Mkay, here's the deal. I want to start showing soon, but I don't have a horse. I would be showing on one of the lesson horses. My best guess would be Petey. But, Petey isn't ready to be a show horse yet. He has potential, I'll give him that, but... He's a five or six year old Appendix Quarter Horse.

His biggest issue is his speed. He's extremely slow, and he drags his feet. I want to know how I can teach him to pick them up, especially at the trot, when it's the worst.
He also tends to keep his head rather low, which isn't exactly helping his balance or looking pretty. I'm guessing that and the feet dragging are what make him trip so much. -.-
Also, leads. He can get his left, but sometimes he has problems with his right. We've been working on that and it's gotten pretty good, but I also want to know how would I go about teaching him to change leads without switching down to a trot. He's definitely built to be able to do a lead change easily.

And lastly...

He needs to be groomed. His mane and tail are pitiful. I was thinking about going to the barn a few extra days a week and just giving him a full wash. And then of course maintaining it... if my instructor says I can. Should I buy some products? All of you who have horses how do you keep them looking pretty? I don't know if it matters but he's a dark chocolately bay.






I might be doing commissions... what would be a good price? I mean, what would you be willing to pay? If at all. =/