Getting a youngster to go forward

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hallarider

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Hi

I have a rising four year old, he was backed last August and for one reason and another he has only been back in work for a week now after having time off. Hes very reluctant to go forward off the leg, not really bad just feels like I am constantly having to use my leg!. What is the best thing for him. We are schooling twice a week and hacking once a week. Schooling sessions do not last more than half an hour and we are doing lots of transitions from walk to trot etc. We would like to do four year old hunter this year so he needs to go forward off the leg. Back and teeth have been checked.

Many thanks
 
I would forget the schooling for a while and get him out hacking with another horse (something quite forward) and just let him get used to the idea of work without being under any pressure. 6 weeks of this and he will be alot stronger when it comes to going back in the school
 
ditto madhector - get him out zrooming about whilst hacking so he understands he can go forwards, becomes more confident and thinks being ridden is fun.

My boy didn't really click with the whole 'going forwards' nonsense until we took him into a stubble field and went Zroom. After that we started getting TOO much forwards
wink.gif
 
Yeh agree, u won't get anywhere unless u make life fun for him! Hack out with others to get him fit, then start schooling with others too.
My horse was not properly broken in first time round and doesn't really get pressure release so I've had to teach him with a clicker! Are you sure he actually understands what's expected of him when u put your leg on?
 
forget the school work as others have said- most youngsters don't understand the point of going around and around in circles and have little motivation.

hacking in company to start- you can encourage him to come round, work more off the leg etc out hacking once he starts to understand natural forwardness more.
 
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