Let's learn to Bow

Last winter I decided Charlie needed to learn to bow. Why you ask? Why not!!! I have always wanted to teach one of my horses to bow but it has never worked. My pony was too smart to fall for it, Slipper was too lazy but Charlie is so easy to teach and he will do anything for a cookie so I thought he was a prime candidate! Sure enough- I was right, he was bowing in no time! 

I used the technique of putting a treat between his front legs and having him reach down and try to get it. He started out not reaching very far and he wouldn't bend his leg. He would finally stick his whole head between his legs but never bend a leg. I started picking up one leg and then bringing his head down and then he began to actually "bow". That's as far as we have gotten as of now. I plan to keep working on it and eventually get him to do it with not treats or picking his legs up. We will see how it goes! Here's a  picture of his progress: 

The beginning 

I will post another blog of him further along in his training to "bow".