How to Stand Up an Arabian Horse for Halter

The halter class at a horse show is similar to a beauty competition. In these classes, a judge is looking for the horse he believes has the best conformation and movement. Over the years, exhibitors have developed a stance for the Arabian horse that showcases its elegant lines. In this stance, the horse is asked to position itself so that the cannon bone of one hind leg, usually the right, is perpendicular to the ground, while the other leg is set slightly behind it. The Arabian horse is then encouraged to hold its head high, with its neck slightly stretched out. With time and patience, even an amateur owner can teach most Arabian horses how to stand properly for a judge.

Things You'll Need

  • Arabian horse halter
  • Whip (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Teach your Arabian horse to come to a complete stop on command. Lead the Arabian at a walk and then ask it to stop, using a vocal command like, "Whoa." Be firm and make it stand quietly in one place for 1 minute.

    • 2

      Walk the horse forward and then repeat the process. Do this several times. Keep your training sessions to 15 minutes or less so that the horse does not get bored or stressed.

    • 3

      Work on positioning the rear of the horse after it has learned to stop and stand in one place. Teach the horse the correct hind-end positioning by walking backward, facing the horse and keeping it on a short lead. Watch to see when the horse is about to pick its right hind foot off the ground and ask it to stop. You may also want to use a visual cue such as a raised hand.

    • 4

      Correct the hind-feet positioning by asking the horse to back into position, if necessary. Settle the animal into place if its feet are in the correct stance. After making the horse stand for a few moments, have it walk forward and repeat the process several times.

    • 5

      Teach the horse to stand correctly with its front feet once it understands how you want its rear positioned. If the horse's front feet are not even or square, apply gentle pressure to the lead rope or halter to get the horse to move in the desired direction. Use a command such as, "Foot," so that eventually the horse will understand you want it to move a foot into place, not walk forward.

    • 6

      Praise the horse when it correctly moves a foot into the correct position. If the horse moves too far, patiently back it into the desired stance or start over.

    • 7

      Train the horse to drop its head to pressure. Apply downward pressure to the horse's lead. When the horse responds by dropping its head, let up on the lead to reward the animal.

    • 8

      Repeat asking the horse to drop its head until it lowers it to the ground when asked.

    • 9

      Raise your horse's head and ask it to stretch its neck out by applying upward pressure on the lead. Raise your hand up high so the horse has a visual cue. Hold up a whip in your other hand to catch the horse's attention or put a horse treat on the end of the whip to entice the horse to reach for it.

    • 10

      Practice on a consistent basis so the horse will understand how to stand in the show ring.