Can you get a horse to enjoy schooling?

Snowy Celandine

Snowy Celandine

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OH has just bought a horse so that he can hack out with me. It's very early days but horsey seems to love hacking, his ears are forward and he has a spring in his step. However, riding him in the school is a different matter. He seems very lazy and I think it is because he simply can't see the point of going round in circles. To a degree I can sympathise with him but I need to be able to exercise him when OH is too busy at work and it would make things a lot easier if I could just ride him in the school for half an hour.

We've only had him for a few days so maybe I'm being too quick to judge but my own horse is very forward going and the new boy seems like hard work. I want him to be happy in his work so, if anyone has any tips for getting a horse to "see the point" of schooling, please share :D
 
Persevere and don't make the sessions too long, or boring. He may well have bad memories of being drilled in the school by a less than pleasant rider.
 
Mine was like that when I first got him, but as soon as a few poles went out, either on the floor or small jumps he perked right up! He loved schooling over poles or anything he could have a good look at but just straight forward schooling he found boring, he is MUCH better now tho and I think his lack of fitness in the beginning made him reluctant too
 
Yeh I reckon so, depends on the horse but it's definetely possible. My mare is really lazy and nappy and could be difficult to schoool, which personally i think is from being drilled hard in a school as previous poster has mentioned.
instead, when i school, i always have a little jump up so we can keep popping over when we want to, always do LOADS of changes of direction - and unexpected ones that your horse won't know are coming. loads of circles within the changes of direction, then pop over a jump or a pole to keep it fresh. and above all, keep the sessions short. i only ever do half an hour max but most of the time.....20 mins is enough for her./
 
Thanks. I am definitely going to persevere because I don't have time to hack out two horses every day.

New boy seems quite fit and he's got lovely paces. Unfortunately, my OH has never jumped and I haven't jumped in ages due to back problems. I'm sure we can manage some poles on the ground and very small jumps though :D

BayJosie - I hear what you are saying about short schooling sessions. I think you are spot on there. I am currently getting OH to ride for 15 mins in school maximum and then reward with short hack of similar length.

It seems a shame that he doesn't appear to want to work in the school because his paces are so good that I want to steal him for dressage :p
 
Hattie is like that too, forward for hacking, goes in an outline, light on the bit, etc but when I need to school her for dressage, she turns into Ploddy McPlodster- heavy on the forehand, no outline, LOTS of leg, etc. Now when I school for dressage, I put a diddy jump just off center of X (like in front of B or E but away from the track so that it's not in the way of any circles or going down the center line) and incorporate that into my dressage test just to keep her fresh as she LOVEs jumping.

Short schooling sessions too and stop as soon as they do something right that you've been practicing even if it means you don't get to do some other thing you wanted to practice.
 
mine enjoys schooling..just put lots of variety in...jumping transitions ...try to include some exercises that he finds difficult to stretch him and some he finds easy.....plus mine likes to throw in the occasional spook and buck whenever he gets bored ;)
 
Transitions transitions transitions. And for an added frissance stick someone putting a dog agility course together in the field next to the school!!
 
Lucy hates schooling with a passion. Always has and at atleast 20 i don't think she's goin to change. She can be prone to standing in the middle and refusing to move. She has done this during a dressage test once and we got elim :o.
The only time she livens up is when there is a jump up. She pulles me into the jump with great enthusiasum then after the jump she is backwards and lazy again till you point her at the jump. The last lesson i had the instructor was in fits of laughter she said she had never seen anything like it before.
But saying that i have turned others round by making schooling fun with poles, jumps, transitions etc etc.
 
MilosDad said:
Transitions transitions transitions
Click to expand...
You beat me too it.
Make it fun, the jump poles, cones etc are great ideas, don't just trot in circles be inventive.
Remember the lazier the horse the quieter you need to ride, make the transitions very forward going and don't fall into the trap of kicking repeatedly, ask once and if there is no reaction correct him with a tap or a prod of a blunt spur. He needs to be waiting for your aids so make sure the half halts are clear and concise. Once he is off the leg everything will be easier. Use your voice also, and maybe refine that by lunging him, walk, canter on the lunge is a great stimulus. (big circles)
When riding keep him interested, ask for things he finds hard, then stretch him, relax then off again doing more. Find something he really likes and is good at, like extending trot, and use it as a stimulant. 3 strides forward 3 back to working etc, shoulder in, extend, halt etc. Keep the session short and sharp and challenge him.
Sorry, that was a tad long!!!! Hope it helps a little!!!
 
Thank you very much everyone! Loads of great suggestions there. I will definitely place the emphasis on FUN :D

Thanks mik for the really useful info. I think it would be easy to get into the habit of kicking this horse on with every stride so I will guard against that and do as you say and ride more quietly and back it up with a tap if he doesn't listen to the leg. I'm having a lesson on him tomorrow to see if I can get him going nicely for OH.
 
I have this problem with my warmblood, hes still like it problem is he wont even budge sometimes so you cant even get him doing anything fun. Im hoping when weve found a yard with more facilities we will be able to get him going a bit. lol
 
Great idea with the lessons and hopefully they can give you loads of ideas for exercises to tax his brain a bit and wake him up!!!! Have fun and keep us posted, a photo would be super too!
 
It's taken me 2 years to get my lazy, naughty, spooky boy to enjoy schooling. He would get bored and look for naughty things to do, like spin and throw me off! You just need to persevere I think, and get some lessons. My instructor helped me to get him going forwards with LOADS of transitions, also NEVER going down a long side without including some kind of movement. Just making it so unpredictable for them they really start listening to you, and then they get excited. Do things like - trot half 20m circle, halt, turn on forehand, straight back to trot, repeat. Also trot then 4 strides walk, then 3 strides walk, then 2, then 1. And walk/canter. Also, when your horse puts some effort in and gives an energetic movement and you are satisfied, stop, reward and jump off to finish the session. Even if u have only done 15 mins, always end before the horse gets bored.
Since our new yard has no school, we now only school on hacks or maybe once a weekin the field, and at riding club. My horse really enjoys it, he knows what to do and it's fun, and it feels like he's 'showing off' when we do it now!! And our 2 dressage comps this season we've done quite well, because he has been really lively and forward going.
So you will be able to get your horse going forward but you will have to spend A LOT of time working on it!
 
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