[HorseGurly143]

How do you teach a horse to stand square?(just in hand, not on) I can never get jester to stand square. I make him take a step, and he overreaches, never lines up correctly. I am so lost!

[DressageGirl]

I assume you mean under saddle???

Under saddle you need to ride the horse up into the halt with plenty of leg and seat. Do not pull the reins, but block the forward movement.

To get a good square halt takes alot of practice, but you must ensure you have precise left and right rein pressure, and precise leg and right leg pressure ie you must be square with your leg to hand pressure...

If your halt is NOT square you must NOT allow your horse to step backwards to correct it.

If the front legs are crooked you may need to jiggle the rein on the corresponding leg to ask him to move it forward.

Similarly with the hind legs, you may been to apply light pressure on the side that you need to move forward.

With some fiddling, and jiggling the horse will soon learn to correct himself, but the aim of the game is to stop square to start with.

Practice, practice, practice

[DressageGirl]

Oops sorry I misread the OP, you did mean in hand, not ridden

[Cavalier]

I don't do led classes, so I haven't worked on getting a square halt undersaddle too much...BUT

Something that has worked quite well for many people I know is asking for a smooth halt, and carrying a dressage whip, and tapping the leg(s) that are out of line, asking them to move forward.

Praise the horse when he does it correctly (or even when he tries to begin with) and eventually he should halt squarly.

[belle4]

Do a search on showmanship. There are many threads on this subject.

Here's on to get you started.

Showmanship Help

[LilEquineLuva]

Begin with short sessions, daily. If you try to work on it too long, or all at once the horse will get bored and inattentive. I like to pick a back foot to plant from the walk, when first learning I watch them as they are walking and stop with one of the back feet where I want it..then try to get the other one beside it. If you need to go back step the second foot back..if it goes too far back pull that foot forward..if it comes too far forward, back it again. If your horse is having a lot of problems even placing his back legs even relatively lined up, reward him by at least getting them close by letting him rest with them there. If he moves them without being asked start over. You wont get them perfect the first time, but rewarding his efforts in the right direction, no matter how small, will really pay off. Do it a few times, rewarding him for placing them more lined up...and rocking that other leg back and forth, back and forth until he at least tries or gets close. Then, after a few consistent times, quit for then. Its very easy to wear it out and make them crabby and unenthused about squaring up. If you let him anticipate you doing it too many times he may become bracy when he thinks you will ask him. Just when I'm first training one for it, if they become overly bracy in the neck or legs without trying what I'm asking for I will back them straight 5-6 steps to loosen them up and get their attention, then lead forward a few steps and start again till they get it right once. I do the back legs first for a few days until they learn what I am doing and begin to TRY a little more without having to be rocked back and forth, back and forth into it. Then, when you see that he understands the back feet and is trying to get it right, placing them farely well into position on cue, then you can begin working on the fronts, lightly, after the hind are placed. If the hind get out of whack, divert to them and get them in place then go immediately back to rocking that front. Most horses with good ground manners can learn to move the fronts by light touch without messing up the placement of the hind feet. I like to start when they are weaned asking them these things once daily. A bit each day really makes a difference in the long run, and they don't get bored that way either. You cannot be really picky at first. With my older horses that I'm teaching, once they know what I'm asking for when I wiggle a bit on the lead for a square up, I'll take lots of opportunities throughout the day to ask them and give them a chance to use their knowledge. The mare I bought recently now places her feet reasonably square at the stop, and with a few light twitches of my wrist will really even up. I ask her for this before turnout, before going back in her stall, before standing for me to open a gate latch, etc etc. I find that its really useful for farrier visits too, not just showing. If you get your horse more squarely placed it easier for them to do without one foot for a while as the farrier works. I also like them to be square before I mount so they are well balanced and I'm not making them step over to support my weight as I go up. Also, if you ever get in a bind while leading a horse that has had a lot of ground work and squaring will be attentive for your cues on where YOU want his feet, not just wherever they fall.

OK, that was a bit long-winded, sorry! I hope that was helpful! Also, if you keep a consistent style in your cues your horses will be able to read you better. Mine come to learn that slight forward/backward wiggles mean to shift a hind leg, a few wiggles on the lead directed away from me mean to shift the weight over and move the closest front leg, while applying pressure towards me means to shift the weight towards me and move the front leg that is opposite the side I am on. Whatever you do, be consistent and reward effort, even small effort at first. Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes!!

[faroutfax]

With Misty I would say "square" you can choose your own word though. Then I just asked her to back and step forewards until her back legs were square. Then I Would adjust her front legs. It wasn't a perfect square the first few times but she got the idea. It will take a long tme first time you try. But then if you do it often enough all you will have to do is look at thir feet or just say "square"/your word.

Also every time you stop make him stand square. In the cross ties, while you are mounting etc. Then as soon as you stop he will either square up or wait for you to tell him to

I got to a point with Misty where I could just say "square and look at her feet and she'd do it

[ImaTopGun01]

hehe im having the sameeee problem as youu but hes learninggg! i havent taught him how to move each leg a LITTLE, he does the same as yours. but Lilequineluva had some awesome advice. i would LOVE to teach my guy to square on command like FOF. buuuttt... prob is, in a showmanship class when you have to set in FRONT of the judge..i dont think that would go through real well with them

[LilEquineLuva]

Well, I don't know about breed shows..they probably wouldn't care for it, but I think its excellent, horses don't have horrible hearing, if they are attentive they could hear you say it in a calm but assertive voice, and actually if it were a local show I bet the judge would be impressed. All other things equal, a horse/showman team that squared perfect by saying "square." would probably place over a team that had to cue each foot in place. Really, there are no shortcuts. Practice Practice Practice. If I thought it wouldnt be a faux pas (which is silly) at APHA shows I'd teach my new mare that, to square by voice, that would be so handy. I hate that there are so many silly little rules about it,..because I think that would be delightful to see at shows!

[Quick2Skip01]

I dont think there is necessarily a rule about saying "square" during a showmanship pattern. I believe that, that kind of thing would be upon the descretion of the judge, and whether or not they liked it. IMHO, if competitors can do pivots and sound like squealing pics squeaking their lips, and making funky noises, that drives me nuts. Id rather hear a competitor say square than all the noises.

I will admit though i think a quiet,in-sync horse and handler team would do better.

For just halter classes, it would definitely be okay, as its judged on the animal.

Getting a perfect set up takes practice EVERYDAY (or close to) a little @ a time, like when you walk into an aisle way and put your horse in cross ties, while you still have a leadrope on, make the horse square up. I usually start for the first few times placing feet by hand like you would do w/ a weanling when you are teaching it square. Then after a while a teach them how to move their legs from the chain. After awhile, the horse will start squaring itself better and better. Eventually after enough practice the horse usually gets the idea, and will learn to square every time he stops when doing showmanship, etc.

I have had horses that loved to mess around w/ setting up, and when they wouldnt set up, after 3 tries, I backed them a few feet, walked them forward or asked again.