Why should I teach my horse to do this?

You will need to learn to square the back hooves first so that you can then square all four hooves and be able to balance your horse. For a full explanation see Squaring The Horse’s Front Hooves.

Why do you only want me to learn to square the back hooves in this lesson?

It is difficult for the horse to learn the correct placement of his front and back hooves, so I break it down into two separate sessions. After you and your horse learn how to square the back hooves, you will then move on to square both the front and the back.

What type of equipment do I need to do this exercise?

Outfit your horse in a halter and lead rope, with or without a chain, depending on your horse and your skill level. See Lead Ropes for some tips on this subject.

Place a cone, water bottle, or an over turned bucket to mark the spot where you will be working.

Another trick I use is:
Draw a box around your horse in the sand or dirt with a stick. Stay inside the box! Don’t travel during this exercise.

The cone or box will help you to remember to stay in place, working from hoof to hoof, forward and backward.

Which back hoof should I move first?

As a general rule start with the hoof that is most out of alignment.

How do I do this?

Using a lead rope, hold the lead about twelve inches from where it connects to the horses halter. Always look at the hoof you will be moving. You should always be using your right hand as you stand on the horses left side, facing his hooves with your body.

Pull or gently pull and release the lead rope to pull the horses back hoof forward or backward.

How will I know when my horse’s hooves are in the correct position?

When you have the hooves square they will be directly beneath the horse, not out behind him or too far under him. They will also be about four inches apart.

Some Important Points:

Be patient it takes a long time for the horse to learn what you want him to do. Whatever hoof you pick, stay with that particular hoof the whole time, moving back and forth until it is where it belongs.

The amount of pressure you use on the lead is directly in proportion to just how far your horse will move his hoof.

When the horse places his two hind hooves in the correct place say “whoa” firmly and look him directly in the eye.

Allow the horse stand in the correct position for a few minutes to get used to the placement.

Reminder:
During this exercise only say “Whoa” when both hooves are placed correctly. That tells the horse he is correct. If you say “whoa” when he is not correct, you’re being inconsistent and confusing.

Troubleshooting:

If your horse just doesn’t get it, it’s OK to pick up the hoof and place it where it belongs. When you get it in the correct spot say “whoa” firmly and look him in the eye.

If you practice squaring your horse as much as possible he will begin to do it automatically making your job much easier!

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