Okay so I have a few questions. First off I am wanting to teach my horse to lie down... any instructions or tips? And second, I am looking into some Polo Wraps for my horse as I am starting him in jumping so is their anything specific I should be looking for? like what brand or something...? Thanks tons!
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First Question:Imo I think that you should not teach your horse to lie down Could become a dangerous habit! Like lieing down With you in the saddle & rolling or something.
Second:Use Sports boots they are better than polos
kleonaptra
Not sure about wraps because I use nylon tendon boots.
To teach a horse to lay down you need enormous patience. It goes against all their instincts to do so. Is your horse comfortable with you to the point where you can walk up to him while he's lying down? If he jumps up when you walk up to him it will be harder.
Its a slow process and you have to work a step at a time. Im teaching my stallion, he's 5 years old, we have been working on it since he was about 6 months. He can bow, but we arent up to laying down, so theres an indication of how long it takes! I ground tie (have lead rope and halter on but not tied to anything) and ask him to put his knee on the ground, rewarding him everytime he does the right thing. Even though we think its just fun, to a horse its giving up all their instincts so its very hard. Start by playing and sacking out, get him to stand ground tied while you blindfold him and duck under his belly and such then slowly work up to asking him to put one knee on the ground, then the other one. From there, roll onto their side.
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1) well I have taught two of my horses to lay down one was a shetland an all I did was pick up one of his hooves and like pulled it gently back towards his hind quarters(not jerking or anythinglike that) and I had a treat an I stuck it inbetween his front legs and told him down/lay an then I kinda would wiggle his hoof a little bit and he would lay down so my little cousin who is special needs to get on it was so wonderful. My QH I taught how kinda the same way but instead I didn't pick up his hoof I just stuck a treat inbetween his legs and asked him to lay and he does but now I don't need a treat any more. He does great. Either one of the horses have not tried laying down unless asked to when being rode.
2) any brand of polo wraps work I find.
Fennec Fox
Inexperienced people should not try to teach a horse to lay down.
Any polos will be fine, but splint boots will provide more support.
Anonymous
1. Lying down is not a good trick to teach. It can be dangerous for your horse and for you, if you are too close. Horses do not like to lie down. They feel most vulnerable when they are down and are more apt to spook. If you are standing to close when he spooks, it only takes one swipe of his legs to break yours. Also, horses are naturally selective of wear they lay down. They avoid places where they could get cast. If he is looking to you for direction, he will lie when you tell him to, and might not follow his instincts and get cast and hurt.
2. Don't use polos. THey provide little support and essentially no protection. Sport medicine boots are much better. They provide more protection and support, and are easier to put on.