Teaching a Youngster to Stand Square

[godfreyy]

As the title suggests really, what do you find has been the most successful technique for your and your youngster in teaching them to halt square?

My 5yo insists on playing "Moving Statues" and halts in the most awkward of positions. I've tried encouraging him to stand square by using hills and by putting my leg on slighhtly as we transition into halt, as I have been previously advised and we've only successfully got it once (no matter how much perseverence!).

Looking for some ideas/motivation to keep going and that it will eventually come. So what techniques have you used to teach your youngsters to stand square?

 

[AdorableAlice]

The only way they can achieve a square halt is when they are able to work over the back and step forwards into halt, so it is an uphill transition.

I have learnt over a the years, to ignore the halt, not fiddle and eventually when the horse is strong and balanced it will happen with the horse between the leg and the hand. Never ever fiddle to the extent that they step back into a halt.

I also think a lot depends on the build of the horse. My two short backed cobs halt square almost every time and even when they are at rest, will stand fairly square.

The other longer backed horse stands like a drunken skunk and is oblivious to any form of balance at the moment.

 

[be positive]

Some horses tend to find it easy and stand almost square every time they halt, often they also do so in hand and just standing on the yard, I had one that stood square in his stable eating hay, others take time, sometimes becoming more anxious about halting if you try and correct them too frequently, if they are the anxious type then I just work on getting a straight halt with all 4 feet on the ground when riding rather than making a big deal about it at an early stage of their training, if you are aiming for a dressage career it is better they halt in a relaxed manner that fuss and fiddle about getting worried and moving too much, you will get a better mark for a good halt at the right place with no movement than a square halt that ends up taking several steps to get or is not straight.

Once the training progresses they will learn to step under as they engage more, you as a rider can start to use a more subtle aid to get an offending trailing leg to step under as you ask for halt without making an issue of it,

 

[godfreyy]

Okay, thank you. Both of those replies make perfect sense. We have started working over our back in the last 2 months or so, and his balance is definitely coming along with it now. He doesn't stand square in anything he does, whereas my other 2 stand square maybe 95% of the time, but they are completely different builds of horse to him.

AA I'm glad it's not just my boy who looks like he is about to topple over at any given moment......

 

[Cortez]

The reason that a square halt is required in dressage is that it is an indicator of the horses straightness, thoroughness (over the back, as someone said above) and also the rider's symmetry (straightness). When the horse is going correctly and the rider is sitting properly and asking correctly, then he will halt square. People who fiddle the horse into the halt, or attempt to correct it, are attempting to cheat - and judges (if they're any good) can spot this. Young horses are often not strong or balanced enough to halt squarely and it is just a matter of time and patience (and proper training, of course).

 

[godfreyy]

Thank you, I feel I have a better understanding now. I certainly don't want anyone to think I'm trying to cheat - just trying to understand how I can better help to bring him on. I will keep at what I'm doing (inlcuding working with my instructor).