standing square

[jadecurtis]

Norm cant do it for the life of him! im trying to practice every time i get him out by giving little nuges to the stray leg/s is there a better way? he doesn't seem to be remembering/learning from it!
help needed!

[dogndobbin]

I know Aster taught Seymour by a finger in the chest to get him to move back if he wasnt standing straight in front. He did learn quite quickly and usually puts himself right. I have heard different opinions about the hindquarters no doubt someone on here can help clarify.
some judges have asked for him to stand square as she usually sets him up with the hind leg closest to the judge slightly further back than the opposite leg. I always think the handler should aim to be as unobtrusive as possible and try and set them up without fiddling too much. Easier with dogs as a clever handler can force an outline. Can anyone else help with this? Should they stand four sqaure or hindlegs off set?
JC I am sure a few minutes a day practice and he will get it.

[dandydand]

i thought it was with the hindlegs thats how i always do it. Soldier stands nice without even being asked to, and Saz will if he's reminded, he stands nice but rests a back leg but after a few 'talking to' outside the ring he normally doesnt do it in the ring lol

[alibi]

jadecurtis said:

Norm cant do it for the life of him! im trying to practice every time i get him out by giving little nuges to the stray leg/s is there a better way? he doesn't seem to be remembering/learning from it!
help needed!

cut them all off and put rockers on him ..... Problem solved ;D

[cubic]

They should be stood so the judge can see all four legs, but with the legs still fairly 'square' at the front. The back leg nearest the judge should be furthest back so your horse doesn't appear to have a straight hindleg when it doesn't, and the front leg nearest the judge should be slightly forward, this gives the illusion of more sloping shoulder. The combined effect is that the horse looks to be 'covering a lot of ground' which is desirable.

As d&d says though, don't spend ages fiddling, if you get it so it's good in terms of what the horse normally stands like, don't keep pushing and pulling until your exactly right. The only times you'd definately move them is if they were resting a leg, crossing their back legs or standing like they've just had a wee!

[dogndobbin]

Good tip about the front Cubic. Think it looks awful when the front is positioned too far under the shoulder or too far in front (ie rocking horse effect) but leg nearest judge slighty forward makes sense. We also teach ours to stand still when the handler moves to the side. I have noticed some handlers stand front on all the time and therefore the judge does not get a good look at the front or head.

[jadecurtis]

i need to get his square for dressage though?!?
thans for the tips my fav is chopping them off and put rockers on - he cant get abcess if he hasnt got legs!

[beverley16]

how is his foot jade?

[beverley16]

how is his foot jade?

might norm look like this?

[jadecurtis]

very nice. has john got a chain saw i can borrow? his foot is better now just have to wait untill its healed over. im lunging at the mo with his boot (which still doesn't stay on!)

[sarah]

I know someone who everytime he takes his pony back in the stable before hes allowed to eat his dinner he pushes him back until he stands up square then lets him off to eat he automatically does it now. While on the horse I know Lou who rides my pony she gets her to rein back until she is standing square this really works.

[jadecurtis]

thanks for that ill try and remember to do it every day