Achieving more UMPH!!

[texansunrise]

I would really appreciate some comments on this topic ... i have a very green five year old that i am bringing on. He has previously been ridden western and is being re schooled english. I have been lunging him every other day in the pessoa to build his top line but i really .. i mean REALLY have to push him to get a nice active trot. Eventualy after lots of chasing he will work nicely , but when i work him under the saddle he is just so lazy. He is a very sensitive horse and out hacking he is the complete opposite. He does not want to work in the school at all and even when i really get on at him i just cant seem to create any enthusiasm or impulsion. He just preffers to slop along. If i really push him and ask for lots of canter he will round nicely and work forwards. I am finding it really hard to teach him to move of my leg.I have been tapping him up with a crop if he does not respond but to be honest it makes no difference. Any ideas how to get more umph??!! I would really love to get him working more actively as he has lovely paces ( when trying) and would love to do a little dressage on him. Please help !!

Thankyou x x

 

[Patches]

My horse is the same. I found a Heron flying over the hedge in front of us worked a treat yesterday! Not sure you can market that for every day use though.

I've just put mine on D&H Staypower Cubes. Here's hoping they give her a little bit more sparkle to make her try a little harder in the school.

If I put some fences up at the start of a flatwork sessions (that sounds like such a contradiction) it seems to wake her up ready to move on to the boring flatwork part.

I don't think I'll ever get mine truly off the leg. I've almost given up.

 

[Ranyhyn]

I found with my old horse, letting him canter on freely at the start of a schooling session,helped him go forwards more - it was almost like razzing him up before I settled him down to work.