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University Suggestion Box

In hand show ettiquette

By:
Denea
Date:
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

I know this is a touchy subject for some but would love to see both English and Western Instructors who show in hand and how they use Monty's methods. I agree with Monty that a horse should lead with their nose at my shoulder however that is not what judges wish to see. They want me at the horses shoulder (which when you have to turn so that the horse is going to the right with you on the left is not easy or safe to do) whether it be at a walk or a trot.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I would like to eventually compete with my boy in Barrels, Games and the occasional pleasure event however feel that something like a nice quiet breed show is good experience for getting them out and used to all the happenings without the pressure of having to concentrate under saddle at the same time. (In saying that he's finally going away in February to be started and I can't wait)

This could be a very beneficial series of lessons from horse people from all over the world. (I'm in Australia where judges have some funny ideas about things)

beryl
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

Judges have funny ideas about things all over the world!!!!
In the UK they still like them obese from what i've seen, doesn't mean you should have your horse like that though.

Mel - Ramsgate UK
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

when you have training session with your boy, teach him to accept you dropping back to his shoulder but make sure your head and eye movements are precise, he will be watching you as a leader even though you've dropped back.

I encourage our guys to follow my head movement with a word too. I've got issues on my left side from a stroke I had when I was 32 so all my training is done with my strong side, this being the case when I want the boys to turn when I'm on the ground I turn my lead left and say turn then move my arm out to ensure their feet go around me and not into me, they follow my hand so move slightly away from me. to turn right I look over their neck and tap their shoulder with my elbow, and expand my stride to go around with them.

at the end if the inhand training, I ask for back up then I come back to the safe way and encourage the sweet spot at my shoulder. the horses come to realise when they are being trained in something different.

remember you do have an advantage that you are aiming to work in partnership with your horse, once they understand what it is you are doing the transition between in hand and normal leading will come into play.

Mel x

beryl
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

one thing i find useful when i ride & lead is to point to the left to give Ebby the aid to turn away from Lib as they do tend to vie for the lead!!!
by doing that Eb moves over out of Libby's face so she can make the turn without them trying to fight - mares!!!

Miriam (Holland&Germany)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi all,
What could help with the transition from sweetspot to shoulderposition is to watch Florian Oberparleiter's Libertytraining on this Uni. He drops back and picks up, still the horse is totally with him.Breathing, eyemovement and -direction, all works in your favor when the horse learns incrementally.
Have fun with it!
Miriam

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

It is an interesting debate this one. Do we teach the horse to conform to show requirements or do we campaign to change the way the showing world operates? Beryl is right about favouring obese ponies in the UK showing and it is very unhealthy; as is covering them in baby oil to make them shine, pulling their manes, hitting them with 'show sticks' leading and running them out at the shoulder so that after many years they develop a 'banana shape'...I think you can guess which approch I would prefer to see us take :-) Montys videos on leading a horse demonstrate this beautifully and how it affects their gate, length of stride, and spinal shaping.

Mel - Ramsgate UK
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

You've hit the nail on the head there Vicci, rather than campaign, why not just start of our own show and own rules? based on the naturalness of the horse and the bond between horse and owner?

Denea
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Thank you for all the responses so far. Yes I agree Beryl, Judges are just NUTS!!! I personally believe in keeping my boy on the slightly heavy side of healthy at the moment but he's going through almost constant growth spurts so by the end of each phase of growth he's still at a health condition.

It is pretty mental, I really enjoyed Florian's video's on the liberty training but agree with all of you in that we really need to change the way judges think about what is safe and what is best for the horse and handler. I have started teaching my boy to respond to where my hand is placed when leading as to where I want his feet so that I can transition from left to right and back again without him walking over me and have started including vocal commands to him so that he gets used to that as I obviously can't point to which side I want him on in the show ring. (Though we'd do much better if they did it free than on a lead :P). I still think it would be a wonderful series to be able to watch how top instructors and competitors do it but thank you all so much for your answers so far. Has given me a few things to think on.

beryl
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

You can use subtle pointing in the show ring by teaching your horse to follow your hand position, it doesn't have to be very obvious.
I used to play with my two on the ground a lot when they were young, i used a row of electric fence posts & taught them to weave in & out like dogs do with me walking on one side of the posts & indicating with a finger away from me & to me; they soon learn to notice the tiniest indication. That is why Ebony will turn away from us when i ride & lead.
They also move both the front & back end independently by showing them a flat hand or again a finger. It's all down to incremental learning.

Denea
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

That's clever. I love it. :D Thanks

beryl
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

have fun

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