How do I train my horse to stand square?

[Em 1]

I'd like to take my gelding to a few shows this summer both in-hand and ridden. Later I'd like to progress to some baby dressage tests. I know that it is important to halt square when riding and to be able to stand my horse up square for the judge but I've no idea how to train him to do this:rolleyes:

He currently halts and sometimes stands up with both forelegs beautifully square and together but he always seems to have one hindleg forwards of the other. The very few times he does stand square, he has his hindlegs so far apart it looks like he is wearing wet knickers :D I try to 'nudge' him forwards to bring the hind legs in line but he always seems to take a double step so we end up back where we started!

How can I train him to balance evenly on four legs both under saddle and in hand?

Many thanks:)

[rianne21]

:D Sorry i am not much help... I had to have a bit of a giggle.. I kinda cheated when pascal was rideable and even now she isn't!! All i have to do if on the ground, is point to the hoof out of place,and say "pick it up" and she would straighten herself out to be square! and when on her i just said "pascal listen" and she would drop her ear inwards, and wait for me to say "pick it up" then she would stand square hehe!!

But then, she was a trained police horse so i kinda got to cheat hehe!! ;):rolleyes::D

but oh the song and dance my cob used to throw when i asked him!!

[Sexy Sietske]

Horses stand square naturally, or dont :p My welsh cob is very square and stands up and poses without any reason to pose for other than that she thinks she is gorgeous :p

My gelding however stands like he needs a poo all the time :rolleyes: For showing its ok for the back legs to be wonky (correct me if i am wrong) but as far as im aware it shows off the back legs better so both sides of the leg can be seen.

To stand square in hand just keep backing them up a little until it looks right :p For ridden you can use 2 poles and get the horse to stand with feet behind each pole so they learn to stand parellel then remove the poles.