Setting Up in Halter

[shalakominiatureshowhorses]

Okay, i was just watching a video on a mini doing a halter class, and it set up almost on voice command or something! HOW DO YOU DO THAT!?

I want to be able to become Fairly CLOSE to doing that. And i understand it takes A LOT of practice, but i am just having trouble getting set up nice without constantly picking up and placing hooves. I thought i was going to live through it, untill Devil gave me a fit at our last show, i think just cause he was nervous, but we still had an uneccesary tug-of-war over where his leg should go!

My question is, how do yall do that? or how do you train them to do that? I sound desprate, but i just drool over the ability for some of the horses that can do that!

 

[disneyhorse]

Like any well trained animal, it takes time, patience, repetition, and rewarding of the appropriate behavior with good timing. There is no "magic" way

Keep working at it and you'll get there!

 

[Indian*R*A*I*N*Dance]

When you are setting up your horse set all his feet where you want them and I said 'set' . Every time your horse moves a foot out of place, just pick it up and set it back to where you want it and say it again. Praise him every time. After every other time or something talk a walk and stop and set up again. You almost want him to move a foot out of place so you can correct it. Soon he will stare to understand that you want him to stand square. My horse knows to set up on command and it does take alot of practice and repetition but its totally worth it. When I show other horses it drives me insane that they don't set up on command lol Its just more time wasted setting your horse up when you could be showing him to the judge. I don't say 'set' in the show ring, I trained him to know that the slightest bump with the lead means set. Its very helpful in the show ring when you are in showmanship. I've been working with my horse since he was a baby, so 5 years, and also knows my body language when I set up for showmanship....It's like he can read my mind and knows which foot to fix. hahahah!

 

[disneyhorse]

Also make sure you've got some sort of command for a release, so the horse doesn't get frustrated or learn he can just move whenever he wants.

 

[shalakominiatureshowhorses]

Okay! Ive been training that way too! The way i have taught them to relax is by going beside them and patting their neck and saying "relax". Well i didnt know if there was a secret way that i didnt know about. Thanks for the advice, ill try to keep it up

 

[kay56649]

Ok this was super helpful in training my two minis to do this!! Thanks Indian rain dance!

 

[WashingtonCowgirl]

Also, start out only having them "set" for a few seconds, then release and walk them around a bit. Slowly build up time so they don't get frustrated

 

[shalakominiatureshowhorses]

Progress....IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY! Still having a bit of trouble with Devil, but he takes a bit more time to catch on then the others. Jazz is doing fantastic. He taught himself how to properly put his front hooves evenly together

so cute! Still got to work on the back hooves, but ive got a month before my next show!