It's Hip To Be Square

Tonight, instead of putting up a pattern, I thought I'd talk about set ups. Snoring, snoozeville, yes, I know, BUT if you have a lousy set up, the rest of that "perfect" pattern means squat! Ok, so widely known, you should have the "perfect" setup in under 3 seconds, so we know quickness counts, but so does squareness. The front feet should be a mirror of the back feet, as well as the horse should not be too stretched out or bunched up, all under 3 seconds...sounds like an almost impossible task, doesn't it? However, consistant practice helps. I will say, when I'm "serious" with my showmanship, I practice over 50 set ups a day until it is automatic with my horse (read that to be about an hours practice each day). It will take anywhere from 3 to 6 months of consistant practice to get there. Now, with all this practice, take a moment after a set up and walk around your horse like you were a judge. Do all your feet LOOK square from ALL SIDES of your horse? What may look square to YOU the EXHIBITOR, many not look square to the JUDGE. Get that horse square to the JUDGE and then go back to the exhibitor set up stance and see how it SHOULD look to you.
Practice setting up from all facets of manuevers; backing, walking, spinning, pull turn, trotting, etc.. You will find your horse will easily set up with one manuever, but maybe not all, concentrate on the more difficult manuevers for your horse, so that they become easy and automatic. Be sure to practice doing different things while your practicing setting up...trot off, stop, set up, spin, set up, walk, stop, back, setup. This will not only keep you from getting bored, but your horse as well.
Who knew, it really IS hip to be square?