pony laying down whilst ridden

Question
We have a 12hh pony mare who has recently started laying down whilst being ridden. When someone is standing nearby she will not do it as she knows she will not be allowed although whilst ridden she is quick to lay down and has done it from a trot so it is impossible to stop her Any ideas other than kicking, tugging at her etc  it hasnt worked! Regards Kathy

Answer
Hello,
Think of what her laying down means. You are asking her to go, even at a trot and you run into a sudden and strong "NO" from your pony. In your ground work you probably have seen smaller no's coming from her as well. Go back to the beginning, spend a week desensitizing and sensitizing her like she was a colt going to be ridden for the first time. Can you get a walk to a canter on the ground? Canter to a halt on the ground? Your ground work is your pre flight check, so check everything you can think of. When you run into a No think of how you can make what you are asking her to do easier than her No. Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. Another thing you can think of is how do you make laying down your idea and not hers. If you are comfortable and have laid horses down before you could ask her to stay down for a time, 30min to an hour.
Let me know what you run in to.
Best Wishes,
Caitlin Day Huntress