Yay for Velvet! Okay so fess up Kerri how'd ya train it?
LOL
I Taught her bow first. I have to admit my training at that point wasn't all positive. It was through teaching her tricks that I came across clicker training. 15 years ago it was hard to find a clicker, so I used a squeaky toy.
I would ask for bow and cue her to stay there, her hind end got tired and down she went. I think once I tied up a leg, to make it easier for her to figure out what I wanted (not tightly or anything, just to keep it folded so it was easier for her to go down)
Then for the longest time she would lie down but on her sternum. This spring when I got the call looking for a horse that could 'die' on command I said yes, then started training
.
Due to the use of aversives in horse training she doesn't shape well. So what I did when she was down was gently push on her neck. If she stayed relaxed..c/t. In increments she would go over a bit more, then a bit more till she was out flat. Then I faded the push, that didn't take long. LOL she figured out pretty quick what it took to get the click!