How to Lay a Horse Down and Why We Do It

Laying down this 3 year old filly for the first time. Why do we lay horses down? Does it hurt them? Answers are in the video. (Gets a little western about half way through).

[tabbyMartz]

I've been STRUGGLING with a gelding that has evidently had some trauma with his former owners. He is FEARFUL of everything, has complete meltdowns. I was ready to give up, and I came across this video. I took notes and studied and watched this video 5 times, and decided This is what my gelding needed. So this afternoon I did it. It got pretty western but he finally laid down. I was finally able to remain calm through the whole thing. I walked up to him and sat with him for a good 20 minutes ( he didn't flinch) I finally got up and asked him to join me. And he got up and it was like he completely did a 180. it was amazing. To top the whole thing off, when I put him back in his stall he allowed me to pet his face and neck without shying away like he always has for the last several months... Thank you for making this video and giving me hope again

[rasmusdanborg]

This man is, in my opinion, an extremely good teacher! - it was clear what he meant, when he described the process and with every action, may it have been unforeseeable, he was calm and sure of himself. Thank you sir for a great tutorial! ✌️

[oliviahoman]

Thank you, I have been waiting for a long time for a horse that hasn’t already seen this stuff and a real reaction I knkw to look for in mine

[tammygeletko]

What a great informative video. I was happy to see the bloopers that others edit out of their videos. This helps me know that it does and can happen.

[guppynuttynz]

I've just recently done this with one of my mini horses. He was scared of everything and super defence. He's had a total change in perspective, attitude is much better. And safer to work with him now. I love your description of why you would do this. 100% agree, not all horses need it. But for some it's necessary to become a safe horse, and a happy horse in the long run

[chrisw]

No physical pain to the horse, agreed 100% physical pain to the rider/trainer very possible 😂 All jokes aside, great content. I've been looking for a good video explaining this and finally found something. I'll give this technique a try on my 17 y/o TWH 16.1HH. I just subscribed to your channel good sir

[lonnyellingworth]

This is good. I've seen this with a old drainer forgot his name. 1920 . Put down a nasty stallion this way. I think he pulled the head back until he lay down. Had a filly with cancer i had to lay down every day to change bloody bandage. That filly would lay down on her own eventually when i came in. Very good thanks.

[kiwi]

What do you think of the idea for non professional experienced people who are confident enough to give this a go but instead use a one legged hobble for a couple of days first to get them used to holding the leg up but without trying to lay them down. That way during the initial fight of the trying to regain their leg and spinning there is no chance of us losing the contact keeping the leg up. Obviously can’t use to lay the horse down as won’t be able to untie it, but at least when moving to the belly rope leg up system that initial stage is removed for most part.

[daniellewelch]

Would this help a hard to catch horse? Very well trained, can be spooky at times but super easy to reirect.

[amberblyledge]

I think I'm going to try this with my gelding and mare, slightly less invasively, but still lay them down.
I don't have deep sand and I'm terrified they would break their leg.

But I think hobble training my mare would be better for her mental state than stalling. She'll tie good for a while (few hours) but can't stand stalls for more than a day. Weaver, pacer, and tendencies towards cribbing. Seen her hook her teeth on a few things and begin thinking about it. Only when she's stressed though.

[Heelers]

My mare is almost same, high head, anxiety, honestly she has nothing to worry about. She just very dominating and spooky. It’s honestly a bad combination.

[bethfiori]

What is the purpose of this? I missed what it's designed to teach the horse.

[DungNguyen-hffu]

Cảm ơn bạn đã cho tôi kiến thức về ngựa

[katiemadden]

Thank you for this. How many days in a row did you lay her down?
I have a rescue mare that is kind a vicious when asked to do things she doesn’t want to do such as try to bite, offer to kick. Yesterday we saddled her after passing all the major ground work prior to saddling. When we asked her to move her feet, she kept trying to kick our heads off but she didn’t win. After, she was skittish with a horse blanket so I worked on that for 20 minutes until she relaxed and allowed me to throw it on her without moving her feet. I returned to the round pen to get her and as soon as I stepped foot in there she offered to kick me. I grabbed my flag right there and made her work, until she turned into me and stop showing her butt it me. This girl needs to be laid down, I want to make sure we do it safely for her and myself though. I hope it will reduce her aggression and lack of respect. I can get her to respect me in that moment, it’s when we move on to fresh new contact we have to start over.

[lisabass]

...Oh dear, I have low blood pressure, but watching this is the cure, haha! She really is a lovely filly isn't she? Is her color called Palomino or?

[rlredifer]

I guess that works for you but from my experience there are much easier and better ways. Btw…..I’m 61 and have done a thing or two.

[pradigm]

It took the girl a month not 30 minutes and is less scary and dangerous, but it might not achieve the intended purpose to confront the fear and get more confident. I don't know.
She teaches horse by tapping with a whip to step under, raise the legs, and lower the head. But he really only figured it out when she gave him a wet shower before going into the roundpen, so he wanted to lie down anyway. Then he rolls over, which I guess could be stopped. Probably her method wouldn't really do anything for his fears...

[verticegirferd]

I don’t see the point of risking a horse getting tanglesd and risk them breaking their leg.

[Yearite]

I wonder what Rick Gore thinks of this method.. he uses carrots to get horse to lay down and they’re never scared.

[Yearite]

Why is she just laying there? Can’t she get up? Is she panicking?