How to Train a Horse to Lie Down to For Mounting

If you have a good relationship with your horse, you can put your horsemanship skills to the ultimate test by teaching your horse to lay down. Prey animals will not lay down alongside another animal they do not trust, so laying your horse down is a great way to prove the trust and respect your horse has for you. It is also a handy trick for mounting a tall horse when you do not have a stool or fence to climb unto.

Attach the bridle and have the reins over the horse's neck. Stand near the horse's left shoulder and make sure you can back him up and bend his head around to the right by pulling on both reins or just the right rein, respectively.

Tie the rope to the horse's left front leg, around the pastern. Take the tail of the rope under the horse's belly and up over his back so that the tail comes over the back and to you as you stand at his right shoulder.

Lift the horse's left front foot and pull the rope tight so it brings the horse's leg to his belly. Release. Repeat a few times until your horse seems OK with the process.

Pull on the reins--with the leg up--and invite the horse to rock backwards. It is helpful to bend the horse's neck slightly to the right. At first the horse might find this very threatening. Only ask him to rock back a little, release the reins first, then release the foot. Eventually, rock the horse back a few times without releasing the foot in between. Take your time and keep your horse confident. It may take a few days or weeks to rock the horse back far enough that his knee touches the ground. Congratulations. You just taught your horse to bow! That definitely deserves a treat. If you can, try giving the horse a treat while he is bowing to keep him in the bow for longer periods of time. Many riders can lean across the horse from this position to mount, so if you get stuck after this step, you may still be able to mount your tall horse.

Put your left stirrup over the saddle horn so your horse is not uncomfortable when he does lay down. Get your horse into the bow position and use the rein to pull his nose around to the right. (Pull the rein towards his hips, not towards his withers.) This may be enough to get your horse to fall onto his left side. If not, you can also pull on the saddle horn to encourage the horse to fall gently sideways. Don't be surprised if your horse resists and ends up falling to his right side instead. Either way, give him a treat and do not let him up until he is calm. It is sometimes helpful to repeat the lay-down a few times in a row so the horse learns it is nothing to be afraid of--you can put him down, but you will give him a treat and let him back up. Only when your lay-down is very controlled should you mount and ride the horse up. 

Thing you might need

1. Bridle

2. Long soft rope

3. Western Saddle