Encouraging horse to move forwards?

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fairhill

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Has anyone got any ideas for encouraging my horse to move forwards?

She's 6, but still quite green, and part cleveland bay, and has definitely inhertited the stubborn gene.
I've tried schooling whip, asking nicely first, then booting, and spurs.

The only time she wakes up is if someone chases us with a lunge whip, which is great (and reassures me that diet/physical issues aren't the problem), but I can't always have someone on the ground with me.

When I use the schooling whip she tends to just swish her tail (if that!), rather than moving forward, and I don't want to have to keep hitting her
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She's hacked out often, and is a bit more forward then, and we use poles, and small jumps to give her variety. It's definitely an attitude issue rather than physical (back and saddle been checked).

I'm now wondering if tying a plastic bag to the whip might get a response from her - has anyone tried this?
 
hunting?

Blossy was very slow/dead to the leg when i first got her, hunting soon sorted her out!

definately not a plastic bag on a whip, very dangerous imo.
 
Echo the hunting most definately. Make life more exciting. Go down the Beach with some mates.

I have to say though - sometimes it is us with the lazier horse. When I first had Amy it was sheer hell most of the time. The difference with a much more educated rider was remarkable - everything about them operated so much differently to me (how's that for grammer??). And she would go like a dream.

Of course we cracked it - and she would go as well for me as anyone else. But it could be worth getting someone else on board who perhaps is a dressage rider - AI etc...
 
Was Blossy slow out hacking as well before she went hunting?
It might be a good option for next year, there's one that goes round very close to where I'm stabled.
 
Yes I was recommended plastic bag on whip. the wind caught the bag and it really flapped and he went like a rocket. Tried to get bag off the whip but ended up throwing whip on floor to collect later. you could try cutting bag in strips.
 
I have got a "calming seat" rather than an electric bum, but I've had experienced riders try her, and she's the same in the school for them.

I make sure she gets out galloping on her hacks most weeks, and she's very forward then, it's just translating across to her schooling work.
 
I have the same problem with mine, apart from the fact that the lunge whip has no effect either! He's a lazy little sod with schooling, the only time he becomes more forward is when jumping!
 
Do you do lots of transitions in your schooling work?? Pop a little fence up? Keep it very short and sweet??
 
Yep, lots of transitions, and short sessions, normally 30 mins max.
I also warm her up (when the school is fairly empty) by sending her cantering and galloping round the school to loosen up her back.
She's happy to pop over a small jump but again not very enthusiastically.

thanks for your help!
 
I don't think it's a physical thing as she will move when her motivation is a lungewhip behind her!

I tried her on spillers instant response competition mix and she was the same.
 
I know you have stated you dont consider this to be a physical thing, however a past experience with a horse like this will forever haunt me.

A friends horse was exactly the same and she resorted in really giving her some welly and whip. The horse was tried by different stronger riders and they could'nt get anything back from her. She was checked over, saddle, back, teeth, vet etc and this went on for a couple of years.

The horse put up with the abuse and never fought back or became more forward going. She was found dead in the field and the vet did an autopsy and she had tumours galore and had been in severe discomfort. To the fact that no matter how hard a beating she had got from her rider, the pain she was feeling inside was more, hence her never fighting back or going forward.

Because of this very sad tale, I would be inclined for a full vets check up, blood tests the lot. I would want to know she was 100%.

I am not saying you are beating your horse, of course not and you obviously care for it very much.

The tale of my friend and her horse has haunted me over the years and since then I have always had to check things out with a vet because of it.
 
Hmmm.. tried the oats and she just shied a bit more often. I think it might have to be electric spurs!

Filly190 I'm sorry to hear about your friends horse, it sounds awful. However Megan is more than capable of going forwards - she is fine out hacking and in the school with someone on the ground encouraging her. I was just looking for alternatives when I don't have anyone to help me.

However, I think I'll just have to continue with what I'm doing for now, and hope she gets a bit more sensitive!
 
Double whammy! A long schooling whip in each hand!! That seemed to work on my very unenthusiastic boy - great improvement in just one session so reverted back to one whip the next time and he was still much better (before it was kick, kick, kick all the time just to get him to WALK!!)
 
My 5yo is exactly the same and its very frustrating. I have been feeding Tiger Oats and to be honest the only difference is that he NAPPs really badly. Spurs do make a bit of a difference. I keep telling myself he is still so green and that time will make a difference. I try to get him out as much as possible now. All I can suggest is keep at it, I'm hoping it will all 'click' in this summer as he does more and more work. Good Luck.
 
I sometimes have the same problem. Spurs worked for a bit but then he learnt to ignore them too. The best thing I've found is a long schooling whip. I don't even have to use it much, just threaten to. Also, putting the reins into one hand as though I am going to really give him a thrashing (which I'm definitely not!) works wonders. I suspect someone has done this to him in the past.

I tried a schooling whip in both hands with another horse who was reluctant to move forward in the school and it worked a treat and, like, Soupdragon said, didn't need to be repeated to get the same results.
 
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