Training to stand square : your methods please!

[Rudey]

I dabble in a bit of inhand showing with my youngster, and I would like to perfect his showing stance.

I would be interested to learn about different methods and tips of how to train a horse to stand square, so look forward to hearing of your experiences. Thanks! xx

 

[eva]

prob wouldn't help much but if your horse consistently wouldn't stand square, check his back - I just had a back person out and she found my horse's pelvis was tipped and there were lots of problems with his lower back!
other than that, could you just reward him for every square halt? just with voice so he doesn't get nippy. sorry not much help!

 

[Hels_Bells]

Hmm if it's in hand I'm not sure. But if you are riding him I would train him to halt square whilst riding, once they learn they usually do it anyway so it would probably translate into in hand work.

When ridden you have to ride a very positive, very forwards halt, if they don't halt square then either try and straighten them up once they've halted. If they square up pat, praise then move on and do it again. If they don't square up move on, then halt again same as before. Once they've done it once and you've heaped praise, dropped the reins etc, they usually start to cotton on that's what you're after and once you've got them to do it a few times with great praise, rein dropping etc each time they realise that's what you want every time and usually do it every time.

Sorry if that's absolutely no help at all because your horse is in hand all the time.. but if not hope it helps!!!

 

[mrogers]

best thing to do is get him walking briskly and then turn infront of him sharply. He will then go "oh whats this " and stand not only square but also back on his quarters. My C mare is a nightmare to stand square!! but this method is fool proof on her and many others that I've shown.

 

[Laafet]

I have to teach all our foals and yearlings to stand square for the sales, I do it by at first getting the horse to stand still for a few seconds then walk on, then when the do this calmly, ask the horse to take one step forward and if they stand square lots of praise. Then build up to stepping backwards, this enables you to move them about into position if necessary. They do tend to learn very quickly.

 

[Rudey]

Thank you very much for your responses.

I have been doing a lot of ground work with him, and I have used my voice, "stand" command, nudging with the cane together with loads of praise when he gets it right. He is getting there and sometimes gets it, but other times, has a leg left behind.

I won't give him treats as a reward as I have never been a fan of tit-bitting as it caused my other horse to learn bad habits which eventually turned to biting. Last year Rox started getting bolshy with hands and around food. A livery had been giving him treats. I asked them not to feed him anymore, and his greedy/bolshy behaviour stopped.

An issue I seem to have is that when he does stand square, he will eventually rest a back leg on his 'toe end' which sneaks to under his belly. Nudge him to stand up, and this leg then ends up smack bang next to his other which remained in it's proper corner. I hope you understand my ramblings lol!

Anyone got any tips for this? xx

 

[Hebe]

Whilst showing in hand, i tend to try and make them stand not quite square so that the judge can see all four legs independantly whilst looking from the side. I agree that making them stand four square is needed for a nice square halt undersaddle, but not the bee all and end all for in hand IMVHO

I dont really do much show/ring training at home, all theyre learning is done as part of theyre routine, halting and moving backwards and forwards for me to open and close gates etc, so it becomes second nature.

When in the show ring and moving, say, in to the line up i would halt pony and if not standing nicely, will push gently back a stride or two then forward again, til Im happy with theyre stance.

Thats funny, my keyboard was playing up earlier and it s fixed again now ...weird