Getting horse to trot up in-hand

[FlaxenPony05]

I'm taking the young horse I ride to an in-hand show soon. He's quite lazy in-hand and it's very hard to get him into trot, which I'm assuming we'll have to do for the show. Any tips?

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I trained mine with voice and swishing a whip near his bum. I never connected, the noise was enough to make him move. For some horses, it's just not natural and you need to train them. I also had a friend encourage with voice, chasing behind us clapping her hands.

 

[FlaxenPony05]

Thanks cinnammontoast, only just saw that! Anyone else?

 

[MadisonBelle]

My 17hh mare had no idea how to trot in hand...... I didn't want her to be frightened into it so I simply carried my schooling whip in my free hand and when I asked for trot I gave a little tap behind me. Worked a treat and only had to do it twice and now she trots up like a dream.... so much so that I have to REALLY run to keep up with the long legged beast

 

[Love]

When I took Kenny to our first show, no one had told me about the trotting up for the judge part (it was a ridden class) until we were on the way at about 5am! Got onto the arena hoping to blag our way through it... Well poor Kenny didn't have a clue what I wanted! The judge was lovely and let me keep trying until we did it!

After that I vowed I would teach him straight away - I normally practice after I have lunged - just gave him a flick behind with the lunge whip and he learnt incredibly quickly