Cleveland Bay Help

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melodymax

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Can anyone give me some advice on 'switching on' a Cleveland bay, 6yr old so laid back, we are far from inexperienced, he does not respond to whip, spurs, and lots of oats!! teeth ok back ok tack fits very well, not lame or footsore, just does not get the go forward and keep going idea. Turn him into the field and what a difference gallops off with all the energy you could want. He has been backed correctly didnt really get lunging but long reigned very nicely.
Any suggestions appreciated, or we have a very laid back safe and steady happy hacker for sale. Thanks
 
I recommend giving up now and selling him to me - I'd love another CB.

That's not a lot of help, I admit.

However, if you are determined to keep him, in my experience it's all about ensuring that they expect to work properly. If they expect to get away with an easy life they will try really hard to keep it that way.
 
He's bored and doesnt see the point in schooling..

I did lots of schooling out hacking, when he was very very forward going as I'm sure you know.. Nothing phased him bar sheep and a particular pile of rocks..

In the school, I got my instructor friend to be there with a lunge whip for several sessions.. She kept him going leaving me to concentrate on what I should have been doing.. He was fed chaff and competition mix.. After a little while his brain engaged and he realised it wasn't so bad and he actually quite enjoyed it.. How fit is your horse? I suspect it had much to do with him not seeing the point because he was a whole lot of horse.. Big big lad, unbalanced and found it hard to do what I was asking of him.. If it was hard, he didn't want to do it, so he didn't..

However once he got fit and muscled up better for what he was doing it was like a lightbulb.. Find a way to capture your boys interest.. If you don't get his brain 100% you'll have nothing!!

One of my clevelands was exactly the same at that age.. In someone else's hands they would have been beaten..
 
Very good idea.. I settled for going out with a group of fit hunters and let him do his thing.. Certainly put oomph in his step!
 
I would agree with both the previous two posts. My big ID who I got at 6yo was so tiring to get going at all in the school, but as he got fitter and stronger his liking for schooling increased, so its kind of an exhausting stage we had to go through. Lunge lessons helped a lot definitely, also a Pessoa helped make him make some effort and develop the lazy muscle groups.

Hunting too - nothing like that to kindle lots of enthusiasm for life in general - I took mine when he was finishing his recovery from a long running virus and it massively speeded up his progress and general 'vim'!!
 
Thanks for your comments, have tried most things but not hunting, unfortunately my back rules me out so may send him to hunt yard to do some training, otherwise you may see his advert soon!!
 
melodymax said:
Can anyone give me some advice on 'switching on' a Cleveland bay, 6yr old so laid back, we are far from inexperienced, he does not respond to whip, spurs, and lots of oats!! teeth ok back ok tack fits very well, not lame or footsore, just does not get the go forward and keep going idea. Turn him into the field and what a difference gallops off with all the energy you could want. He has been backed correctly didnt really get lunging but long reigned very nicely.
Any suggestions appreciated, or we have a very laid back safe and steady happy hacker for sale. Thanks
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My understanding of CB is they are late maturing horse - like WBs and cobs. I have never found whips, spurs and oats the way to go with any of them:o lots of variety and different things to keep his interest may be a better way to go:o At 6 he is still very young and immature - let him mature properly.
 
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