| When you lead your horse and stop him, try | | | | way you point while holding the lead rope puts a |
| squaring him up. This means his two front feet | | | | certain kind of pressure on the halter and helps |
| are directly across from each other and his two | | | | him learn what to do. When you point to the |
| back feet are directly across from each other. | | | | other front foot, the pressure is applied |
| Squaring up a horse isn't as easy as it may sound. | | | | differently on his face from the halter. |
| You keep moving them around until you get a | | | | When he learns that the pressure to that |
| foot where you want it, but once you do they | | | | particular spot on his face is applied, that cues him |
| move another foot. Then, they're still not squared | | | | to move that foot. This is a great way to |
| up. | | | | maintain consistency in this aspect of training your |
| Remember the horse has no idea what you | | | | horse for halter, because if you ask for square up |
| actually want at this stage. As you keep moving | | | | differently each time your horse will be confused |
| his feet he will continue to willingly move them but | | | | and will never know what you want. |
| in the beginning like any other skill it may not be | | | | Knowing how to square up is an investment in |
| pretty and will need practice and repetition. Like | | | | respect between you and your horse. In other |
| any training, after a while he'll get good at it | | | | words, anytime you get a horse to move it builds |
| because you've done it enough and he'll know | | | | respect for you in his mind. Another benefit is |
| what you want. | | | | that you are actually moving around your horse a |
| But to speed up the process of moving the | | | | lot and getting into different positions to check |
| correct foot when asked there is a little trick that | | | | feet and so on. All this movement and messing |
| assists the horse to learn and makes it easier to | | | | around gets your horse used to you moving |
| move the correct foot when asked. As you're | | | | around and so he'll eventually relax as you walk |
| holding the lead rope just below where it clips to | | | | around him. You definitely want that when a |
| the halter, point your pinky at the foot you want | | | | farrier or vet visits as they tend to move around |
| him to move. | | | | a horse a fair bit. |
| So here's the picture, you're standing on the right | | | | So ultimately teaching your horse to square up |
| side of the horse up by his head with your left | | | | and get used to movement around him translates |
| hand holding the lead rope just below the halter. | | | | into a better and safer relationship with your |
| You point to his left front foot because you need | | | | horse for you and everyone else. |
| him to move it back a little to be square. The | | | | |