getting a lazy horse to go a bit more forward?

[asbo]

friends cob is a bit on the lazy side,not helped by being overweight which i am working on.

she has to use a lot of leg to get him to move at all & it really affects her riding as she feels like she is chasing him all the time with her leg or her whip.

any good ideas on how to get him a bit more responsive?

 

[Twinkle Twinkle]

I took my boy hunting and helped him a lot as he can be lazy. Also when l school l put on a pair of spurs now and again just makes him more responsive to my leg aids.

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

lots and lots of transtions, my lad is the same and it gets him thinking and guessing, up and downward transitions, he will soon not want to stand still as he will be wanting to please.

 

[JGKJ]

My lad is just the same too, but he was in a riding school and is a little dead to leg aids. Little pair of spurs used now and then really gets him moving, plus lots of transitions. Its really hard work with a lazy horse, you end up working harder than them!

 

[beaconhorse]

you need to get him off your leg, transitions is not enough UNLESS he is REALLY going off the leg

Start in walk ask for a walk with a light leg if he doesn't go SHARPLY off the leg ask again harder, then back up with the whip, remember not to restrict the head too much. continue with this in other gaits and especially within the gaits

And don't forget the stop, stop is just as important as it makes them responsive

 

[ISHmad]

Maybe quieten the aids down? Some horses take more time to respond to aids, just like some people are slower on the uptake than others. With lots of leg, whip etc could be that he feels he is being shouted at so can't hear/understand what the rider actually wants. Take him right back to basics. Ask for walk with a gentle squeeze. No response give a little kick. Still no response slightly bigger kick. Still no response one smack with the whip. Maybe cue forwards with a kiss noise too.

My friend at one time had a lesson where she was wearing spurs upside down, had a schooling whip AND the instructor was chasing him with a lunge line to try to get him going forwards. Once everything was stripped back and he could finally HEAR what she wanted the turn around in him was incredible.

 

[Walder]

i had a lazy cob who had been in a riding school and i agree with those who say a small pair of spurs used properly - not banged into horses sides x

 

[cobbywobbles]

Hello
I think when you school it is important to be consistent. If you want a decent walk, never settle for a sloppy one. Ditto trot, canter, halt etc etc.
However, how do you get it in the first place? Reward. As soon as he give you even a bit of what you want, praise, ease off the contact. You can also reward something brilliant, by giving them a rest, also, sometimes, just end the session on a good note, dont be tempted to repeat it again and again, if they dont, thats the last thing they remember. You can link a phrase, such as good boy or good girl with a treat during grooming etc, so the phrase is associated with something nice. That way when you use it, it means something. I am not saying a tap to remind them of their job is not in order, but everlasting smacking is pointless. Dont expect miracles overnight, its a long process, but do recognise any improvement.

 

[ann-jen]

My horse used to be a bit dead to the leg - mainly because I used to keep nagging her all the time to go forwards that I think she just switched off and ignored me. The main thing is to ask them to go forward and if they respond then to back off so they understand that they made the right response. Because I used to keep leg leg leg all the time she used to ignore it. My instructor got me to do what she calls the 0-60 exercise. Basically from halt put your leg on strongly and then completely back off - Jen normally pops straight into trot - then keep your leg off and let them peter out and then repeat the exercise again. I then sometimes think 0-60 within the pace if its getting a bit inactive. But the main thing is to use the leg to ask and then back off when you get the desired response and not keep on asking if you know what I mean.

 

[Eceni]

[ QUOTE ]
Hello

However, how do you get it in the first place? Reward. As soon as he give you even a bit of what you want, praise, ease off the contact. You can also reward something brilliant, by giving them a rest, also, sometimes, just end the session on a good note, dont be tempted to repeat it again and again, if they dont, thats the last thing they remember. You can link a phrase, such as good boy or good girl with a treat during grooming etc, so the phrase is associated with something nice.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or you can clicker train, which takes a lot more personal discipline, but has the scientific backing

or use a wip-wop - which can be anything bright and light. I use a climbing extender because I have them around and they're fluorescent pink and very light. Other people use old lead ropes WITH THE CLIP CUT OFF. The idea is to apply the leg *lightly* and if it's not answered immediatley, swing the rope/extender/whatever from side to side in the way the old cowboys used the ends of their reins - so not hitting the horse but providing a bright, light, instant wake up. Took me twice and my filly's as light off the leg as you want.

A horse can feel a fly land on its skin. It's not that they don't feel your leg, or that they're necessarily lazy, it's that so many people kicking on and then pulling back have taught them that it means nothing

good luck

E