Prepping yearlings for showing in hand

For people who have raised weanlings with the goal of doing some showing on the line, how far ahead did you start prepping them to show on the line as yearlings as in w/t on the triangle, etc

This would be assuming the yearling had basic handling and baby basics installed.

I imagine it’s possible to show without prepping them for the triangle or to be stood up carefully but to do well I imagine it would be nice for the horse to have some idea what’s going on.

When we used to do them-- probably a month or six weeks depending on how well they already led and tied. Two or three 5-10 minute practice sessions each week with standing up and jogging, plus since we mostly did hunter breeding they also had to get used to wearing a bridle. And we also practiced loading a lot and went on a couple of short trailer rides, got them used to bathing with the hose and standing patiently for more extensive grooming, braided manes over to tame them etc.

While you can pull them straight out of the field to show them, it’s not a great idea. The practice is all stuff they need to learn to do/ tolerate anyway so if you’re going to the show for mileage you would do it for that… and if you want them to be competitive you would do it so they show well.

I don’t think ground manners can be taught too early.

We have year of foals that show at the royal, then go back as yearlings, two-year-olds and so-on. If it’s as much of their lives as grooming and lifting their feet, it’s not as scary in the moment.

What an individual can handle is different from horse to horse, of course. But things like leading, setting up and standing, as well as trotting in hand are resonable asks. Hardest for us tends to be standing (reasonably) still. We build up time and give lots of treats and praise.