fed up of kicking......

S

sallyballybee

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 April 2012
Messages
190
Visit site
new boy monty has been an absolute dream since i got him!!! but he is very hard work to get him going when heading out hacking alone, never nappy just doesnt really move off my leg, feel like i'm constantly kicking!! he will speed up once we get going or are coming home lol.....any tips or advice??
 
Kicking and nagging is the best way bar none to get your horse ignoring your leg.

If you would like him to move forwards then a little squeeze should be sufficient, if he ignores that then a nudge, if that is ignored then a flick by your leg with a schooling whip. Then legs off totally until he slows down then squeeze, if no response, nudge etc. Stop when you get the response you want, very quickly you will be able to drop the flick and then a squeeze should be sufficient. You just need to train him to listen to less of an aid and to have it actually mean something.

The above supposes no lameness/saddle fits probs and that you have allowing hands.
 
A friend has a lovely 5yr old mare, part TB and she is always very relaxed when ridden but didn't really stride out and needed a lot of leg, back saddle etc all checked and no problems at all, my friend tried a differant saddle the other day and her mare was completely differant, so full of energy, like riding a differant horse, though everything might seem ok it might be worth trying another saddle just to see if it makes a differance.
 
iirc correctly, he was pretty fat when you got him. I'm sure as he fittens up, he will improve. Also agree with the above - don't nag, one squeeze, no response, *flick/swish/smack*. Zero tolerance ;)
 
no not lame and good saddle he's just always been that way but previous owners weren't the speedy type ha ha!! yeh i didnt see the point of just sitting and kicking.....try to be quite quick with my legs as soon as he gets ploddy again he's just so bloomin laid back he's almost horizontal!! lol!!
 
JFTD said:
iirc correctly, he was pretty fat when you got him. I'm sure as he fittens up, he will improve. Also agree with the above - don't nag, one squeeze, no response, *flick/swish/smack*. Zero tolerance ;)
Click to expand...

yes fatty boom boom ha ha!! what a difference now that he's out hacking everyday....think i forget hes so unfit.....
 
A very laid back horse i used to ride responded well to a wipwop (i think its what they are called) Also sitting up and thinking 'trot' or 'canter' also helped prehaps my body languaged changed i dont know but it worked!
 
Last edited:
cobmum said:
A very laid back horse i used to ride responded well to a wip *** (i think its what they are called) Also sitting up and thinking 'trot' or 'canter' also helped prehaps my body languaged changed i dont know but it worked!
Click to expand...

probs being daft but wip**ed??
 
sallyballybee said:
yes fatty boom boom ha ha!! what a difference now that he's out hacking everyday....think i forget hes so unfit.....
Click to expand...

Glad to hear he's working it off though :) I'm sure it will get easier as he fittens up.

With mine, I refuse to sit and boot them along too. I carry a whip and I damn well use it. I won't be ignored :o With mine, if he ignores any leg aid, he gets a tickle. If he ignores that, or is being relentlessly lazy, he gets a follow up smack - as hard as he needs to get him moving. If he moves forward, I don't care if he moves off faster than I meant - if he breaks into canter I let him, but I want the pace maintained until I bring him back ;)

Different things work for different horses. If Fergs is lazy schooling and losing impulsion, I tap him up for dropping back the moment he starts to lose it - to maintain a constant pace. I know dh's instructor had her letting knobberts slow right down first before wellying him forward again, as otherwise he managed to fool dh into nagging him (evasive ratbag!) - and they got fab results and pony moving much more forward and off the leg that way.

By which I mean, have a play and see what works best for you :)

eta - that would be a "whip whop" rope. Another option, certainly.
 
Last edited:
images


you hold it over their withers and flick it so it slaps down the side of each shoulder alternatively, I think.
 
sallyballybee said:
still dont kno what a whip whop is ha ha!!!
Click to expand...
It's like a plaited rope thingy, you are supposed to swish it and slap it on your boot to make a noise which encourages the horse forward.
Has zero effect on my TB, who is soooo not off the leg! Schooling whip had no effect either. But spurs have been the making of her ;)
I used to be knackered after hacking her out, it's a pleasure now :)
 
So was I, but things were getting so bad it was kind of a last resort thing. They're just little, blunt things.
But the difference! Literally shot forward at first! Now just a touch sends her off. Hopefully dispense with them long term.
Definitely worth a try.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top