How can I get my pony to stand square?

*DarkAngel*: How can I get my pony to stand square?
I’m, planning to show my pony in hand this summer, because he isn’t broken in. How can I get him to stand square without having to ride him? I’ve asked this beofre and everyones told me that I can only to this while riding. Is this true?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Kate
It is not true that horses can only stand square while being ridden. Horses can stand square whether they are being ridden or worked in hand.

The best way to get your horse to stand square is to halt him when his body is balanced and properly centered. Watch his feet and only ask him to halt when you know he will stop square. Eventually, he will do so every time he halts. Horses have trouble standing square when they are not properly balanced or are being lazy. It takes a keen eye to watch a horses feet and know when they’re body is in the correct position to stop squarely, so if you are having trouble spotting it, ask someone who knows horse anatomy and movement well to help you. Training your eyes and learning the way a horse moves and uses his body is a vital step in becoming a successful rider and handler and will definitely make showing easier.

I hope this helped you, and remember, always be safe, sane, and don’t be afraid to ask help from a reliable trainer, vet, or farrier if you need it! : )

Answer by see arr harr
Not true at all – I show a lot of my youngsters in hand and they’re all taught to stand properly as a matter of course.

They have to be in an active walk so that when they halt, they are really coming forward into the halt, the same as if he was being ridden – that way when he halts, his legs are far more likely to land in a more logical place when he halts. If he’s just wandering along, he will drift into a halt and leave his legs all over the place.

You need to spend time with him on the ground, teaching him to walk correctly with you, and then halting him. You will also need to move his feet around – so you will need a helper. At the start you will have to lift the feet and put them exactly where you want them; your helper will have to move the hinds, and tell you when you are in a true and correct halt. When he has started to figure out what on earth you’re asking him to do you should be able to just tap the leg you want him to move to push him into a proper halt. It does take a lot of practice to make a youngster look like anything other than an elephant standing on a bucket when you take it out!

Answer by <3 B3tt3r||V3$t3d
Thats totally Nawt true. IF you’re showing in hand you will have to use a shank under his chin.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A86eXbFHQaE/SpLPmUWhvMI/AAAAAAAAAc0/ZLZcgsN4tns/s320/halter.jpg
Like that ^^^^^

When you stop try to get him to stop square BUT you will have to teach your horse how to move off of your lead shank when your setting square, meaning applying pressure to get him to set his legs square. You start by setting the back left, then the back right, then the front right, then front left. Always always start with the back left though.

Doing that helps, so everytime you are walking/trotting and you stop automatically turn around and set him square. They don’t just learn in by themselves, they don’t just stand square everytime they stop. You have to be repetitive with them. Thats how they learn. Promise. Eventually, he will learn that when you turn around he is supposed to set square.

Hope this helped… Email w. anyother questions.

Answer by loveme loping
not trueee.!
to teach your horse to square: at first you will have to literally have to pick up your pony’s feet and place them where you want.
keep doing this and eventually he will stop squared up.

if he stops, but isnt quite perfect, you wont need to touch his feet
to move back feet: pull slightly down on your horses halter, then push back or front to move him (whichever he needs)

to move front feet: push up on his halter, and move him as needed:)

hope i helped! good luck in 2010 show season! 😀