What a great day of "training"!

[Jay.o]

Hi everyone - I have had a great day and got a few pictures of Mysy too :D (The pictures are from this morning when I went up with my brother)

Ok, so I went up the yard today with the intention of teaching the first steps of the bow, which lead on to laying down on comand. My reasons arent purely becuase I want a horse to lay down on command, but because, well, I feel silly saying it lol.

So, I got my halter and lead, then my carrot stick and extra lead. I realised I have to be able to pick Mysy's foot up for a good amount of time before I can do this though. So, I tapped Mysy's cannon bone until she picked up her foot and the stopped and gave her a treat. After a few times she picked up her foot with just a tap once! So, each time after that I tried to grab her foot to hold it up but she wasnt tied (mainly becuase shes uneasy about that) and kept walknig backwards.

I then tied her up. I have to have her tied so I can pick her feet up. I have to be able to pick her feet up so the farrier can come again and start doing to bow (and then the lying down). So we start off on the simple things first and progress. SHe tied ok with her hay net and I gave her a good brushing to completely relax her. In the end, after perserverence (sp), she picked up all four feet for roughly 4 seconds! :D Not long I know, but its a darn sight longer than nothing lol!

So I had a really good day today - we have progressed a lot! Before she wouldnt tie as well and wouldnt pick up her feet for me. So, I am going to tie her up everyday and attempt to pick up her feet for longer and then get onto the bow and lying down :D:D:D

Heres a head shot of Mysy in her field for you all (an easy-on-the-eye-thing after all that reading)

[Showjumper]

Bless her she's looking lovely :)

[Jay.o]

And look at that butt - she's looking at something - probably one of those talking tree :rolleyes:

[galadriel]

You've come a long way :) with her. It'll be interesting to hear about your progress--do please share. I still haven't found that link for teaching the horse to lay down, btw, sorry... Where DID I see that? Argh.

[Jay.o]

Thanks showjumper :)

Galadriel, I think we have come closer and have improved together too :D! I have had her almost a year now (doesnt time fly), one year on April 22nd. I did a search on google for a site about it, I found a few which was great but I got a lot about dog trianing too :rolleyes: I am hoping today that she will tie up nicely again and let me pick up all her feet again. I should have done it sooner really becuase the farrier is due now.

Will let you know how we get on!!
:D:D:D

[TBEventer2002]

Congrats on your progress!!! :D

I would like to note here that I learned something quite interesting from Tommy Turvey, the trick horse master here in the states. He gave a lovely demo at Equine Affaire about teaching your horse tricks. He also noted that, when teaching the horse to lay down and bow, you should actually teach the lay-down command BEFORE the bow.

His theory is that, if you teach your horse to bow and then lay-down, it will be difficult because once they are bowing, and you ask for lay-down, they will be like, "Huh??? Ain't I doing this right???" If you teach the lay-down before the bow, you can ask your horse to go down, stop them half-way (at the bow position) with a good whoa, and then reward.

I could see how the bow would be a good start to laying down, but I also see how he trains. Just food for thought. :D

Also, I tried to teach Rumby to bow and he didn't think it was very useful. I literally spent 10 minutes tapping his leg before he'd even pick it up and never once did he make any progress (I spent a good hour messing with him; I didn't go any longer as I was afraid I would bang his cannon bone up). ha ha! :rolleyes: He just couldn't understand why on Earth I would want him to pick his leg up and not pick his feet out. He thought it perfectly senseless, and I could see him rolling his eyes the entire time. ;)