hey. I am going to be training my filly to be a western and english show horse. I am just starting out in english, but am a really good western rider. My other horse is a good gamer, but is way to hot headed to show. My filly is a BIG quarter horse/paint. she is a line-back dun and is gorgeous! she is already 15 something hands and is only 3! I will have my moms help too. so my question is ... how do I start her out going nice and slow so she doesn't even think about going fast? (I know I will have to train her to go slow) and is it possible to have a western/english pleasure horse? which should I teach her first? or both at the same time? what are some thing I can do to make her an amazing show horse? cause I want to start out training her right. also she is SUPER calm! the first time I sat on her she fell asleep! we haven't put the bridle in while I ride yet, cause we are taking things slow so we get everything right. please help !!!!!!
1. As a stock-type horse, she might already have reached her maximum size. She might not grow anymore, or she might - but probably not a lot. Stock type horses (QHs, Paints, etc.) mature fairly quickly when compared to other breeds.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
2. You can't "train" a WP horse to go slow if they aren't suited for it. Her natural gaits are what's most important. You can improve upon them, but you can't change them completely. How is she built and how does she move? If she's a long strided, forward moving horse, she might be suited better for English (HUS). If she's really uphill, quick, etc. then she may need to be in another discipline entirely. If she's naturally level across the top when she moves and moves fairly slowly in a relaxed (natural) manner - not when you're hanging on her mouth holding her back - she might make a WP horse. But remember, a good WP horse is natural. If she's slow but it's because she's breaking gait every other step or because she's not using her body, she won't place. She needs to have rhythm and impulsion while still staying slow. It's a whole lot harder than it looks. WP is not the "easy" class for horses that can't do anything other than walk/jog/lope in a circle - it requires a lot of talent and ability to move correctly (and on a loose rein!). Focus on her movement right now, then slow it down. Since you seem to have very little experience in WP/HUS (judged classes) or any idea how to start her, I suggest that you seek out a good trainer in those events who can help you. I've ridden my entire life, had shown through the regional level, had shown in the same events I wanted my (then) new horse to do, knew what a WP horse was supposed to look like (through youth judging contests at the national level), had a horse who was bred top and bottom for WP, and had ridden very young/green/just-started horses, and I still looked for (and needed) help training my horse to do WP. I did a lot myself, but I needed someone to help guide me and be someone to watch and tell me how we were doing. I still need someone occasionally, even though he's now 7 1/2 and shows AQHA and does pretty well.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com 3. It is very possible to have a horse that does WP/HUS, but not as likely that you'll have a horse who excels in both because the movement is so different, and again, it's not something you teach. It's natural. You can improve upon it, and you can train your horse to adjust his movement depending on what you ask, but a really nice HUS horse is probably that was because they naturally move out with really long, forward strides. That makes it much harder for them to collect and slow down to a WP jog. Some horses can do it, but many can't. That doesn't mean they can't do it decently enough to show in it, but you probably won't have a world champion in both events. Many people look for great all-around horses, though, and you can certainly do both.
4. Taking things slow is fine; skipping steps is not. She needs to already be used to the bridle and bit and start learning the rein/bit cues.
5. The most important thing you can do for her is to expose her to new things. Haul her to shows or clinics or other events - any place she'll encounter horses, people, etc .-- and let her get used to it, even if you have no intentions to show her. Show her in a halter or showmanship class to get her in the arena, or lunge/hand-walk her in the arena during a break. Tie her to a rail near where horses are schooling and let her get used to all that activity. Calm is great, but if she's in a brand new place with a ton of new horses zooming in every direction, she may panic. This is probably more true at lower level shows where you ' re more likely to have nutty horses, young horses, beginner riders, etc. who cause wrecks/sudden noises/etc. Even if she's calm at shows, a good judged event horse doesn't show any interest in the ring. If a horse whinnies, she shouldn't whinny back. If a horse comes up beside her, she shouldn't raise her head. She may be calm about it, but you need to take her to enough places so that it's not really interesting or exciting and she doesn't react to it.
