Correct Horse Handling Prepares for Show Season

Did you know that the positions your farrier asks you to stand while he is working on your horse prepares you for your show season? Yup, the places you are instructed to position yourself while the judge is walking around you and your horse originate from safety precautions when holding a horse for the vet, the horseshoer, the chiropractor, etc.
So, if you visualize the reasoning behind where you need to stand when showing your horse at halter it may help you remember where to be when the pressure is on at the show. A couple of examples of where you should be standing while holding your horse for the shoer will help make this clear by pretending the shoer is the judge.
Where does your shoer have you stand while holding the lead when the foot is pulled forward to clinch or rasp flares from the hoof wall? If you stood on the same side the rope would be hanging in the shoer’s face and you would have a tendency to pull the horse’ face into the shoer’s space. If you stand a little to the front and a little to the opposite side, the farrier’s space is clear for work to be done and the shoer’s elbow won’t bump the horse’s nose.
When the farrier is working on the hind foot, he typically wants you to be on the same side, but up towards the head of the horse. Typically, the horse will stand better if the head is held straight or bent a little towards the shoer. If the horse acts up your tendency as a holder is to pull the lead thus pulling the nose in your direction. If you were standing on the opposite side and you pulled the head towards you the horse’s butt would move right into the shoer and his shoeing box. When you are on the same side the horse’s rear end will move away from the shoer. Same with the judge…you don’t want the judge to be in danger, it might reflect on your score!!
As you can begin to see the places where you stand while being judged actually aren’t there to try and foul you up but actually come from common sense safety and horse handling skills. Keep your farrier happy by standing in your show positions and get the top showmanship by applying the common sense rules of where your shoer has you stand.
This was just a simple, fun blog entry, because as you know it is springtime and who wants to be at a computer? Not me. I want to be under a horse or on top of a horse.