[equus717]

How to train for western pleasure? Guys I am going to be showing Cutter in more shows next year late. I do a lot of walking with her but her head is still a little high for what I need. Do you all think that a tiedown would benefit us for a while until she learns to carry her head down? What else do I need to work on? I also do a lot of backing with her but she throws her head up when she backs. I have a friend that will be helping me out but he will not be taking over until March of next year. I am wanting to work her through the winter and see what I can get accomplished so when he takes over her training she knows some things really well. I can train a horse for just regular riding but when it comes to more advanced training for a specific discipline I am out of my league a little. I have trained barrel horses but never western pleasure. I need help on where to really get her sarted at. She does do transitions from walk to trot and even lopes off fairly easily. I do not have to
pull on her to get her to do what I need her to do. She is a 3 year old and will be officially a 4 year old on Jan. 2, 2010. I want advice on what else I need to do with her. This is her first trail ride that I took her on and she did great out on the trails. The pic is of my bf riding her at Dale Hollow Lake. That was a 18 mile ride.

 

[GottaRide]

"How to train for western pleasure" is a loaded question. There are so many specifics that cannot be written in a forum post. I would suggest to get the basics down with walk, trot, canter, back, pivots, sidepass, lateral flexion, vertical flexion, & leg pressure, then when you can find a trainer to help you, you'll be ready to move on to the WP training.

I would not use a tie down to get her to keep her head down at this point. It sounds like she's just learning things & she will eventually learn to keep her head where you want it when lateral & vertical flexion are taught to her & you ride her correctly giving her a release/reward at the appropriate times.

 

[Beling]

I hear the standards are changing again-- this time for the good: the low head isn't going to be so admired, and "peanut rollers" are going to be penalized. So aim for balanced, which is what you're already doing!

 

[equus717]

I can do the lateral flexion but how so you do vertical flexion? I am unsure on how to accomplish this.

 

[GottaRide]

Lateral flexion leads to vertical flexion:
Lateral Flexion is The Key to Vertical Flexion with horses

 

[equus717]

Thanks for the link. I enjoyed reading that. I plan on riding tomorrow and will see if I can get the vertical or not. I will let you know. It has been a while since I have been in the saddle with her almost 3 months. Between work and kids I am finding it hard to ride right now.