If anyone out there can help me with this, I would really appreciate it.  My daughter is showing this year in the APHA circuit for SC.  I am trying to teach her horse to pivot for showmanship classes. Everything else seems to be coming along just fine.  Sometimes he will pivot and sometimes he doesn't at all and even if he does he's kind of sloppy when he does it.  I have him moving away from me ok but I just can't get him to do it everytime and look good doing it.  I have been working with him on this one technique for about 2 weeks now. What am I doing wrong.  Please please help me.

Thank You

Horsecrazy

If he's already doing it correctly but not consistently then you are doing things right.  Here are a few places to get more training in!

I made all my show horses do showmanship to and from the pasture, if you didn't have manners you didn't get to play.  I didn't take off their halter until they had done the spin/set-up correctly x number of times(increase this with skill level.)  They didn't get to go into their stalls unless they set-up/pivot exactly off my body language.  I've also seen other folks make a horse set-up before getting their grain ration.  They'll get consistent in a heartbeat with all this work!

If the horse wasn't doing it right any time you worked him I'd ask about his hock health and tell you to find a showmanship/pattern trainer around you for a quick lesson.

Thank You Huntseat,

I think maybe I'm expecting to much to soon. It's been years since I have done any showing. I've just been dodging trees and crossing water for several years now. Shoot any horse can be taught to do that. But showing is a little more involved. I went home last night and concentrated on getting him to move his shoulder and cross over. He did much better all ready. I'll keep working on it.  Thanks again

Horsecrazy