[mtgirl]

O.K, this is my first year that I am going to attempt showing. I will be showing 4 yearlings (possibly). I will show in Halter, trail, lunge-line. I have 2 stallions and 2 fillys. And I will be having everyone critique them later, to pick the best 4 out of 10.

What do you all do to get them ready for the show, here is some things that I have been working with them on. Let me know what I am missing, or what you would do.

They all lead really good (we pony all our colts) so that should not an issue. The thing that I am most worried about, is when we get their if they get nervous and won't stand still etc...

I have been getting them:
Used to dogs, kids, 4-wheelers, just noise and different people in general.
Standing tied (patience is a virture )
Sending exercies (for trail)
Lunging (only going to show 2 of them for that)
Getting them used to clippers, and being touched all over their faces ect...
Squaring and backing up ect....

Am I missing something? Any advice will be greatly appreciated

[babyruth]

Sounds like you are ahead of the game.

To note with Clete though, he has a tendency to doze off at shows, so you may want to be thinking of creative ways to keep him alert and awake .

[mtgirl]

That's sounds great to me, I would rather have that then not standing still. I will bring some peppermint candies to rattle to waken him up, he, he, of course he might be wide awake because he is cooooold

[Canadian Sage]

What I am doing with my APHA filly is:

- desensitization (tarps, kids, dogs, loud noises, ex)
- standing still/square for halter
- lunging (for LL)
- trail obstacles (i taught each manouver seperetaly, and without being on a trail course)
- for excersize I pony my yearling off the quad, and if we have enough snow, then I use the snowmobile to do that
- I am also feeding her suppliments and grain to help with growth, and maturity, and to help build muscle..but of course, you have to work them before it will start helping
- my girl is used to: clippers, being hauled, standing tied, picking feet up for farrier, bathing, ex.

hmm....oh, I haul her everywhere i go. If I can have her tied where I go, she comes along with. If there is no room, then I leave her at home.

I will also take her places by herself, then shes not used to having a buddy all the time.

I think so far, you are at a good start!

[mtgirl]

Originally Posted by Canadian Sage

What I am doing with my APHA filly is:

- desensitization (tarps, kids, dogs, loud noises, ex)
- standing still/square for halter
- lunging (for LL)
- trail obstacles (i taught each manouver seperetaly, and without being on a trail course)
- for excersize I pony my yearling off the quad, and if we have enough snow, then I use the snowmobile to do that
- I am also feeding her suppliments and grain to help with growth, and maturity, and to help build muscle..but of course, you have to work them before it will start helping
- my girl is used to: clippers, being hauled, standing tied, picking feet up for farrier, bathing, ex.

hmm....oh, I haul her everywhere i go. If I can have her tied where I go, she comes along with. If there is no room, then I leave her at home.

I will also take her places by herself, then shes not used to having a buddy all the time.

I think so far, you are at a good start!

Question for ya! How do you get her to stand square and still? Is it just lots of time standing tied?

Also, for trail can you tell me what manuevers you used and what to expect on the trail?

How long do you pony for? I usually do 15 min a day 6 days a week? I also feed supplements. I prefer to pony off a horse, that way the older ones get exercise to, but lately it has been by the 4-wheeler

Thanks so much for your help, Whew! I am glad I don't have to show against you

[Canadian Sage]

standing tied up, doesn't teach them how to stand square or still while in hand, it just teaches them patience while tied.

I take them into the arena...bring PATIENCE with you as it doesn't happen overnight. But what you do is stop them, and ask them to move their feet. Even if they get the two back ones square, PRAISE. Then ask for the front ones to move, ex. Take baby steps, obviously they aren't going to set up first time.

Then, as for standing still while YOU are holding them, if they go to take a step, say WHOA, and back them up, and set them up best you can, and ask them to stand. Dont ask them for an unreasonable amount the first time (again, they are still learning), gradually increase the time they should stand.

For the trail class (you dont actually go out on a trail, its set up in an areana). They will usually ask your horse to: back (through cones, or through an L shape, or a straight back), sidepass, trot in hand, forehand turn, haunch turn, cross over bridge, open and close gate, trot/walk over poles, trot around pylons, move an object from one spot to another.....hmm i think thats pretty much everything you will need.

So you will want to practice the manouvers (start just teaching them the different manouvers without obstacles)...for example: backup, just teach them how to back up without anything around them; or trotting in hand, get them to do that really well before adding in logs.

I teach all the manouvers AWAY from a course, and then go and apply them to a course.

Pony...I usually just do it 15-20 minutes (depends how far I go, and how soon they start sweating), and thats trotting with a little bit of walking, and a touch of loping. Trotting helps build up muscles the best. And I do it every other day, I dont work my yearling daily, she doesn't need it.

And for lunging, I dont do long sessions. So far, my sessions have lasted a MAX. of 10-15 minutes. And most of it consists of walking/trotting, reversing and stopping. The days I lunge, Its to teach her to lunge, and more "complicated" moves, not to excersize her.

Hope that helped. if you have more questions or anything feel free to ask or PM me!

BTW: where in Montana do you live? I know a few ladies down there....