Agility and Pedestal

By Suzanne De Laurentis ©2007, Imagine A Horse

Equine Agility or Enlightened Trick Training can begin with a horse of any age from a young foal to a fully mature performance horse. Since horses are a precocial species, they are neurologically mature shortly after birth or in other words, ready to learn.

Enlightened Trick Training involves the use of stage and working props to help a horse understand quickly the physical aspects of the requests. The Extreme Cowboy Race that is so popular right now and breed Versatility classes, utilize many natural and manmade obstacles. Obstacles are a natural part of a horse’s environment.

Pedestals serve as a place or a mark for the horse and give him a home base from which to work and await a command or cue. Pedestal work helps to develop physical dexterity while increasing self-confidence and channeled boldness.

Since horses are a flight species they can benefit greatly from the utilization of the “Stay” or “Whoa” command. Pedestal training gives a horse somewhere to go, rather than to just act out on his flight instinct and get away. Ground tying and the Whoa are widely taught to pleasure and performance horses and pedestal training adds a new measure of reliability and interest to horse education in controlling the flight instinct because it gives the horse a place to stay. Quiet feet equal a focused mind.

Here’s how to get started

Pedestals

• Standard sized pedestals are 20 x 42 and 36 x 36

NOTE: If you will email the author, she will email construction directions with pictures. Variations include Revolving Top Pedestal and Multi-tiered or stair step pedestal also various sizes.

Goal

• The horse should stand quietly until released
• To be able (in time) to send the horse to any pedestal, at liberty

Benefits

• A radical change in a horse’s ability to stand quietly and also to focus

Cues

• Verbal Cue is “Step Up”
• Physical Cue could be a touch on the front leg with the end of a short whip

Tips Before you start:

• Teach your horse to Park Out and also to move and/or lift each foot (all 4) when cued.

With some horses it works well to place the pedestal in a corner or along a wall or safe fence to prevent the horse from evading it.

Steps

Teach the horse to step up on a pedestal with the front feet first. Approach the pedestal and if the horse will pick up a front foot, cue him to place it on the pedestal. If he does not pick up the foot, pick it up and place it on the pedestal for him.

It is best to use a no nonsense approach to the leg lift. A horse must willingly give his foot when asked and to facilitate this if he does not do so, tap him on the ankle with the end of a whip.

Offering the foot willingly should be a behavior that is instilled in the horse before beginning Pedestal Training. You may experiment with the handle of a dressage length whip or the snap to see which works best. As with all good horsemanship, strive to use the mildest effective cue for the individual horse.

When he allows you to place his foot on the pedestal, be sure to praise him and stroke his leg while encouraging him to keep it there. Repeat this step until the horse is comfortable with putting his foot “Up” and will do it freely when asked. When he will reliably put one foot on the pedestal, begin to encourage him to step up with the other foot by helping him to shift his balance off of the foot on the ground. Use the lead rope (short hold) to guide him as you ask him to “Step Up”.

After he willingly steps up with the front feet, encourage him to stay for incrementally longer periods of time and until he is released. The complimentary and opposite piece of this lesson is to teach him to “Step Down” on cue.

We usually use the widest side of a rectangular pedestal when asking a horse to Step Up with just two feet. When we ask the horse to walk the back feet up, we use the narrow end so that the horse is already in position to mount it or Step Up with the back feet also.

The Trick Becomes the Reward

With your horse in hand on a working length line of 12 to 15 feet, walk the perimeter of the round pen as the horse trots circles around you After you have worked your way around the perimeter at least two times, draw the horse toward the pedestal and ask him to stop in front of it and then to Step Up.

We usually add the pre cue of “Ready?” as we draw him toward the pedestal. Over time, he will understand that when he hears the pre cue of Ready, that you will be immediately asking for a response. This may take several tries so do not be discouraged. When he mounts the pedestal, give him a breather for a minute or two and stroke and praise him. Let him know that he did just what you wanted.

After you release him from the pedestal and ask him to “Step Down”, begin the lungeing sequence again. Most horses learn in short order that they prefer the pedestal to trotting circles. The “work” or “Trick” has now become the reward.

Variations and other Creative Challenges

When a horse has mounted the square top pedestal, ask him to yield the hindquarters or Step Around as his front feet remain anchored. Gradually increase the number of lateral steps until he can completely circle the hindquarters around. When traditionally presented, the exercise of yielding the hindquarters may seem nebulous to the horse. When he has learned to anchor his front feet on a pedestal and then is asked to yield or Step Around, it is easily understandable. Be sure to work the horse in both directions.

As an Agility horse’s training continues, the pedestal will be his mark for executing other moves such as the Jambette or Salute, Retrieving an Object, and a slow Spin. If two horses are worked together, they can be taught to Change Places in a musical chair fashion.

As with all good training, horsemanship principles, tact, good judgment, and a systematic approach is required.

For help with Pedestal Training or any other aspects of Equine Agility and Enlightened Trick Training, feel free to contact us at www.redhorseranch.net or www.imagineahorse.com.