teaching tricks

Question
I was wondering, how can you teach a horse to sit? also, what do people mean when they say their horse can "shake"? does the horse put his hoof up? well, thanks!

Answer
Hey,
Im extremely sorry about such a late response, my computer has that virus that has been going around and doesnt let me get to this website, Im lucky Im here now, anyways the question about the shake, yes , the horse will pick his foot up like a dog does, but you can also get him to shake his whole body, (which is supposed to mean "no"). And about sitting, that is probably the hardest of the tricks because it includes 2 other difficult ones, so I will give you step by step instructions~~~

1.First , tie a thick lead rope or something that wont cut into their skin but is strong on their front left foot. They should be wearing a bridle, with separated reins that are pretty long, and you should have some sort of whip, (not to beat them, lol, but for an extending the hand device)Also the last thing you will need is a dull large nail, or a non funcioting click-up pin, or just a twig that you pick up off the ground, 4-7 inches long.

2.After you have tied that to the foot take it under the belly and back over his back on the other side, and then comes back to you. ( you should have enough slack in the rope so that it will hang over his/her back)

3.With the dull nail you should tickle the knee area or lower of the horse until they lift their leg up, and as soon as they do, reward them. Do that many times until you just have to barely touch it , or even nudge it with your finger.

4. After you become successful with that and your horse will pick up his foot, do it again, and as soon as he picks up his foot, pull the rope that is over his back and connected to his foot.  And pull it so that the hoof  comes up and stays up. Do that many times,and reward them.

5.After that, pull the foot up again, and hold it there for a few seconds, usually a horse wont move, but some of them will go backwards and down to the bowing posisition(you will notice, trust me)If he or she does not go down, gently tug on the left rain for his head to come back and a little into you, adn then they should have some sort of movement towards the bow.

6.Once you do get him to the bowing position, release and reward, (LOTS) After a few times of the bow, maybe even the next day, when you get into the bowing position, tug on the left rein, while they are in that position and push them over a little, so that they will slowly rock into the laying down posistion, when they are down there, get out of the way of the legs into a safe position , where you still have control of the rein, and still touching the horse, so as not to scare them. When you go to get them up, try getting them up in slooow stages, and one of those stages will be the sit, first its the leg out, then the other leg out infront, then slide up to a sit, and finish getting up. Youre Done

Now I will be honest with you , sitting is the hardest trick , and im still working on that one, but bowing and laying down are hard at first, unless youre horse, really trusts you, becuase laying down with people, or something around them besides horses, is against their instinct, but good luck, i hope you have fun
sorry about the late response! Talk to you later!