Oak is a five year old QH gelding. He is loaded up with cow, awesome in the sorting pens and an all around athlete. He is a very fancy line back dun, with the most beautiful eye and baby doll head you have ever seen. He stands 14.2h and is very correct, quick on his hooves and forward.  He is going to be an outstanding calf horse and we will heel on him as well. He is a fellow who loves his job, he does mind when you ride the others, he wants his turn.  Even with all the cow bred into Oak, he is still quiet natured and relaxed in a herd. He will get after one if you ask, but is otherwise happy to track at an amble.  Oak is a fun horse, great gaits, easy to ride and wonderful on the trail.  His time divided between my wife and I, Oak is not only learning to turn over his hocks and stop, he is also going over fences and being conditioned for Eventing.  Once my wife gets her hands on one of the boys, they are destined to be well rounded individuals!  We both believe there is nothing you can't do on a great horse.
Some of the training techniques we use here are simply for fun, and others are to improve the relationship between horse and rider.  Laying down a horse is something we take seriously, it is not a trick, that is a word used to describe a Halloween prank.  Laying a horse down, especially with no halter or bridle is a unique bonding experience.  Oak came to us already started under saddle. His initial training was very good and he is willing and soft, but to  find an area that we can truly test his work ethic, we have to put him in a position he has never been in before.  There are no leg ropes or crashes here when training, just soft pressure and release, along with verbal command to cue the action. It means much bending over and a sore back for the trainer, but a horse who can do this in just a few tries as Oak did, is an amazing animal.  Once a horse will give you this honor, there is very little you will ever do without confidence. They are prey animals, laying down leaves them completely defenseless, it is a gift they give you in trust.