help needed

Question
i have a four year old Thoroughbred. he was trained for racing but was to slow to race. so i sent him away to be educated as a show horse about two months ago. he's behavior has improved slightly but he still has the habit of pawing the ground and moving sideways everything i ask him to stand squire. how do i stop him from doing this?

Answer
Hi - it sounds to me like he still needs some time and more work. 2 months is not a long time for a horse to be 'retrained' - especially depending on how many days a week he is worked with.

Is he still in training or 'done' - remember every day is a training opportunity, no matter how 'finished' a horse is.

As for his pawing - is it digging all the way to China pawing or just pawing at the ground to get attention? If it to get attention, you need to teach him that pawing is NOT the way to get attention - only when he stops pawing do you pay him any attention - even the act of reprimanding him while he is pawing is paying attention to him.....make sense?

Now for the standing square - this you need to work on from the ground first.  Ask him to stand, I (and my trainer) actually use the word 'stand' - if/when he moves, even if it is a foot - put him back where you want him and tell him to 'stand'........when he quietly stands, tell him to move out, walk etc......this is not a 'quick fix' - it will take time and patience...you may have to work with him for quite a while the first time  but as you progress he should stand sooner and sooner.  Even if he shifts a leg - put it back where you want it and tell him to stand - do not allow an INCH!  

Really this is a VERY important thing to teach - my trainer also works with and 'elderly' friend - who needs all her horses to stand quietly until she is ready to move.

I hope this helps - please let me know if you have more questions!