Advice appreciated, youngster problems

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moneypit1

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I have a rising 5 yo gelding that was backed last August. He has spent his time since then being hacked out gently 4 days a week and schooled once a week under supervision (lesson) by myself. He is coming along great EXCEPT....he is not at all forward going, he will even stop sometimes even though physically he is fit. Does he perhaps need time out to chill a bit. His back/teeth/saddle are fine. I thought perhaps it is a mental thing, he has no stamina and just runs out of steam. Any ideas?
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It doesnt sound as though you are being hard on him at all, has he always been like this or is it a recent thing? What does he do on the days he has off?
The things that scream out to me are anaemia and azotoria. A blood test may be a good idea to check for both.
It could just be the fact that he isnt very fit, if all else fails I would up the work and up the feed.
 
Thanks Vicijp, yes he has always been like this but I kept thinking the fitter he gets the better it will get. He is stabled 24/7 at the moment as fields waterlogged but does go out all day on his day off with my other baby. He is on a working mix (thought that might help - no). Perhaps this is the way he is but my god its hard work. I don't want him to become dead to the leg (hes nearly there already)!
 
My youngster is exactly the same,
I got the vet out last week for tests but everything ok!
Gave him a week off and upped his feed so hopefully tonight we will notice a difference!
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Prob still immature and finds the work hard. keep things short and interesting. T/O would help, because stops them from becoming stale, but obviously not always possible.
 
Just make sure you're not using too much leg, nagging, clamping and restricting him.

That in my experience is the one sure way to shut down any horse, as I used to do just that myself when I first began riding my old share horse.

She had been very shut down, and the more leg I used, the worse she got.

I now live by the mantra that you must aim always to ride a lazier horse with a quiet aid. If you don't get a reaction back it up with a short sharp schooling whip and ensure you take any aid off the second your horse reacts.

If a horse can feel a fly land on it's rump, then it can surely feel even the quietest aid from us
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We must just make sure that the horse is ABLE to react, and that we're not blocking any movement with hand, leg or body.

(just my tuppence worth
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hope it helps
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)
 
Thanks everyone, I had his back checked again today and no major probs, pelvis slightly twisted. I think sometimes I expect too much. He is lovely at first, forward going and tracks up by 9 inches. 15 minutes into ride he 'dies' on me. My instructor has told me to ask, ask again and then 'tap. tap'. Seems to do the trick..........eventually. When I turn him out he goes 'bananas', at least he has it in him!!!!!!!!!!!! Will persevere, I know that he is worth it I just have to be a bit more patient. He is not bothered by the stick at all, he's so laid back. (I don't beat him - honest, just threaten!)
 
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