Expectation is the quickest way to damage your relationship with your horse. I had someone say ‘I want to make my horse lay down’ this week. Just the language alone tells me a lot about what’s going to happen here. When we replace ‘make’ with teach or allow it changes the intention, therefore the energy. Also different horses for courses….the lay down is not for every horse. Some horses are way too sensitive for lay down straight up. They need a whole lot of preparation. To learn to trust, to come off pressure, to learn feel. Some take time, some take to it straight away. It’s horses for courses.