[SarahandDallas]

What are some cute and somewhat easy tricks you can teach a horse? This Saturday I'll have nearly all day to be with my horse,and I plan on teaching him some tricks. So far I have bowing,Spanish walk,yes,no,and possibly laying. What else? Nothing like rearing or anything that could be dangerous for someone who doesn't know he can do whatever if you,for example,squeeze with your legs and lift up on the reins and he rears. My mom leads kids on him every Monday night and I don't want any 6 year old girls to go home crying because "the horsey scared me!". And yes,my mom will know the cues to all the tricks. And if someone who is too small to get on their self,but too heavy for my mom to lift into the saddle,she can have him bow so it's easier maybe? Or would him getting up scare someone? Hmmmmmm...
Anyways,thanks guys!

 

[alexischristina]

I dislike bowing / lying down, some horses get it in their mind that they can do it without or WITH a rider on their back and it becomes a very quick bad (and dangerous) habit. Not to mention the strain of getting up with added weight on their backs can be hard on their legs (and many kiddies wont be able to hold onto that kind of motion...). Your best bet is to teach the horse to side step to a mounting block, fence, etc.

 

[tinyliny]

if the horse is well trained, he won't just spontenaeously bow down. for him to get up with a small kid on his back, after bowing down, could not be all that much extra strain. But, you might have better luck assisting in mounting by trainging the hrose to park out. this lowers his back, while keeping him pretty stable.

 

[Foxtail Ranch]

I taught my gelding to play fetch
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[SarahandDallas]

if the horse is well trained, he won't just spontenaeously bow down. for him to get up with a small kid on his back, after bowing down, could not be all that much extra strain. But, you might have better luck assisting in mounting by trainging the hrose to park out. this lowers his back, while keeping him pretty stable.

About teaching him to park out,I'm not sure how he would react to that,and he has a bit of a problem with exposing himself,so that would draw more attention to that. Plus he's quite stocky,not gaited either. But I might get a little TN Walker filly next year to train,maybe I can teach her

 

[tinyliny]

he is quite spooky but ok with little kids on his back?
I think maybe working on desensitizing him a bit might be better use of your time than teaching him tricks.

 

[verona1016]

My horse came to be knowing how to bow, including with a rider on his back. I've never asked him to bow under saddle and he's never done it unexpectedly.

He also came knowing a cat stretch and how to give kisses. I'm not sure giving kisses is the best trick to train, as it teaches the horse to stick his face in your face. While I've never had a problem with my horse doing it too forcefully, he does do it without asking sometimes, and I could see it being scary to a little kid! I really like the cat stretch, though:

 

[tinyliny]

cute! what a nice horse.

 

[Ninamebo]

This is so cute! you can tell he is very well trained!

As for the question, my horse loves to play tag with me and kick a big exercise ball around. You could train your horse to kick one back to you on command?

 

[SarahandDallas]

he is quite spooky but ok with little kids on his back?
I think maybe working on desensitizing him a bit might be better use of your time than teaching him tricks.

Nooooo,he's not spooky at all,I just don't want to teach him rearing so no one gets scared or hurt

 

[SarahandDallas]

My horse came to be knowing how to bow, including with a rider on his back. I've never asked him to bow under saddle and he's never done it unexpectedly.

He also came knowing a cat stretch and how to give kisses. I'm not sure giving kisses is the best trick to train, as it teaches the horse to stick his face in your face. While I've never had a problem with my horse doing it too forcefully, he does do it without asking sometimes, and I could see it being scary to a little kid! I really like the cat stretch, though:

Garzo Performing His "Cat Stretch" - YouTube

Awww! Can you make a video on how to train a cat stretch?

 

[verona1016]

Awww! Can you make a video on how to train a cat stretch?

I wish I could but he came to me knowing it already (although he wouldn't do it on command for me until I started using a clicker) I've never seen another horse do this particular stretch so I'm not sure how you'd teach it to them from scratch!

 

[SarahandDallas]

I wish I could but he came to me knowing it already (although he wouldn't do it on command for me until I started using a clicker) I've never seen another horse do this particular stretch so I'm not sure how you'd teach it to them from scratch!

Aw well,I guess bowing and doing a Spanish walk is good enough I'm about to head over right now. Wish me luck!