Standing square

Question
Hi Cheri!

I have an almost 11-month old Rocky Mtn. Saddle Horse filly I
think would be fun to show as a yearling in halter classes this
spring.  I have been trying to get her to stand square, but she
seems to find great humor in taking her front foot and reaching
it out as high and far as she can whenever I do this.  She doesn't
do this any other time (such as when cleaning her feet), just
when I'm trying to move her feet around.  Any advice you can
offer?  Thank you!

Answer
Hi Sheree.  Oh Boy!  You hit me with a question that I too sometimes have problems with.  Some horses are just bears to teach to stand square.  I would say the first thing you need to do it teach your horse that raising her foot in the air is the WRONG thing to do.  Use a small crop and tap her leg with it when she waves it in the air.  Get her to put it down.  If she raises it again tap her leg again until she puts it down.  You are going to have to unteach her the wrong behavior before you can teach her the right behavior.

Make sure she has learned to stand completely still with her feet flat on the ground and then go back to trying to tell her where her feet need to be.  Use the toe of your shoe to push her feet where they belong.  Don't try to lift her feet and set them back down.  Also.....  once she is standing still and has learned to stand still....  place your hand on her withers, right below where her mane ends and her back begins.....  pull her withers towards you or to the left to move her right leg forward. Once you have her right leg where you want it, push her withers away from you to move her left foot.  This takes some of the weight off of the leg and they will put it forward in order to regain balance.

So try not moving her feet, and instead use her withers to rock her from left to right and encourage her to move her feet on her own.  I use the withers most of the time when teaching a horse where to place it's feet.  Once in awhile that doesn't work though and I have to resort to pushing their feet forward or back with my foot.

Give it a try and see if that helps.  Make sure you have her standing still first though so that she isn't trying to move around while you are trying to get her foot forward or back an inch here and there.  

Good luck and if you need further explanation be sure to write me and I will try to help.  Good luck in the show ring.
Cheri