Educating a horse requires experience, time, specific skills and a strong bond with the animal based on trust. Lying down is an action that horses instinctively perform when they feel safe and comfortable, so it's not easy to teach them to do it on command. American Indians have used this technique for hundreds of years and some horse trainers still use it today.
Steps
Step 1. Spend some time trying to understand what your horse's characteristics are and how it moves and responds to commands before engaging in any type of teaching
Step 2. Observe your horse and note its anatomy, muscles and bone and how it interacts with its own kind
Before this time, a good trainer cannot ask his horse to do something right.
Method 1 of 1: Natural Method
Step 1. Observe your horse before, during and after activities
When he lies down in the enclosure by himself, you will notice peculiar behavior. Horses rarely lie down when alone and usually do so when there is another horse nearby, following the fight or flight instinct. When they feel safe, they relax and lie down, even though a horse is always on the alert in case of danger. This is another situation that occurs inside the enclosure. Some specimens feel safe enough to lie down when there are no other horses nearby, even if this is due to their captive and herd status.
Step 2. Take note of exercises that cause a reaction in your horse such as lying down or rolling over
When you ask a horse to lie down it is like asking it to prepare to roll without completing the movement. No horse rolls spontaneously unless it is already in a sitting position. Some horses are prone to rolling in mud and water, others in dust or sand. To start teaching him this exercise, you need to understand what causes a reaction in your horse.
Step 3. Hold the horse with a lead and lead it out into the earth, sand or mud and watch its reaction
It is understood that a horse is about to lie down because it usually hits the ground with one leg and the front knees bend. As he lies down, approach slowly and utter reassuring words in a calm tone. If the horse gets up, go back and reassure him.
Step 4. Let him sit while you are near his shoulder
This is a quick movement, so always pay attention to the tail and legs. Once the horse has sat down, reward him and compliment him.
Step 5. Approach your horse's shoulder or muzzle and gently stroke the head and neck
Reassure him that he does not need to stand up or roll over completely. At this point, some horses may be happy to indulge you, others may not.
Step 6. Kneel carefully in front of his muzzle, keep an eye on his paws and make sure you have an escape route to the rear or side of the direction of his kick
Step 7. Gently place your hands on the animal's neck and push it down with a steady but firm movement (without forcing it as you risk making it nervous)
At this point you may be able to get the horse's head to rest on your lap.
Step 8. Tap his neck and pat him, then compliment him
Try using keywords like "down", "lie down" or even "sleep". Make sure the voice command is short and different from any other commands you generally use. Alt And Go they sound very similar, keep that in mind.
Step 9. Let the horse lie down for a few minutes and gradually leave the scene
Move to a nearby corner that is within reach, keeping repeating the keyword. Now move in the direction of his gaze depending on his reaction to your standing position. Make a note of this position to remind yourself of in the future.
Step 10. Ask the horse to stand up using another keyword such as “up” or something similar to make him pull up and sit down and then stand up
As you say this NEW word, use a positive and energetic tone, as you would when asking a lazy horse to go to a small gallop on the circular track.
Step 11. As he stands up, keep repeating this word and, once standing, reward him and compliment him once more
Use treats in the form of food or give them a firm hand on the neck or scratch their belly. Anything your horse likes can be useful for this.
Step 12. Repeat the procedure until he reacts more quickly each time
In the end, all you have to do is repeat a few key words to get the horse to react just like when you make it move in a circle to walk, trot, small gallop or stop. Some people suggest using physical signals such as with seals and dolphins. Try not to raise your hand or move it quickly as this quick movement could make the horse jump and make him nervous and grumpy. Instead, try to use a top-down gesture, for example the palm of your hand facing up, about hip height, followed by a quick movement towards your side. You can then use this command in the other direction, starting from the hip and moving the arm with the palm of the hand facing up to hip height. Down and up.
Step 13. Always end on a positive note
If the horse doesn't lie down and just sit down, that's okay. Compliment him and then ask him to stand up. You should try to teach the horse some basic commands, such as "down" and "up", as you will need both of them to teach him to lie down.
Advice
- Creating a bond with your horse will help him not freak out or run away because he will have faith in you and in your ability to protect him.
- You may not be able to get him to lie down on the first try, so don't be discouraged. Only keep trying if you are making progress and your horse is not starting to resist or get nervous.
- When a horse misbehaves while you are riding it, don't get off! Instead, try asking him to do something else or walk in circles or stop at a "halt". If you get off, you will teach the horse that just behaving this way can get you off if he doesn't want you anymore.
- Horses work hard, so don't give up.
- Don't be tense as you train him as it will make him feel uncomfortable too.
- If you are not successful within an hour, stop and try a series of familiar commands with your horse, then take some time to play to maintain good relationships.
- If you don't know how to train a horse, have an experienced trainer do it for you. You certainly don't want to get hurt.
- Training is easier with young animals.
- When the horse misbehaves while you are riding it, don't get nervous with it. Rather, go down and carry him around for a while just to let him know he can trust you.
Warnings
- Never wrap the rope around your hand.
- Make sure that neither you nor your horse can get stuck in the rope.
- Use this method only if you are experienced in horse training. This is a dangerous method for the inexperienced trainer: it risks hurting the horse (the horse's legs are notoriously the least strong part of the body) and thus destroying a relationship based on trust.
- Do not rear your horse to warm up before training. Horses only rear when they are afraid or annoyed and this does not contribute to the success of the training.
- Horses weigh up to 550 kilos and are always ready to escape. It is not their nature to lie down at any given time, so pay attention to both external conditions and your horse's temperament and reactions. It is not recommended to try to do this in a noisy and full of distractions.
