free ground (you want it to be appealing to lay down on, but lush grass might be a little to distracting. A round pen or arena work well, or a dusty spot they like to roll in)
LOTS of patience

Now to the steps:

Step 1:
Teach them to bend (try to get them so good at it that they keep their neck bent even after you release the pressure)

Step 2:
Once they bend well, stand on (example) the right side, bend head to the left, pick up right foot(can loop a lead rope around the foot to hold on a little better if they get impatient and try to take it back). Stop there, don't ask for anything other than standing quietly with foot up and neck bent.

Step 3:
Once they stand quietly, increase pressure on lead just a tad while stretching the foot back just a little. You're waiting for them to shift their weight to the back end, if they need a little extra encouragement, put your knee on their elbow and push against it a little.

Step 4:
Once they, shift back quietly keep asking a little longer until they touch their knee to the ground, then release and rub the fur off of them. Congrats, your horse now kneels.

Step 5:
Get your horse comfortable kneeling, ask them to stay there just a little longer each time by keeping their nose bent to the side a little more if they try to get up. When they get this, you should be able to let go of their foot once their knee touches the ground.

Step 6:
Once they will quietly kneel, bend their nose a little more and hold it there, their weight should shift and they will probably flop down (it won't be graceful for a while) You will probalby get the most resistance at this point and may have to hold it for a while.

Once they start getting this, you can change the angle of the pressure. Pull it back a little more instead of bending and you will start getting them to lay down like this instead of flopping

Step 7:
Once they are down, (if they try to pop back up)you can keep them down by pulling the lead rope back towards and across their hip. You can also use this to get them to lay flat again once they're on their side. My cue to get up is a tap with my toe on their hip (the one they're laying on) and "up". After your horse finally goes down, it will probably take quite a bit of "tapping", yelling, jumping, and "encouraging" to get her back up for the first few times.

Have fun!

Feel free to post any progress pictures of yourself too!

Appylover · 08-24-2008, 04:39 PM

Wow thats neat! I'll have to try that out someday!

BarnBum · 08-24-2008, 04:54 PM

Pretty cool.

rm185western · 08-24-2008, 05:28 PM

I 'm so going to have to try that one, but there's the little matter of not being great holding their feet up anyway to solve first

JosieGirl · 08-24-2008, 06:20 PM

Great pics and what a cool way to show others how to do this trick...

I will give it a try!

NewtoMules · 08-24-2008, 06:31 PM

This is a very good post. I like how you broke each step down and added pics. Thank you!

Val · 08-24-2008, 06:42 PM

Awesome!!!!!! I am so going to try that

Very Cool.....Thanks so much for the lesson. The pics really help!

Luvridn · 08-24-2008, 07:05 PM

I am thinking you will be giving the clinicians a run for their money before long! Great pics and explanation. Thanks alot I might try that tomorrow...we have step one downpat!

maplelawnstables · 08-24-2008, 09:10 PM

I hope you all have fun with your horses, just remember to take your time. It took me close to 2 weeks to get Sunshine (the horse from my other training post) to lay down. I spent a few days on each step, until she was almost bored with it, before I asked for the next one. I used Mo to demonstrate in this one because Sunshine almost lays down to fast to catch pics of all the steps!

rm, I have a trick for holding that slippery foot... take a (preferably cotton) leadrope and wrap it around the pastern twice, hold the doubled over part. This way the can wiggle their foot and you can still hold it up.

I'm not really trying to put the clinicians out of business (I still have a lot to learn from them and others!), just thought I would contribute some of what I've learned since you guys have shared so much too.

Luvridn · 08-24-2008, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maplelawnstables

I'm not really trying to put the clinicians out of business (I still have a lot to learn from them and others!), just thought I would contribute some of what I've learned since you guys have shared so much too.

I just meant that as a compliment that you are doing a great job, both with your horses and with giving simple easy to follow instructions.

arabiancowgirl · 08-24-2008, 09:38 PM

Great post

I am probably at stage 5 right now, getting comfortable with kneeling...

Midwest Paint · 08-24-2008, 10:05 PM

Nice write up! That is definately a lot of fun!

Logan-24- · 08-24-2008, 10:30 PM

Good write-up. I got Glory going down on one knee easily and staying there for several seconds... she still flops down when she lays though

Sunlei · 08-25-2008, 12:51 PM

Awesome!! and great pictures

Red Gate Farm · 08-25-2008, 01:09 PM

Hmmm I wonder if they will allow this in horse show classes for oldies like me with knee joints that creak?

Thanks for the pictures and step by step instructions. Looking forward to seeing some more tricks to teach your horse!

DriftwoodAcres · 08-25-2008, 03:03 PM

Finally! That works soo much better than begging (down on your knees) for you horse to lay down

And there is no water involved! Just like magic

Valerie62 · 08-25-2008, 03:16 PM

Very cool. And a great tutorial.

I'm going to have to give that a try too ... and hope my big

QH doesn't flop right down on top of me!!

PaintsQH · 08-25-2008, 04:25 PM

Pretty cool. It also seems like it would give the horse a good muscle stretch as well. I think its funny how once they lay down like that, they look like they are playing possum and dont want to get up. Great job.

maplelawnstables · 08-25-2008, 05:54 PM

Red Gate, you would have to lay your horse down on a sheet (or for the real challenge: a horse-eating tarp

) so they wouldn't get too dusty

. I was wondering something: on competitve trail rides or trail classes you are sometimes asked to mount on the off side....think they would give you bonus points if you laid them down on the off side and then got on?

Driftwood, if it's magic, it's slow acting

Valerie, I've been flopped on... you learn not to plant your feet!

banat · 08-25-2008, 09:23 PM

What an excellent job. Good for you and your horse. What are you going to teach next?

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08-24-2008, 04:25 PM
maplelawnstables Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 207	Trick training: steps for laying down (with pics) Since I have learned and been encouraged so much by you all, I thought I would share a little of what I know. So here are the steps (and pics) to lay down your horse. First off, what you need: A horse a halter (I use a nylon halter at first with the lead rope attached to the side ring to help exaggerate the cue. Once they get the first few steps, you can use a rope halter with the lead on the bottom if you want) a lead rope (I like using a nice soft on in case they decide they don't want to. You may want to have a second handy to wrap around their pastern if they want to pull their foot away) fairly level, rock free ground (you want it to be appealing to lay down on, but lush grass might be a little to distracting. A round pen or arena work well, or a dusty spot they like to roll in) LOTS of patience Now to the steps: Step 1: Teach them to bend (try to get them so good at it that they keep their neck bent even after you release the pressure) Step 2: Once they bend well, stand on (example) the right side, bend head to the left, pick up right foot(can loop a lead rope around the foot to hold on a little better if they get impatient and try to take it back). Stop there, don't ask for anything other than standing quietly with foot up and neck bent. Step 3: Once they stand quietly, increase pressure on lead just a tad while stretching the foot back just a little. You're waiting for them to shift their weight to the back end, if they need a little extra encouragement, put your knee on their elbow and push against it a little. Step 4: Once they, shift back quietly keep asking a little longer until they touch their knee to the ground, then release and rub the fur off of them. Congrats, your horse now kneels. Step 5: Get your horse comfortable kneeling, ask them to stay there just a little longer each time by keeping their nose bent to the side a little more if they try to get up. When they get this, you should be able to let go of their foot once their knee touches the ground. Step 6: Once they will quietly kneel, bend their nose a little more and hold it there, their weight should shift and they will probably flop down (it won't be graceful for a while) You will probalby get the most resistance at this point and may have to hold it for a while. Once they start getting this, you can change the angle of the pressure. Pull it back a little more instead of bending and you will start getting them to lay down like this instead of flopping Step 7: Once they are down, (if they try to pop back up)you can keep them down by pulling the lead rope back towards and across their hip. You can also use this to get them to lay flat again once they're on their side. My cue to get up is a tap with my toe on their hip (the one they're laying on) and "up". After your horse finally goes down, it will probably take quite a bit of "tapping", yelling, jumping, and "encouraging" to get her back up for the first few times. Have fun! Feel free to post any progress pictures of yourself too!

08-24-2008, 04:39 PM
Appylover Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,203	Wow thats neat! I'll have to try that out someday! __________________ Does my horse really LOVE me or is she ONLY using me for food?!

08-24-2008, 04:54 PM
BarnBum Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 3,609	Pretty cool. __________________ Murphys Horse Law - A horse's misbehavior will be in direct proportion to the number of people who are watching !!

08-24-2008, 05:28 PM
rm185western Greenbroke Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Saskatchewan,Canada Posts: 3,658	I 'm so going to have to try that one, but there's the little matter of not being great holding their feet up anyway to solve first __________________ ________________________________ Okay, who put a stop payment on my reality check?

08-24-2008, 06:20 PM
JosieGirl Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 839	Great pics and what a cool way to show others how to do this trick... I will give it a try! __________________

08-24-2008, 06:31 PM
NewtoMules Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 436	This is a very good post. I like how you broke each step down and added pics. Thank you! __________________ "Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses." - Elizabeth Taylor http://outofshaperider.blogspot.com

08-24-2008, 06:42 PM
Val Weanling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Las Vegas Posts: 277	Awesome!!!!!! I am so going to try that Very Cool.....Thanks so much for the lesson. The pics really help!

08-24-2008, 07:05 PM
Luvridn Long Yearling Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 1,072	I am thinking you will be giving the clinicians a run for their money before long! Great pics and explanation. Thanks alot I might try that tomorrow...we have step one downpat! __________________ If your horse wants to bolt, there is probably a nut loose in the saddle! PP

08-24-2008, 09:10 PM
maplelawnstables Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 207	I hope you all have fun with your horses, just remember to take your time. It took me close to 2 weeks to get Sunshine (the horse from my other training post) to lay down. I spent a few days on each step, until she was almost bored with it, before I asked for the next one. I used Mo to demonstrate in this one because Sunshine almost lays down to fast to catch pics of all the steps! rm, I have a trick for holding that slippery foot... take a (preferably cotton) leadrope and wrap it around the pastern twice, hold the doubled over part. This way the can wiggle their foot and you can still hold it up. I'm not really trying to put the clinicians out of business (I still have a lot to learn from them and others!), just thought I would contribute some of what I've learned since you guys have shared so much too. Last edited by maplelawnstables : 08-24-2008 at 09:14 PM.

08-24-2008, 09:38 PM
arabiancowgirl Long Yearling Join Date: May 2008 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 1,163	Great post I am probably at stage 5 right now, getting comfortable with kneeling... __________________ I thank God for my horses and german shepherds.

08-24-2008, 10:05 PM
Midwest Paint Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 162	Nice write up! That is definately a lot of fun! __________________ *Dixon's Red Hot Ember*

08-24-2008, 10:30 PM
Logan-24- Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 470	Good write-up. I got Glory going down on one knee easily and staying there for several seconds... she still flops down when she lays though __________________

08-25-2008, 12:51 PM
Sunlei Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 950	Awesome!! and great pictures

08-25-2008, 01:09 PM
Red Gate Farm Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,003	Hmmm I wonder if they will allow this in horse show classes for oldies like me with knee joints that creak? Thanks for the pictures and step by step instructions. Looking forward to seeing some more tricks to teach your horse! __________________ Wendi "Humans is sneaky" - Scotty

08-25-2008, 03:03 PM
DriftwoodAcres Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 457	Finally! That works soo much better than begging (down on your knees) for you horse to lay down And there is no water involved! Just like magic __________________ P.eople E.ating T.asty A.nimals

08-25-2008, 03:16 PM
Valerie62 Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Washington, PA Posts: 256	Very cool. And a great tutorial. I'm going to have to give that a try too ... and hope my big QH doesn't flop right down on top of me!!

08-25-2008, 04:25 PM
PaintsQH Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,442	Pretty cool. It also seems like it would give the horse a good muscle stretch as well. I think its funny how once they lay down like that, they look like they are playing possum and dont want to get up. Great job. __________________ My treasures do not clink, they gleam in the sunlight and neigh in the night

08-25-2008, 05:54 PM
maplelawnstables Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 207	Red Gate, you would have to lay your horse down on a sheet (or for the real challenge: a horse-eating tarp) so they wouldn't get too dusty. I was wondering something: on competitve trail rides or trail classes you are sometimes asked to mount on the off side....think they would give you bonus points if you laid them down on the off side and then got on? Driftwood, if it's magic, it's slow acting Valerie, I've been flopped on... you learn not to plant your feet!

08-25-2008, 09:23 PM
banat Newborn Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 11	What an excellent job. Good for you and your horse. What are you going to teach next?