Tips for standing

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mrsh2010

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Hi all,

I've recently started going out to a few local shows, doing ridden classes, and my lad is doing well, however we have one major down fall - he won't stand still. Won't stand in the line up, won't stand in front of the judge. Just constantly shuffles his feet.

We usually only do Dressage. So any advise and tips welcome.

Thanks
 
Does he stand at home? Will he stand outside the ring?

A tip i was told for teaching ex-racehorses to stand (without having to use much bit contact, as sometimes any contact had them threatening to rear in the early stages) was to:

Pick a direction to turn to (usually easiest rein first) then take up a light contact in outside rein, open the inside rein to give the horse the direction, and then turn the horse on the spot as you ask gently for halt. At the same time use whatever word you want for stand (e.g. whoa/stand/halt etc.) - same one as used on the lunge or in stable or whereever. Rider needs to have patience and balance and not get dizzy. It is all done at walk, along with soothing noises and (if you can manage it) a scratch on the withers with the outside rein at the same time.
Some very upset horses spin quite a few times, but most only do two or three circles before getting the message and stopping. Does need repeating to make the association between word and movement, but then the word alone should be enough for most circumstances.

Of course, you would need to do it outside the arena rather than in the ring, so no good if he only moves in the ring and isn't responsive to the voice command (due to impatience, stress, excitement, whatever) but I have had good success with some quite anxious horses when retraining. However, different methods suit different horses so looking forward to other ideas too.
 
will he stand and chill with you at home?if hes not great at home its easier to work on.....

does he fidget or push in to your space? if he pushed in to you/your space i would be backing him up away from you and telling him whoah/stand/whatever verbal command you prefer.

constant fidgeting without really barging might resolve better if you make him work when he wants to move, so circles, leg yield, turn on forehands etc and then praise for standing still.

work on it every day for a few minutes-my 3yo is being backed atm and in the middle and at the end of every session he just has to stand and chill next to us, no nibbling or shuffling, or staring in to middle distance, just stand next to me with his head down and relax.
this is going to be a big help when he starts competing next year!
 
Thank you both - will try it.

He's generally alright at home, but if we are out hacking 85% of the time he doesn't want to stop to talk to people. He always seems that if he's working it's now or never attitude. "gotta keep moving" "places to be, people to see"

He's fine on the ground if in hand and he's generally does a good halt in his dressage.
 
Is that ridden standing in front of the judges or for the in hand part? When standing in the line up, I would suggest that initially not to worry too hugely how he is standing and if he is standing totally in line with the others. If he wants to stand at a slightly different angle then let him, just make sure you get enough room either side of you or if it is an "any order pull in" possibly put yourself last so that you can walk him in a small circle rather than keep trying to make him stand or fidget him into standing in a particular way. If it is ridden standing up in front of the judge, then you may just have to again accept it is going to take in the ring practice particularly if he is good at standing in his dressage test - perhaps say sorry to the judge and say it is a learning curve! If it is in hand standing, then probably not worry too much if he is not standing ideally to show himself off to his best but just get him to stand however he is happy to to start off with. Might mean a few lower placings but just look on it as learning. How about doing some in hand showing with him again as education - or just stick to the dressage (I say that tongue in cheek as my OH would rather I stuck to dressage!)
 
Practice!! I teach all of mine to stand for as long as required. We might do some work then go stand in the middle of the arena, or in a corner. We go for a mooch round the farm and stand to watch the builders or the cows or the tractors. We go to have chats.

I then hack them to my parents and stop for a carrot, begin to stop to talk to dog walkers.

Initially, some don't stand for very long, I try to move them on just before they start to fidget and reward with a scratch for doing well. I like them to stand on a loose rein, they soon learn than halting then softening the rein means we are having a bit of a chill
 
One thing I learnt from my 'ants in his pants' youngster is to choose the right time to say "STAND" and that is actually when they are stationary. I was for ever asking him to stand and he'd just wriggle around. In the end it tigged I was teaching him the word stand means wriggle around.

Back to school! Wait for the halt then say STAND. keep repeating and in time he will understand. Youngster now stands like a rock.

Also teach him to place himself at home with suitable commands and initially a very long schooling whip - you tap a leg that is in the wrong place rather than push and pull. When you have the right stance ask him to "STAND UP".

Clarity and consistency along with patience.
 
Crazy horse is right - it is practice, practice, practice. We do a huge amount with the young western horses because the judges are very hot on manners - it can cost you the class if you are pulled into line and your horse fidgets.
Tight circles can work with some horses, but can make others anxious. We try to teach them that standing is pleasant, enjoyable and sociable -so in every training session we'll work them quite hard for a few minutes then come to the centre of the school and halt. If there are a couple of riders working together both horses will stand for a while. If it is a real baby this might be the end of their work session, or the time to take them for a walk around the block. Otherwise we will pick up and then work them a bit more.
The minute that they start to fidget we would send them on and make them do a bit more work - not punishing them or telling them off, just moving them actively forward - the idea is that they should WANT to stand still and chill out. I also do this on a hack - this is the one area where my guy might still fidget a bit as he can get a bit anxious on new routes or if he hasn't been out for a while. If there's room to work them a bit (say if you are in an open field) I would do this and then try to halt again. If it's a bridlepath you can really only move their feet or flex them a bit, but the message is the same - if you will stand and chill you get to rest!
 
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