Fitness / Strength ideas to help with lazy horse

[greenbean10]

Does anyone have any tips for getting stronger legs? I haven't been riding much for a while but have found a horse to share this summer. She is lovely but quite lazy! I am a fairly experienced rider but used to more forward, blood types. I know the problem is me more than her, as her owner gets her going very well.

I'm wondering if there's anything specifically I could do to get stronger, with the aim of being able to get a lazier horse going a bit better? Whether the answer is cardio fitness (running etc), conditioning (weight training which I do enjoy) or just trying to ride more. I'd love to hear some experiences of anything that has worked.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Abacus]

Unless you're very weak I am not sure that fitness exercises would help, it's more about being more effective with your aids. Have you had any lessons? Could the owner suggest anything? On the whole my aim is to use my leg as little as possible and get the horse really forward from that (backed up with a stick if necessary until they get the idea) and then you don't have to do as much. Don't go down the route of kicking and nagging away.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Have you tried voice aids, clicking her along?

 

[SEL]

I ask nicely with my leg twice then if that's ignored back up with a flick from my schooling whip - legs off immediately you get a response. They slow down again then repeat.

I've tended to find leg muscles for riding only really build up with riding. When I've had time off I feel it!

 

[sbloom]

Horses that are lazy are being held back by something, emotional or physical, in most cases. If you get stronger legs the horse will likely get more dead to the leg. If you do want to get riding fit, always recommended, then I recommend Equimech in NI for online (or if you're in NI!) or another trainer from the Equestrian Fitness Institute if you prefer in person. Otherwise I would look to the function/dysfunction of the horse, yes some are naturally more forwards than others, and it can depend on what you're doing and where, but generally these horses have a hand brake on somewhere - joining EquitopiaCenter.com is a good idea, and not expensive at all. Lots of good info on there on how a functional horse should look and feel.

 

[greenbean10]

Have you tried voice aids, clicking her along?

Yes although annoyingly I also find myself constantly clicking

 

[greenbean10]

Unless you're very weak I am not sure that fitness exercises would help, it's more about being more effective with your aids. Have you had any lessons? Could the owner suggest anything? On the whole my aim is to use my leg as little as possible and get the horse really forward from that (backed up with a stick if necessary until they get the idea) and then you don't have to do as much. Don't go down the route of kicking and nagging away.

This makes sense! The owner is a very strong rider and has jumped 130s with her, so she is definitely able to sharpen her up. She says she does lots of transitions to start with. I really try that but struggle to get that pop. And I am trying to not constantly nag.

Perhaps I am asking the wrong questions and it’s what I’m doing on the horse as opposed to my physical strength or fitness, I just look at the owner and she is a very tough, strong woman so think perhaps that’s what I’m missing.

 

[greenbean10]

Horses that are lazy are being held back by something, emotional or physical, in most cases. If you get stronger legs the horse will likely get more dead to the leg. If you do want to get riding fit, always recommended, then I recommend Equimech in NI for online (or if you're in NI!) or another trainer from the Equestrian Fitness Institute if you prefer in person. Otherwise I would look to the function/dysfunction of the horse, yes some are naturally more forwards than others, and it can depend on what you're doing and where, but generally these horses have a hand brake on somewhere - joining EquitopiaCenter.com is a good idea, and not expensive at all. Lots of good info on there on how a functional horse should look and feel.

This is very helpful, I will have a look at that, thank you

 

[greenbean10]

I ask nicely with my leg twice then if that's ignored back up with a flick from my schooling whip - legs off immediately you get a response. They slow down again then repeat.

I've tended to find leg muscles for riding only really build up with riding. When I've had time off I feel it!

I am definitely feeling it! But also think I’ve been spoiled with horses that are very off my leg!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It shouldn't be about physical strength the horse should go off a light aid if it doesn't it's a training problem, I would concentrate on getting the horse to respond to a lighter leg aid.

You have to be quite tough but you basically ask lightly with your leg if you don't get the response you want you kick flap and wave your whip about until the horse goes forward then repeat, even if the horse flies off in canter great at least its going forward and you stick to that method and eventually the horse goes off a lighter aid.

You shouldn't have to work that hard and tire yourself out when you ride or you end up doing more than the horse does.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

This makes sense! The owner is a very strong rider and has jumped 130s with her, so she is definitely able to sharpen her up. She says she does lots of transitions to start with. I really try that but struggle to get that pop. And I am trying to not constantly nag.

Perhaps I am asking the wrong questions and it’s what I’m doing on the horse as opposed to my physical strength or fitness, I just look at the owner and she is a very tough, strong woman so think perhaps that’s what I’m missing.

Try riding 5 strides walk/5 strides trot repeated several times to sharpen her response up. Then repeat with trot/canter. That is possibly what the owner meant by transitional but did explain properly

 

[Birker2020]

I ask nicely with my leg twice then if that's ignored back up with a flick from my schooling whip - legs off immediately you get a response. They slow down again then repeat.

This tip really works well but you have to be ready for take off and make sure your hands stay with their mouths.

 

[greenbean10]

Try riding 5 strides walk/5 strides trot repeated several times to sharpen her response up. Then repeat with trot/canter. That is possibly what the owner meant by transitional but did explain properly

This is a good exercise and something I have done before actually, thank you.

 

[Abacus]

It shouldn't be about physical strength the horse should go off a light aid if it doesn't it's a training problem, I would concentrate on getting the horse to respond to a lighter leg aid.

You have to be quite tough but you basically ask lightly with your leg if you don't get the response you want you kick flap and wave your whip about until the horse goes forward then repeat, even if the horse flies off in canter great at least its going forward and you stick to that method and eventually the horse goes off a lighter aid.

You shouldn't have to work that hard and tire yourself out when you ride or you end up doing more than the horse does.

I agree with the principle but not the method here. Don't compromise your position, don't kick and flap. Back your leg aid up firmly with the stick, but keep everything else the same. If you need a more whacky flick from the stick use that, but keep your leg aid as it should be, and keep your body stable.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I agree with the principle but not the method here. Don't compromise your position, don't kick and flap. Back your leg aid up firmly with the stick, but keep everything else the same. If you need a more whacky flick from the stick use that, but keep your leg aid as it should be, and keep your body stable.

Yeah the way I said it probably wouldn't look too pretty

 

[Annagain]

One of my instructors has a mantra "click, flick, kick, stick". Start with a click, if no response give a flick with your legs, no response a stronger kick (not a pony club kick just stronger leg) and if no response stick. It has really worked with Wiggy who is, shall we say, laid back. This applies to going in the first place and maintaining the pace. Every so often in the school, two minutes reminding him of this at the beginning is all he needs. He'll then listen to the slightest of flicks of my leg.

 

[SpeedyPony]

The other thing I would consider is your seat- if he's been taught to slow/half halt from the seat (as a lot are-or should be!) could you be accidentally riding with tension in such a way that you are asking him to come back with your seat all the time? That might be your 'handbrake'- I know if I'm tense (sometimes as a result of being tired when I'm getting fit again after time off) I tend to inadvertently put on the seat aids to slow down and have to concentrate on relaxing myself so that I don't block the horse from moving forwards.

 

[splashgirl45]

Could you watch the owner riding and try and copy that when you ride? Some people energise horses without doing anything , it used to be called electric bum in our circles many years ago and I must admit I’ve never had a problem with horses that others call lazy , it’s the opposite problem for me. A friend had a ride on my very forward going mare and she could barely get her to trot, I rode her Arab and it was nutty with me so we obviously had the right horses..

 

[Jellymoon]

It could also be a case that he knows his mum means business, so whenever she gets on he instantly ups his game! That comes from a relationship that’s built up over time.
I think you can try all of the above, but what would really help would be some lessons from the owner. You need to do whatever she’s been going over the years to get him going.

 

[greenbean10]

One of my instructors has a mantra "click, flick, kick, stick". Start with a click, if no response give a flick with your legs, no response a stronger kick (not a pony club kick just stronger leg) and if no response stick. It has really worked with Wiggy who is, shall we say, laid back. This applies to going in the first place and maintaining the pace. Every so often in the school, two minutes reminding him of this at the beginning is all he needs. He'll then listen to the slightest of flicks of my leg.

This is very helpful! Thank you!

 

[greenbean10]

The other thing I would consider is your seat- if he's been taught to slow/half halt from the seat (as a lot are-or should be!) could you be accidentally riding with tension in such a way that you are asking him to come back with your seat all the time? That might be your 'handbrake'- I know if I'm tense (sometimes as a result of being tired when I'm getting fit again after time off) I tend to inadvertently put on the seat aids to slow down and have to concentrate on relaxing myself so that I don't block the horse from moving forwards.

This makes sense and I could see how it would happen but I don't think is the case. I actually think the opposite is true...I am used to riding with a very light seat and light hand on my buzzy forward-thinking types, and I actually think this horse needs a deeper, driving seat...which I can't seem to muster!

 

[greenbean10]

It could also be a case that he knows his mum means business, so whenever she gets on he instantly ups his game! That comes from a relationship that’s built up over time.
I think you can try all of the above, but what would really help would be some lessons from the owner. You need to do whatever she’s been going over the years to get him going.

Yes I think this may well be it. I'll get some lessons!

 

[sbloom]

The issue is that a lot of this stuff makes horses more tense, more reactive, but not relaxed and correct. And I don't mean that obvious "hot" thing, I mean utilising the wrong muscles, not working in their own long term soundness interests. This includes a driving seat which always pushes the back down and can have a real adverse effect on back legs. I would want to work on his understanding of how to move, of any dysfunction he's in. The seat should help to stabilise the back, the pelvis should have a decent base in neutral (allowing the spine to stack naturally) and then should allow the horse to push up. A driving seat does the opposite.

Starting at first principles is always my preferred route, copying the owner is okay if you just want to crack on and probably paper over what's going on. Looking deeper gets to the actual issue, not always possible when it's a share or similar situation of course. Depends what you want to learn and achieve. And yes, I'm a bit of a purist but it's all about the horse.