How The Amateur Can Prepare His Own Halter Horse For the Show Ring
Does the amateur stand a chance in the halter classes training and showing his own horse? That is the question the Leader has decided to tackle in this issue. Because of the large decline in numbers in the halter classes in recent years, we feel it is necessary to encourage Arabian owners to come back into the show ring as amateurs. Not every horse is a Magnum Psyche but there are still plenty of good horses out there who deserve recognition in the halter arena. So here it goes...
We think it is very possible to show and train your own halter horse. If you have had some lessons from previous trainers, friends or grooms and those who are willing to pass these skills along to others, you can learn to clip, condition and start your own horse. You just need to listen to others, watch a lot and read any material (like this article) that will help you learn and get you started in the right direction.
The first command your horse needs to learn is "Whoa." He needs to know that word and command from the very beginning of training. The horse also needs to learn to respect you and the space that is in front of you and around you.
Keep your lessons short at first and just practice "Whoa." After he understands "Whoa," slowly start walking around him saying "Whoa" and making sure the horse is paying attention to you and standing still. He should always be watching you and nothing else. When a halter horse stands up, he should not move unless you ask him to move. He should move off of your body. You need to work slow and have patience. If the horse moves when you ask him to whoa or stand, that is usually when the force of a shank is used, meaning that the horse needs to be backed up into their original stand. They should be shanked back to their place and then you start over again.
Also, remember when you are starting the halter horse, do not over-work them when standing them or stretching their neck or they will get bored very quickly. Teach the horse how to stand with its front legs parallel to each other and the back right leg stretched out behind the back left leg, so that the horse stands balanced. When asking the halter horse to start showing and stretching their neck slowly bend down in front of the horse and ask him to stand but to follow you with their head and neck.
After they get that pose, slowly start asking them to show their neck from a natural stand coming straight out at you with you standing directly in front of them. You may need to pull their neck out a little at first with your lead so that they get the idea to stretch their neck again, but the halter lead should always act the same as a performance rein. You should not have to have a heavy grip on the halter lead. You want the halter lead to be used as little as possible, just as you would if you were riding your halter horse. Each time the horse gives you a bit more of his neck and head, remember to reward him. Repetition is the key, but also make sure you split up the daily routine so they have some variety. Always reward them when you are finished so they will know they are doing the right thing. A pat on the neck or a horse treat will reinforce your approval.
Any horse can be trained to be a halter horse but they need to also have the conformation and beauty to succeed in the show ring. Make sure your horse meets the standard that the Arabian Horse Association sets up for a halter horse. All of the halter training in the world will not help the horse who has conformational faults. Also make sure, as you are training your halter horse that he is getting the proper conditioning as well. This means he should be worked on a lunge line or free lunged every day for 10 to 15 minutes. Depending on the age, a yearling should be worked up to 10 minutes and the two year old and older should have 15 minutes or more depending on the condition they are in to begin with. Start out slow and build up their exercise time gradually. If your horse is in need of a thinner, sleeker throat latch then a neck sweat should be used when lunging. You can leave the sweat on until the horse's body is dry or when the amount of time that you want him to be in the sweat has passed. Always remember to wash your sweats off with water after each use and make sure they are dry before using them again. This will prevent any skin irritations from occurring.
To clip your horse's body you can use a #10 blade. Also use a Size 10 for the white socks. For the face, a Size 15 can be used. For the eyes, muzzle, inside of ears and bridle path, a Size 40 blade should be used. Keep a small diamond tip on the tip of the ears .
Make sure you are feeding your horse the right nutritional feed. Your veterinarian or local grain elevator can give you advice on this. It also never hurts to add a portion of corn oil to his feed daily. Adding fat to his diet helps the horse acquire a shinier coat.
The last issue we need to address in this article is this: For those of you wanting to train and show your own horse, goals must be set. What exactly are you trying to achieve? Is it a Class A win, open show or Regional show that you are going to compete in? Or maybe it's the satisfaction of training and showing your own horse. Or, perhaps money is the issue and you desire to show your horse but cannot afford a trainer.
Most of us who are average and have daily jobs to go to find it difficult to spend the proper amount of time needed to get the horse in shape. We also do not have the facility required to work the horse properly or keep him stalled while in training. These things will definitely put us at the disadvantage in the show ring. We must set realistic goals, and then, when that unexpected win does happen, it will feel that much more rewarding.
One good place for all of you aspiring to train and show your own halter horse is the MAHA and MAHA Youth Open horse show held in July.
This is an amateur show for anyone who wants to come out and show. Besides being reasonably priced, it is an excellent place to practice for the bigger events and is held in a very non-threatening, casual atmosphere. Make plans now to bring your self-trained halter horse and show him/her next July at Cornerstone Equestrian Center in Hastings, Minnesota . Any questions about this show may be directed to Pat Forehand, 507-263-4485.
From the December 2004 issue of the MAHA Leader.