Getting a horse to show its neck

[HGFarm]

I feel you can be 'best friends' with your horse still, but they also have to know that business is business and to pay attention when they are doing their 'job'.

Such great advice here and I cant think of a thing to add. It doesnt come over night and a few minutes of practice every day will eventually pay off.

Also, depending on the horses conformation, one's head/neck might look better a couple of inches higher or lower than his barn mate... you gotta practice and find that right spot. Sometimes have someone else hold the horse and see what the horse's best spot is.

 

[susanne]

>> being best friends with their horses to a fault. <<

If this were true, I would never enter the show ring. All human response, and I believe animal response, too, is based on either love or fear. Which do you suppose is the better response in working with animals?

There are many great examples of handlers who are very successful being "best friends" with their horses. Now this does not mean not being firm or letting the horse get away with murder. I think the best relationships with animals are when you are firm and clear and communicate in a tone of voice and in body language that they understand. But that does not equate to a strictly "business relationship."

But then again, I don't believe in "business as usual" in my business life, either...

 

[susanne]

Back to the topic at hand...

While I'm a rank newcomer to the show ring, I've noticed several things.

Once Mingus was conditioned, he began carrying his head and neck more beautifully and his back, hip and tail set fell into line. Not that this would change a horse with poor conformation, but a horse with good conformation will look even better when they are in proper condition.

I was getting Mingus to hold his head too high last year, and it caused the underside of his neck to bulge a bit. He holds his head high naturally, but I was overdoing it. As others have mentioned, each horse has a natural head and neck set that should be enhanced rather than changed completely. I'm working on encouraging his natural high head/neck carriage in the show ring.

I have noticed that Mingus poses most beautifully standing at the fence reaching up and over for treats. I now work with him at the fence to encourage him to stretch his neck without leaning into me. A Shetland handler at the Spanaway show told me that they always give their horses treats over the stall or corral gate to encourage a nice stretch and to build their neck muscles.

Amy (Clickmini) mentioned working with her horses on arching their necks in a dressage pose through clicker training. By working on this (separately from working on setup), Mingus is arching his neck more, even when stretching. In my opinion (such as it is), some minis with naturally "hooky" necks have a "built-in" arch, but others need to strengthen their necks and develop the flexibility to stretch and arch.

I really appreciate that AMHR allows some leeway in how your horse sets up. Mingus loves to park out just a bit, and with his Shetland look, that is truly his best stance. Flash, on the other hand, look better set up square, so that's what we'll do.

Finally, I think a horse has to enjoy showing off to do their best in halter. If they're not having fun, what's the point?

 

[Erica]

Well - not a professional handler, but do show quite a bit...........and my show horses are my friends - they are spoiled - they are rotten ; sugar cubes, carrots, apples, cookies, kisses, hugs, and more..........you can ask just about anyone that knows me that my horses are spoiled (Belinda :bgrin

:

: LOL.) Yet they ARE NOT spoiled where they get away with anything - they get disciplined, they get in trouble - some more than others, they know what is expected of them as far as behavoir wise.

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=14pt]I think the key here is to love and spoil your horses to a point but when they cease to see you as the master and more of a buddy, thats when the trouble starts. I love my children.... I give them lots of attention and things.... but.... Im not their buddy and they do respect me. [/SIZE]

Same with my horses..... Im working a bit different with Indy since I saw Joel.... When Im done lounging her in the round pen I tell her to "Stand"..... then I start to go further and further out to the end of the line and reinforce the "stand".... if she moves I go back in to her, give a correction with the lead and start again. By the end of last summer I could walk all the way around her even without the line and she wouldnt move. I didnt keep that up this fall and winter like I should and it is probably going to take time again but.... I could get farther away from her at nationals than any of my other horses and she still was upheaded and alert with her ears ...waiting for the treat. I babied Sweet Tart and therefore he doesnt show as well for me as for Bruce.... he wants to keep creeping up to get in my face.... That was my mistake.

Lyn

 

[mininik]

"I think the key here is to love and spoil your horses to a point but when they cease to see you as the master and more of a buddy, thats when the trouble starts."

Thanks Lyn, that's what I meant.

: I didn't mean you can't be loving towards your show horses but there is a point at which most people get too nice and their horse just walks (or leans in Halter) all over them.

 

[joylee123]

I feel you can be 'best friends' with your horse still, but they also have to know that business is business and to pay attention when they are doing their 'job'.

Such great advice here and I cant think of a thing to add. It doesnt come over night and a few minutes of practice every day will eventually pay off.

Also, depending on the horses conformation, one's head/neck might look better a couple of inches higher or lower than his barn mate... you gotta practice and find that right spot. Sometimes have someone else hold the horse and see what the horse's best spot is.

I agree

: , I want the best of both worlds :bgrin although I understand the "both the horse and handler being professional thought". What I have done and it seems to make a differece is; I only train and practice halter in a show halter. Never in a barn(nylonweb halter) They know it is business when the show type halter comes out

: