[Friesiangirl]

So, I would like to hear opinions of teaching these two tricks.

I have already taught stormy to rear in hand as well as under saddle, but they are saved for rare occasions, and he is just that kind of horse that doesn't take advantage of you. I've left him in the middle of a busy arena to go grad something which took 15-20min after I told him to stand, and when I came back he was still there)

He also lays down, still working out the fine points. But he does.

He bows, strikes, counts, hugs, smiles, yes's and no's and he of course parks.

But do you agree with trick training? Where do you draw the line?

Just curious

[Jess!]

I will teach bowing, and that's pretty much it. I had a mare who would lie down under saddle when she got frustrated - I would never teach her to lie down.

Rearing? Never. I've had a horse rear and flip over on top of me, I wouldn't be here today if it hadn't happened at the race track and we were in about 7 inches of soft footing.

Any of the tricks learned can turn into bad habits. Kissing - had a horse taught that and she bit my cheek. I just don't take the chances anymore.

[ashmorgan]

how do you teach the bow

[Friesiangirl]

Yeah, i understand.

I think it's like, certain (and very few) horses can learn those tricks, and never dream of using them against you. Stormy is pretty close to me, and even if he gets flustered and wants to give up, he'll give in to me. I think that is what made him so trainable.

Hopefully these tricks won't come back to nip me in the butt. I rarely show the rearing one. The laying one is mostly because I saw it in LOTR and just had to teach it.

[Jess!]

1. Walk out into an arena or an open space with your horse in a halter and lead rope.
2. Give your horse a short warm-up session.
3. Once you're done, walk into the center of the area you are working in.
4. Loosen your horse's neck muscles by stretching its neck to the left, right and down.
5. Before you start, gather several small-sized rewards like broken-up carrots or treats.
6. Stand on one side of the horse and put the leadrope between the front legs.
7. Put slight pressure on the leadrope with one hand to get the horse to follow your other hand with the treat in it down towards the ground.
8. Once your horse lowers it's head a little ways, reward him/her and release the pressure.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 and get your horse's head a little lower than before.
10. Continue steps 7-9 until you get your horse's head down so far that it has to bend a knee to retrieve the reward that's between its front legs. Once you have reached this point, reward him/her lavishly.
11. Give your horse a short break, then continue with steps 7-10 to get to where you left off before, or lower.
12. Practice, practice, practice.

[Friesiangirl]

Originally Posted by ashmorgan

how do you teach the bow

Well, there are a few ways. Stormy gives to pressure of the whip.

But most horses will bow just with a verbal cue such as "bow" and a treat between the legs.

[Xiphias]

I want to teach my mini to do tricks, but will not teach him to rear, his origional owner's taught him that trick when he was a weanling, and that's how he ended up at a rescue, he got too big, and it became dangerous...he has only reared on me one time, and he got shanked back and around and yelled at....I don't think he will try that again....Rearing is a very dangerous thing, be it a little horse or a full sized one..Cathy

[Friesiangirl]

Originally Posted by xiphias21034

I want to teach my mini to do tricks, but will not teach him to rear, his origional owner's taught him that trick when he was a weanling, and that's how he ended up at a rescue, he got too big, and it became dangerous...he has only reared on me one time, and he got shanked back and around and yelled at....I don't think he will try that again....Rearing is a very dangerous thing, be it a little horse or a full sized one..Cathy

I def. Agree. Rearing can be the end of a horse, or rider, or both...

[Dawn]

I would not personally teach a horse to rear, strike, or 'beg'. Nor would I purchase a horse that had been taught any of those tricks unless it was extreme circumstances.

[Friesiangirl]

Originally Posted by Dawn

I would not personally teach a horse to rear, strike, or 'beg'. Nor would I purchase a horse that had been taught any of those tricks unless it was extreme circumstances.

What do you consider begging?

LOL.

Stormy parks when I'm eating goodies, waiting for his share. But if his little "lips of doom" come near my food, out comes my alter ego. Crazy chicken lady.