Showmanship Problems With competition in a week!

LuvMyPaint · 08-22-2005, 07:44 PM

Allright my horse will set, trot by my side, back, and pivot...but he wont trot in a straight line and if i dont get him to do it he will get docked major points! When ever we trot he will stay beside me but he will sidepass causing him not to go straight! wht should i do!?!? any help is much appreciated!!
~alexis~

PasoTWHGirl · 08-23-2005, 04:55 AM

Can he trot striahgt other times, if not he needs to see a vet,? Also, prhaps you are making him trot too fast or too slow? Which way is he sidepassing...like running you over or going away from you? Try jiggling the chain/bit so that hes a little distracted and adjust him as you go to try to keep him straight. ALSO, in SHOWMANSHIP not halter..the handler is judged the horse is jut a prop, and im not 100% sure but i think his inability to run straight,most likley wont affect your score.

John · 08-23-2005, 06:23 AM

Give him more lead rope at the trot. A common mistake is holding the lead to short,bending the head and neck slightly towards you resulting in the sidepass type of movement. Have someone watch your horse from the front as you trot towards them for your next practice session. Good luck

LuvMyPaint · 08-23-2005, 08:46 AM

Well u usually trots away from me but jus his hindquaters jus like sidepass making his head still beside me but his hindquaters off to the side! Maybe i was holding him to tight..ill try holding him loser! thanks for all of ur advice!

~alexis~

Cowgirly · 08-23-2005, 10:25 AM

Hold him looser and also you might consider having someone run along the other side of you just to keep him in line as you practice- get him back in the habit of jobbing straight.

belle4 · 08-23-2005, 06:45 PM

Use a fence line.

alana529 · 08-24-2005, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PasoTWHGirl

ALSO, in SHOWMANSHIP not halter..the handler is judged the horse is jut a prop, and im not 100% sure but i think his inability to run straight,most likley wont affect your score.

Your horse being crooked definitely WILL affect your score- showmanship is a class which prepares the handler to show in a halter class. Halter is judged on a horse's conformation and correctness, so if a horse is crooked or if the handler doesn't bring the horse straight to the judge, the judge can't tell how the horse moves, and you get a 0 for that element.

Another way you can work on srtaightness is to walk and trot circles and serpentines in both directions. Then try a straight line, and if the horse deviates say to the left, turn and make a circle to the right and vice versa. Try to work on a looser lead too, as some of the other posters have suggested. It worked for me.

LuvMyPaint · 08-25-2005, 05:03 PM

Thank you guys soo much for all of ur suggestions!! they helped a lot! all of them! he now will trot in a straight line..and dose not side pass away! thank u again!

~alexis~

John · 08-25-2005, 08:06 PM

We will look for a first place or a hard fought second place ribbon!!!

08-22-2005, 07:44 PM	#1
LuvMyPaint Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 22	Showmanship Problems With competition in a week! Allright my horse will set, trot by my side, back, and pivot...but he wont trot in a straight line and if i dont get him to do it he will get docked major points! When ever we trot he will stay beside me but he will sidepass causing him not to go straight! wht should i do!?!? any help is much appreciated!! ~alexis~

08-23-2005, 04:55 AM	#2
PasoTWHGirl Full Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 91 Images: 5	Can he trot striahgt other times, if not he needs to see a vet,? Also, prhaps you are making him trot too fast or too slow? Which way is he sidepassing...like running you over or going away from you? Try jiggling the chain/bit so that hes a little distracted and adjust him as you go to try to keep him straight. ALSO, in SHOWMANSHIP not halter..the handler is judged the horse is jut a prop, and im not 100% sure but i think his inability to run straight,most likley wont affect your score. __________________ Osado Dos -2004 NE District Country Pleasure and Saddleseat Champion -2004 7th Country Pleasure Pony in Virginia -2005 Reserve Open Gaited Champion -2005 Junior Equitation Champion *Ride Saddleseat or Gaited? Then visit the cutbackchat! cutbackchat.proboards36.com

08-23-2005, 10:25 AM	#5
Cowgirly Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Western Washingon Posts: 1,711 Images: 363	Hold him looser and also you might consider having someone run along the other side of you just to keep him in line as you practice- get him back in the habit of jobbing straight. __________________ "I've been Gobbled by Thom Turkey!!! www.cowgirly.net equine designs for all disciplines

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bridle/headshyness problems!	Painted~Girl	Horse Training	20	01-07-2005 04:40 PM
Alley Problems	barrelgirl08	Horse Training	3	06-24-2004 10:59 AM
Flatwork problems	Susie	Horse Training	25	06-20-2004 02:13 AM
Whithers Problems	Glady's-Mom	Horse Health	13	03-12-2004 04:05 PM
Problems with 5 week old foal	lmtsprings	Horse Chat	4	07-05-2003 05:31 AM

08-23-2005, 06:23 AM	#3
John Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 3,746 Images: 60	Give him more lead rope at the trot. A common mistake is holding the lead to short,bending the head and neck slightly towards you resulting in the sidepass type of movement. Have someone watch your horse from the front as you trot towards them for your next practice session. Good luck

08-23-2005, 08:46 AM	#4
LuvMyPaint Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 22	Well u usually trots away from me but jus his hindquaters jus like sidepass making his head still beside me but his hindquaters off to the side! Maybe i was holding him to tight..ill try holding him loser! thanks for all of ur advice! ~alexis~

08-23-2005, 06:45 PM	#6
belle4 Senior Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 10,895 Images: 518	Use a fence line.

08-25-2005, 05:03 PM	#8
LuvMyPaint Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 22	Thank you guys soo much for all of ur suggestions!! they helped a lot! all of them! he now will trot in a straight line..and dose not side pass away! thank u again! ~alexis~

08-25-2005, 08:06 PM	#9
John Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 3,746 Images: 60	We will look for a first place or a hard fought second place ribbon!!!