Showing people, question....

[JS65]

I have bought a pony i wish to show, but am novice at this sort of thing.

Whats the best way to teach a pony to stand square in the ring?
She's only 2yrs and am also having problems to get her to trot up.
Any advice would be greatfully recieved.

 

[Theresa_F]

I found that gently poking the front of the shoulder on the leg that is wrong gets them to move it back, this includes the hind leg. When Chancer stands square, I praise him. If he does an untidy halt, I tell him "stand" and push him back via the shoulder where the leg is wrong and as soon as he is right, again praise him. With time they learn to stand properly. You need to keep correcting the halt.

Trotting up - practice practice practice.

I have my hand just under the bit when practicing so I can keep him about 1' from me. I have him so that his shoulder is with my shoulder and he turns when I turn. I also carry my cane in the middle so as I go round corners I can push it at his head to turn him.

You want them to walk out and spring into trot but not tank off. If you can have them under control but with sparkle, this is ideal.

Teach them to get used to standing still - youngsters can do it. Mine would standly nicely in the line up as a two year old.

I was doing short sessions - 10 - 15 mins with Chancer from 18 months three/four times a week getting him to halt, stand, walk and trot for showing. Now I do it once a week for 5 mins and he is nearly 4 and knows what is expected.

Try to find showing clinics - they really help.

 

[FMM]

Unless the breed specifies that they should stand square, then when showing in hand you should not have them standing square, but so that the judge can see every leg. Ideally, the side that the judge is looking at should have the legs further apart, then, when the judge moves to the other side, press gently on the chest and move the horse back half a step so that the legs on the other side are now further apart.

 

[Theresa_F]

Sorry I should have said, I have him standing square to start -getting him trained for those important dressage halts later in life. Then push the shoulder again to move the leg back.

Having been to some clinics, and talking to producers, when I present to the judge and in the line up, I actually have mine (gypsy cob) square at front to make him look more solid, with a hind back to hide the fact that he is a little close behind at the rear - some clyde in him somewhere.

Love your example - beautiful chap.

 

[FMM]

Thanks - not me showing this horse I hasten to add, although he is owned by my sister. Part of the skill of showing in hand is knowing how to stand your horse to show him off so he looks his best and it sounds like you are doing the right thing with your cob! Some breed standards insist that the horse stands square all round, and I am not sure what breed the OP will be showing. Some people are just happy they can get their young horses to keep all 4 feet on the ground for more than 3 seconds ...

 

[Theresa_F]

Agree with the skill - I had a professional who was judging at the first year of the A Showing Soc take Chancer round the ring at the end and I didn't recognise my horse as he trotted - what a difference someone who knows what to do makes. It certainly gave me something to work towards.

Luckily I have never had a problem with manners - actually the opposite, getting Chancer to sparkle in hand is difficult as he is so laid back. Let's hope he keeps that way under the saddle.