Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Standing quietly at halter

From: Elizabeth

I have a 4 year old paint mare who I'd like to show this year in halter and showmanship classes. My problem is that I'm not sure how to ask her to stand quietly when there is so much for her to see, hear and explore at the show grounds (or even at home). When we try this at home she pays no attention to me and while she won't pull away from me, she will push me out of her way if she wants to turn around and see something or call to another horse. How should I go about problem solving this? Thank you Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth! What you have to do is get your mare's attention, and keep it on you for a reasonable amount of time. You can't stand her up and expect her to pay attention to you when you too are looking around at other horses, people, and events.

I think that you and your mare would probably enjoy doing some Clicker Training. Clicker training will help you learn how to get and keep your mare's attention, keep her focused and happy, and - very important - keep YOU focused on HER.

Go to some shows with your mare, don't enter her in any classes, but groom her, band her mane if you want to, and walk her around the grounds for a couple of hours. Let her graze here and there, and get used to the idea of a lot of commotion, trucks, trailers, tents, dust, other horses and riders, the noise of the PA system, etc. If you aren't competing, you won't get tense and worried, and you'll be able to use those first few shows as teaching-time for your mare. Don't try to teach her to set up or do showmanship patterns - the lesson you want to teach her is very simple: Show-grounds Are Nice Places. Once she's relaxed and knows that the commotion and tents and sounds aren't going to hurt her, you can start to use your clicker training to put her through her setting up and patterns. Use lots of praise, lots of treats, lots of clicking - and then take her home.

Go to some shows without your mare, and watch the classes you plan to compete in. Watch the handlers, the horses, and the judge. Don't try to watch everyone at once. Take notes.

Then go home and practice what you've learned. NOW you can start to get ready for a competition!

Here's one showmanship hint: Remember that in a halter class, horses are NOT asked to hold the pose forever. When you've posed your horse in the lineup, look at the judge and notice where s/he is. If the judge is seven horses away from you, and you try to keep your horse perferctly posed and totally attentive until it's her turn to be inspected, she will become bored, frustrated, and cranky. Amateur handlers tend to make this mistake, and it costs them ribbons. Watch the professionals - they let their horses relax while the judge is looking at the other horses, and then ask for the pose and focus while the judge is finishing writing up the previous horse. If you learn to let your horse relax when she can relax, and then ask her to be alert and focused only when she needs to be, she'll always be fresh, eager, and interested whenever the judge is looking at her - not bored, annoyed, ready to go to sleep, or wishing she could bite someone.

Jessica

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