I am into horse showing, and just another class I could do is Showmanship. My horse trots off, he has nice conformation (which I know doesn’t matter is showmanship) and he can stand square for hours. However, he doesn’t pivot. We are in the process of training him to pivot, but I need tips on how to teach him better. Right now we work on quarter turns, and I put the crop to his shoulder and push him (I don’t hit him) and then if he does it, I praise him, walk four steps and do the next quarter pivot. If he doesn’t do it, I just walk on and say "no’ or just ignore him.
Does anyone have any tips?
Any answers I find rude WILL be reported’ so please no rude answers.
Thanks!
I trained my horse to pivot by letting her stand for about 15 seconds. Then I put a little pressure on head to step away from me. Not back, just to the right and a little back. When she gives to the pressure, I take it off. But, do not reward if she moves her back feet. If she does that do less back and more right. Good luck! And have fun showing!
This is like putting a spin in a car! I rush my horse & squeeze my leg & slightly pull the reins in a quick direction i want it to go. this will introduce the pivot! but do make sure it has age of 5 or more. pivots can quickly injure the joints. i do hope this helps some. keep at it & don’t give in, but give a gentle voice, firm hand & a treat!
well it seems that the way ur teaching him is thru only a little good praise, and nothing more. so he doesn’t comprehend what is "right" and what is "wrong". take ur crop, and while walking in the direction of how u want him to turn (stand at his ears) and repetitively cluck and push at his face. dont hit him or even touch him, but once u get him crossing his front legs and pivoting on the back. good luck!