standing Square

R

Ruth17

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 November 2013
Messages
178
Visit site
How do I teach my horse or at least encourage him to stand square? He is fine at the front end but the back feet are never next to each other and are wonky. One of his back legs is quite weak so he tends to rest it but I'd like to encourage him to stand square to strengthen it.
 
I would like to know this as well. My boy does not stand square for a second of the day. He does not stand square to eat, tack up, mount, or while working. GRR!! I also look down and him to 'see' if he is standing square when we halt and then I kick, wiggle to get him to bring whichever leg forward, he knows what I am doing now so soon as I look down he moves! :(
 
I am not amazing at it but get them to take little steps forward more than wiggle around to get one leg forward. To help with the looking down and moving off, can you get somebody on the ground just to say yay or nay to if standing square?
 
I am trying to sort this with my mare at the moment. She NEVER stands square no matter where it is and if you try and move her forward or backward a step whilst on board it is an impossible task!
After reading something on here I have started trying to train it on the ground, whenever I am around her and she isn't square I pick up a leg and put it where it should be and say "square". if she moves then I do it again. I have only been doing it a week or so and it is already going in really well, she knows what I mean when I say square and when she does it correctly she is rewarded.
I figured if she can understand the command "square" then I am at least getting somewhere closer to being able to do it ridden with my voice!
 
Lots of ground work worked for us, once he was stood i could then back him up slightly to square him up, now under saddle i can feel him adjust his back legs to bring himself square.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top