teaching a mini to lift there tail

[salado creek mini's]

Can you teach your mini halter horse to lift there tail when you set them up in show and is it even desired by the judges? I see horse's in the maqazines do it all the time and i like it . Thanks Theresa

 

[MyLilShowGirl]

Hmmm to lift there tail? or to have a "table top" top line?

For a nice top line, after you square your horse up, just sratch the top of there rump to make them "stretch" there bum so it becomes more level. and/or you can scratch under their belly to make them get that "up and tucked" look for a short period of time. It helps to show off your horse.

As for the tail literally lifting... you can only make them do it to a certain point, and you don't see horses tails unnaturally "flagging" in the show ring, unless your a hackney

For pictures...I have heard they use stuff to "sting" or make them have a tingly feeling under there tail on that sensitive part so they lift there tail... if they put it down, it stings more so they just lift it higher.

I hope this gives you an idea....

 

[salado creek mini's]

Thanks for the info I am new to mini's and have found it very challenging I didn't know that it was called that. I took my two year old stallion to my first show in Jan. a small local show and in the pictures we saw later my horses tail was just there and some of the other horse had a small lift to there tail and i thought that was just pretty I didn't know if the judges like that or should not even worry about that, we won all the classes we entered so I don't know if i should try to train him to lift his tail or how big of a deal it is. Thanks Theresa F.

 

[susanne]

Theresa, this doesn't count as training per se, but I've found that when my gelding is nicely conditioned, he holds his tail up and out much more than otherwise.

While you can't change conformation, good conditioning can help minimize certain flaws and accentuate their good points.

 

[kaykay]

Holding the tail up is genetic I think. You see it much more in stallions then mares. And you will see it more in certain bloodlines. I do think its adds to a horses "presence" but have seen many horses not do it and win.

Gingering is against the rules but I have seen it done unfortunately.

 

[Alex]

Its against the rules for minis, and you mostly see gingering in pony (shetland, hackney) breeds. Its in your minis genes that decide if he will raise his tail.

 

[salado creek mini's]

Thank you all for the input I wouldn't dare do the ginger thing I have a more natural approach to training I wouldn't dare hurt my babies by placing ginger on them I think thats kind of cruel I love my babies to much.

I went to work my horses this morning I videoed my Indy to see what he did with his tail I tried some of the advice I was given and he did lift his tail when I scratched his butt he flatten his back so i am going to continue to try that and see how it goes. I have a boogerman filly with so much presence she lift her tail and commands her presence full of herself. again thanks again for all the input have a great show season to you all Theresa

 

[Katiean]

I used to have Arabs. I wanted to know how to get them to lift their tail in halter. I asked a trainer that told me to use pepper juice under the tail. Well, to me this is very cruel. My response was "if I had to do that to my horse I would not show". Beware of aids to "teach" this behavior.

 

[Carolyn R]

Yep, against the rules for showing, but if you see a beautiful photo of a mini squared up with the tail way up high, or you are at a sale and the horse has the tail way up over the rump, chances are it has ginger on/around its rectum.

Don't agree, but I've seen it done at the sales.

 

[skanzler]

The best way to get the level topline and tucked under line is conditioning. Using long trotting and up an down incline work is the best way to accomplish this. Raising of the tail in most pictures is done when teasing a stallion with the mare just out of camera shot or vis versa, bring a stallion to a mare and catching that moment when she levels her topline and lifts her tail before she squeals.

Of course there are those that use ginger or pepper juice or some other irritant to get this result. And yes, as stated it is not allowed at competitions.

What we do is set the horse and press on the croup area to level the horses topline. We do this as a training technique and with consistant training you can condition this into most horses. We call them "buttons". Many of the pony's have these buttons, over their croup and one on each side of the withers and then on the front ankles....

Good luck with training your mini.

 

[mininik]

"What we do is set the horse and press on the croup area to level the horses topline. We do this as a training technique and with consistant training you can condition this into most horses. We call them "buttons". Many of the pony's have these buttons, over their croup and one on each side of the withers and then on the front ankles...." skanzler

...but what if your horse has Cankles?

 

[skanzler]

Ok, Nicole.......Remember, I know where you live, oh yeah and work.....

 

[Alex]

OMG!! You almost made me choke on Cranberry Juice!!!!!

 

[nootka]

Ok, *tongue in cheek, here*...if your horse has "cankles" you must sweat them. The ankle area is typically bony, so any excess flesh is going to be mostly water and fat. Put mini-sweats on these (perhaps you could adapt human wristbands) and then work your horse 'til they have svelte little ankles, not cankles!

So I have NEVER put anything under my horse's tails, and I find that the best way to get them to lift their tail out and up is curiosity and natural tendency/nice hip. The horses with the poorer hips are not going to be able to flag their tails, and the effect won't be as nice.

The horse in my avatar, while not flagged (it is more like just hanging where it does), is just fine for a horse w/his short/weakish hip. If he had a better hip, he might just be able to hold his tail higher more naturally because he has the attitude to do so, and does so in a manner that he can, considering his build.

His little brother has a nicer hip, and holds his away from his body more so when he is interested in something. For example, his ears go up, his eyes light up, and his tail naturally raises a little, creating an overall pleasing, curving line through the body, something that is visible from a distance in a balanced horse. It IS preferable in that a balanced horse is more likely to be chosen in a halter class, but not just because the tail is "up."

Still not flagged, but you can see how he holds his tail a bit away from his body, which creates enough of a nice line, to me, compared to a clamped tail (mostly horses that are nervous will do this, or ones that just have the build to hold their tail flat, like his brother above).

This mare naturally holds her tail a little more high:

I have NEVER gingered a horse, EVER (not that mine have "that look" mine are not nearly that flagged), all this I have posted here is natural, and so is this:

(same horse)

I hope some of that made sense and you can forgive my silliness over the cankles. I don't think ankle sweats would be a good thing at all, seriously.

IF your horse had cankles.



Liz