help! trotting a youngster out inhand

Linz29

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I am taking my 16hh 2yo out to a show next wednesday we have been practicing this week walking and stopping and standing up properly which he is fine at but have been trying to trot him out the last few days (as you would for the judge) but he keeps leaning into me making it extremely difficult to run in a straight line he almost knocks me over, didnt help it was really windy today so he was a bit high. any tips anyone can give me to be able to trot him out properly?
 
Mine used to do this, so I used my show cane to keep him at arms length - I would hold it in my left hand, across my body, poking out about 6 inches from my right upper arm, so if the boy tried to lean into me he'd get a poke from the cane on his shoulder. I didn't jab at him, if he started to try and push I just kept on a straight line and didn't let him shove me. He soon learned that its nicer to respect my space than to try and sit on top of me and keep running into the show cane! (It needs to be a show cane though, or something rigid that won't bend if he leans on it) x
 
If you have access to a double track ie one where a tractor goes leaving wheel tracks on either side , you can make it easier to get the hang of it by troting along it him on one side you on the other. This helps as it helps make it clearer one side is your side and his is his side. It makes it easier when you then translate it to grass.
 
Keep him on a loose rein, don't hold him tightly up near his head as he will probably fight against you more. Use your right elbow as a tool by bringing your arm up horizontally and elbow out. Don't jab him with it but make him realise that is the space you want between you in walk and trot. Use your showing cane by raising it up and forward to help guide his head around corners. Once he gets it right, praise him, he will learn very quickly then. Good luck and keep practising !
 
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