The rescue place I got my sweet ShotGun from is having a playday in April. They have what they call a beginners lead in event.
Now my mini is so well mannered he will do anything I ask of him. The only problem is, I have no idea what to have him do for this event. My 4 year old grandson will either be riding him or leading, not sure yet how it works.
He has lead him around our small motorcycle track with no problems, even trotted him a few feet. Neither had a problem. But I want to make sure ShotGun is perfect in the arena.
What are some exercises I can start now to train him to do all of this please?
1. How do I get him to um square off I think the word is? stand straight like he is posing?

2. How do I get him to go from a walk to a trot with out pulling on his lead rope?

3. How would I teach him to work on a lounge line?

4. How would I train him to jump a 10 inch to 12 inch pole jump on the lead?

5. Besides the normal grooming, brushing him down good, combing out his very long mane and tail, what else should I do to make him look even more handsome for the arena?


Since ShotGun is suppose to be a dapple gray and his tack is black, should I use vet wrap for his legs in black and would it make him look better?
He doesn't have a saddle, just a brand new saddle pad with stirrups and matching black nylon bridle with a 3 1/2 inch snaffle.

Please, any advice suggestions, plain ole telling me how is so welcomed!!
I do listen and heed advice very well! heheh

Thanking all of you in advance for any help!

JoeAnn

Hmm.. I don't know about mini showing
But I like matching leg wraps, and maybe
you can teach him a click command to trot
on voice que, like a cluck? Without tugging
the lead rope.

I thought of that or maybe a clicker? Ive been watching alot of videos where they use a clicker?? Think that would work?

I think it would be good to clicker train.. But I think it is
best to use your own "click" with your voice so you won't
need to take a clicker with you, but clicker training really
does work well, from what i've heared.

Sure would be nice if that would work. Should I give a treat each time he does it? How long should I wait, <ie> when I say "step" and I count to 10, to me that is to long to wait. Am I wrong or should I wait longer after repeating myself.

Thank you Christina, that helps. Ive been up all night reading. The family finally left, hubby is in bed snoring.
I had this big fancy dinner all planned and guess what? My bloody stove goes out and I have no way to cook! So I get a bit pissy heheh. Ended up outside with my grill and a campfire. I had to bake the ham until it was almost done, took a very long time. then ended up frying it, so we had fried ham, green beans with bacon, onions and tiny tators, fried corn bread and some fried cabbage!. It actually tasted better to me then if it was cooked on the stove. Only thing is it took longer, everyone was starving, I had the kids get the trucks, pulled around so they could all sit on the tail gates with sleeping bags, blankets, all bundled up and we had a yoyo contest hehehe. I came in almost last. The dogs, goats and ShotGun was getting treats from everyone.
Who would have thought a cheapo dollar toy would be so much fun. They all lit up and all around you could see blue, red, green and pinks lights going up and down! Nobody really whined or got pissy except me at first because I always put on such a big spread and was afraid everyone was going to go hungry but they seemed fine about it.
My 2 are used to me cooking on a open fire but to have to rush around and figure out what to do was such a blasted pain!!

As far as vanity goes:
You can give him a bath, there is a specific kind of shampoo made for light colored horses. I cannot remember the name of it, I have a little left and it does work.
Besides that, Show sheen works WONDERS for making their coat, mane and tail shine and gleam. It also works as a detangler. I buy it in a spray bottle.
Hoof polish, black for dark hooves and clear for pink hooves.
You can clip the muzzle, ears, around the base of the hoof, under the chin for tidiness.
Generally, they don't allow polo wraps or any kind of leg wraps in a halter class, but they do sound so cute!

Thank you!
I have that color hair that is a mix of black, silver, gray and white hehehe So I use Pantene Shampoo for us gray foxes hehehe I am going to trim his tail a few inches today, I noticed it is dragging the ground and he had weeds in it. I am going to buy a cheap set of dog clippers to get him used to the sound and feel etc. Now a stupid question, ok well maybe a few heheh

1. When I am working with him here at home, should I just use his regular halter and lead or get him a show halter and lead so he can get used to it?

2. Should I trim the hair back from the coronet above his hoof or leave it natural?

3. How far should I stand from him when leading? He walks with me now with out the lead and bumps me with his head.

4. Also how would I get him to stand square with the lead?

I'll start with your questions from your first post and finish with your last;
When you are leading him, with him an arms length off your right side. When you stop he should stop [if he doesn't a short jerk with the lead and use the word whoa] Then by pushing him -with the halter- back very slowly until his hind feet are fairly close, then by either pulling forward or just using your toe against his cornet band you square up the front. When turning he should always turn away from you.

Most horses will maintain the same pace as you do. But, make sure you step off with your right foot first and incline your shoulder [the shoulders you do naturally] For lazy/stubborn have a helper and when you strike off @ a jog, have them give him a good wack across his behind. Common sense- use a longish whip and do NOT stand directly behind him. It won't take many wacks.

Lungeing start small work out to big. Start with your lead rope and make a triangle-going left,but same goes for right just opposite- Hold the rope in the left hand whip with end touching ground in right, you slightly behind his middle. Offer your left hand away from your body and raise the whip, he will walk off, but it may only be a step or two. Start again, when he goes both ways fairly easily go to a longer line. Remember he should not carreen around bucking/farting.

AQHA-Was right on as far as grooming. But don't cut his tail. Use a detangler and braid it up.

You can work him in his regular halter, but you will want to use his show equipment a few times before the show. Don't try anything new the day of. It always turns out bad.

You can trim his leg hairs, but try to match to body hair length.

His bumping you, needs to stop now. That shows a lack of respect and he is showing that he thinks he is dominate over you. Again with a jerk and a arms length distance rule.
Any hand fed treats are a bad idea.

Chapter book, sorry kinda long.

I love the long posts keep them comming!! They help me learn so much and I thank you!!

Ok, so no more bumping, he used to be a lead around pony at a fair I think and has never had a bridle on until I put it on him. He jangled the thing so bad I took it off, plus it needs to be adjusted but at least he did take it!

Lunging, I have done it before with big horses but they already knew how and I need to train my self as well. Thank you telling me how to start him on it. I can do that!!

Never thought of which foot to step off with omg thank you!! common sense but didn't even think about it at all!
This is just a play day but it will be good for all of us to do something with him besides rub all over him and tell him how handsome he is! heheh
Im always loving on him, rubbing his belly, rubbing his man parts to get him used to it. I have to clean his sheath, which again I never thought of so am getting him used to me touching him there. His lil um bits are so small and wooly!! heheh

I want him to be perfect and act perfect when we are there so will be working with him every day.
Ok so no more treats, I was giving him a carrot, celery or left over lettuce as a treat but will stop!!
Thank you so much, yall have got to be the best!!

Oh yes, keep the tail! Long beautiful tails are a plus. If you wash it the day before or before trailering, to keep it clean you can braid and tie up, or use a long sock and tuck the tail neatly inside with a rubber band around the top. Keeps it tidy and out of manure/mud/dirts way!

ShotGuns castle keeps springing leaks, so I need to get some more plywood, nails and so forth. Thought I had it all fixed but guess not.
Plus my silly buck keeps jumping the door to get in with him and I am afraid he may gore him with his long horns so have to figure out something for him as a pen.

Busy busy all the time it seems!
He loves carrots, celery. lettuce and apples. I bought two apples a week when I remeber to and halve them for him hehehe.

Would it be ok to wash his tail as cold as it is here? Kinda silly question since it is raining and he likes being out in the rain heheh. I dry him off and brush him every time I feed so I know that helps.

I have some old mane and tail shampoo and was thinking of using that then maybe braiding it and using the sock to keep it clean?
Would that be the best thing to do?

Beautiful tails are a plus Tack shops sell tail/mane covers to
keep them clean/tidy if you don't have any.

Hey again AQHAbreeder I'm going to change the signature today

Cool beans! Will have to go shopping hehehe. I just watched a video of the Grand NAtional for Shetlands!! omg how cute!

Shetlands are very cute.. Congrats on picking
that breed, they are cute little spunky ponies!