Argh! My pony is so pig-headed!!

[bex1984]

I have come to the conclusion that Murphy can be very stubborn and pig-headed when he wants to be

Last night he would not stop jogging. I tried everything I could think of to get him back to walk, but it took a good ten minutes before he'd walk properly, and it really was driving me mad, it's such a bad habit

Normally, he refuses to canter on the correct leg on the left rein. This drives me up the wall because I know he CAN do it, he is just being stubborn. Last night I had canter poles out, six strides apart, to see if I could shorten and lengthen his stride (thanks to the HHOer who suggested that, we both thought it was fun

- hence the jogging!!). I had them down the centre of the school and wasn't too worried about which leg he'd go on, just assumed he'd always go on the right one as normal....
...but oh no, he went on them both, happily striking off on the left as often as the right!!

I love him to bits, but he is sooo pig headed!!!

Any advice for stopping him jogging (have been trying to ride in a snaffle, don't think he likes it so will try going back to the pelham tonight) and getting the correct canter lead on a very stubborn little coblet with his own ideas about how things should be done?!

Back chekced a few months ago, and he doesn't jog on hacks, or until he gets excited and wants to canter basically...

 

[Gorgeous George]

Ahhhh but that's why you love him so much! Much the same with George, lets see last Mon he bucked me off and last night on the lunge he was a complete ar*e - snorting, charging off and bucking - can I be angry with him though, no!

Sorry no advice, but I know the feeling!

 

[bex1984]

I know, I love him because he's a character!! I was at my wit's end trying to stop him jogging last night, in the end I was getting a bit cross, so just halted him, and talked to him for 5 minutes until I'd calmed down!! Obviously not the ideal method of stopping him tho....

I don't dare lunge him. We majorly fall out over lungeing

 

[Grumbledor]

Norm is being a bit unresponsive at the moment and not coming back to walk when I ask which is driving me mad. I'm trying lots of transitions to get him listening and asking him to soften. Also giving and taking the reins helps as then they have nothing to lean on, as well as squeezing with your thighs. However I am also trying to organise lots of lessons for us to keep him interested and get new ideas on how to solve this, and many other problems. Its all good fun though!

 

[jumpthemoon]

I'd def agree that he's pig headed! Lol! If you can get him to canter with the left lead by doing what you did last night, once you've got the canter do a couple of laps of the school. I think it would help him if you tried to get him a bit more flexible and going a bit better off your leg - try getting his bend correct on some smaller circles, work on the rythm of the trot, get him to relax. Also, have you done any leg yielding with him? This would help with your canter as it would teach him to be more responsive.

With the jogging, it's a timing issue I think - as soon as he jogs, ask him firmly (by closing your fingers on the rein) with the outside rein to walk, and as soon as he does give again with the outside rein (not too much - you need to keep a contact). When he starts jogging, you need to ask immediatly for walk - almost before he's even started jogging. If you can't stop him, turn him into the fence and start again

I doubt the pelham will make that much difference to his jogging, as it's evasion and he's probably more likely to evade the pelham than a snaffle. See how you get on though

 

[bex1984]

leg yielding sounds like a good idea - but I have no idea how to do it (and nor does Murphy!)? how do i go about it?

You're right - I need to stop the jogging before it starts!! I will work on that.

As far as the bit goes, he's not 100% happy with it not being a straight bar, so fights it more than he fights the pelham, and doesn't want to come on to the bit, which he will do (after lots of transitions, circles etc) in the pelham.

As soon as he went on the correct leg on his bad rein yesterday i sent him off round the school and did plenty of circuits while patting him and saying good boy over and over again

Had to stop in the end because I lost my stirrup and then my balance and ended up hanging on round his neck

it was all a bit exciting for us!

 

[bex1984]

[ QUOTE ]
Norm is being a bit unresponsive at the moment and not coming back to walk when I ask which is driving me mad. I'm trying lots of transitions to get him listening and asking him to soften. Also giving and taking the reins helps as then they have nothing to lean on, as well as squeezing with your thighs. However I am also trying to organise lots of lessons for us to keep him interested and get new ideas on how to solve this, and many other problems. Its all good fun though!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sure some of it is that the spring grass is coming through!! I tried giving and taking with the reins last night, everytime I gave, even ever so slightly, he was off! Also tried turning him in small circles, making him go sideways, growling at him, making him trot on properly, making him halt everytime he jogged, sitting like a sack of spuds, praising him when he did walk...but whatever I did he'd just start jogging again 3 seconds later. It took us a very long time to get along the long side of the school turning in circles every two steps!!

I worry that because I don't really know how to deal with this jogging it'll become an established habit and I'm basically ruining him