Cob switched off in the school

[amzy]

I have a cob as a Happy Hacker and he suits me as he's quite lazy and never likes to go anywhere in a hurry but he's easy to trot when we're out and about and he's happy to have a steady canter in the fields. We now have a new sand school so I thought it would be nice to do a bit more and perhaps do the odd jump for a change. I also thought it would be good to do some schooling for both our benefits but he seems to hate the school. I have tried lungeing, long-reining and riding but he will not go into a trot without having a strop and doing small bucks and generally throwing himself about. The more firm I get, the bigger the tantrum. He does this with a more experienced and confident rider too. It's got to the stage when he knows we are heading to the school he'll really resist going in that direction but is happy to go for a hack. Should I give up forcing the issue and just carry on hacking? He's about 9 but I don't know his history before I bought him 2 years ago. Thanks.

 

[nikkiportia]

My friend had a horse like this, very happy to hack out, but confused when asked to school. Turns out he had never been schooled, and really struggled with what was being asked of him.
In her case, she sold the horse because it was too much for her to bring on and school and se wanted to more than hack. But I think with time patience and experience she would have got there. If it was me, I'd start working him in hand in the school. Perhaps even turning him out in there with hay and food so that he doesnt associate the area with 'work'. Make the school a fun place to be, and I wouldn't ask too much of him until he is happy being in there. Start with small goals, ie getting him walking around ridden without any tantrums. Rather than going straight in and expecting him to walk, trot and canter.
It's not the same horse I hope!

 

[express_75]

My Welsh cob mare is the same!!

HATES THE SCHOOL!

But when we get it right she seems to quite enjoy it, i have to give her lots of praise and make it as fun as possible!

She just spooks to get out of working, which doesn't do wonders for my confidence i must say!

Having lessons in there have helped loads, cos we just gotta keep going to matter what! lol

Good luck!

 

[pottamus]

Yes my Welshie is the same...totally switches off and finds it boring. Have you tried loose schooling your horse because then you can really get after them without the worry of the tantrums. I got my instructor who is pretty fearless to ride my boy through the worst of it and then I was able to carry on with the work.
I have to admit though that I soon realised my lad had no apptitude or desire for school work so I took the hint and carried on doing what I prefer to do anyway...hacking and pleasure rides! I manage to do a fair bit of basic schooling whilst hacking and he is more accepting of it too.

 

[amzy]

Yes, I'm only asking for trot at the moment as he doesn't mind so much walking around, it's the trotting he doesn't want to do. When I do manage a short trot without too much messing around I praise him and call it a day. We're only in there for about 10 or 15 minutes. I'm hoping to find an instructor soon to help and maybe they can shed some light.

 

[fairhill]

Get yourself a decent instructor and have some lessons.
My mum's shire x clyde had never done any schooling when we got her, aged 7, and she was baffled by the school to begin with. It took a lot of work to get her even going round the edges in a vaguely straight way, never mind circles, and I couldn't have done it without the help from someone on the ground.

It sounds like your cob is either confused, or being extremely nappy. If it's the first then you need lots of patience, maybe take him in the school for 5 mins walking round, then go for a hack. If it's the second then you need to work him through his resistance, being very tough if necessary.