Teaching horses to bow and you tube?

Question

I've been watching for the first time owners teaching horses to bow and it really bothers me on how some r doing this.  Have you seen these owners, they tie leads to the leg?  That bugs me something terrible, I don't think they have a clue to how to train horse.  It's not worth the risk of the horse getting injured, I taught my girl how bow this weekend in 2 day with 3 different lessons of 5 mins each how to without using  halter, lead, whip, just my gentle hand, a treat and her trust!  What do you think of these owners and there training habits?

Mandy · Accepted Answer

Bowing is one of the easiest things you can teach a horse. I don't see why anyone would go to that trouble to do something so simple.

I guess a lot of people who train their horses to bow teach them like this:
http://www.sirotekfamily.com/SirotekFarms/images/LargeImages/Dusty_Bows.jpg

And they want them to bow like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloudsmystique/3240544235/


And I guess they think the only way to do it like that is to tie their leg up. But that's my mare in the second photo, and I never tied her leg up. All you have to do is teach them the normal way, wait until they know it really well, and then pick their leg up before you tell them to bow. Do it over and over, and eventually they'll do it themself. Simple.

PaintedFreeway · Answer

I have seen horses severely injured from having a leg tied up, a couple to the point of having to be put down. These weren't having their leg tied up because of trick training, but because the owners thought it was the only way to "break" them. This method isn't used as much anymore, but if a horse were to spook, or try and pull out of its leg being tied up it could get hurt beyond repair!!! Bowing is a simple trick that I've taught to many horses. I've taken horses ranging from just a few months to 25 and none of them posed any problem with the bowing!!! It just annoys the heck out of me when people tie legs up!!!! Not only is it dangerous, but how would you like me to tie your leg up so you can't move it eh??? Yah, I'm totally with you on this one!

Anonymous · Answer

There was an article in a magazine last year (I think aqha) that demonstrated it. Typing the horse's leg up to the horn of the saddle.

If they saw it in the magazine then you can't really blame them... it was in a magazine, right?

I wouldn't do it though. Too many things can go wrong and imo there are better ways of teaching it.

Emily R · Answer

i know exactly what you mean. its so simple to teach a horse to bow. you out a treat between her to from legs and when she bends down to get it, keep pulling it back until she is in the bwoing postion, then say bow, let her get up, praise her and give her the treat, and cintinue this until she knows "bow" mean bend down, and if she does that she gets a treat:) simple realy

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Teaching horses to bow and you tube?

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