Getting some oomph

[quiteniceforacob]

Horse has been here 2 months and he’s lovely! 15.1 welsh D, like a big dog with his affection. Was hunted but green in school and we’ve done lots of work. He’s a quick learner and happy to do it all, but he’s very behind the leg. I’ve actually caused him a rub as though I’m wearing Spurs!

He’s fit - can hack and trot up hills for over an hour, just lacks impulsion in the school. Even today, we’d go into a jump in canter, he’d need a kick to go over, and then would fall into a walk. Not out of breath at all though!

what do people suggest? We do polework/ hacking/ schooling. Planning on putting him on a competition mix based on my instructor’s recommendation.

 

[mini_b]

He might not enjoy “schooling” in an arena and is just a bit switched off.

Is there anywhere you can do your lesson on the flat or poles/jumps in an open space?
Can you not school out on hacks? (Flatwork)
Understand obviously you can’t do that for a lesson, in that case I’d be inclined to get your instructor to have a sit and find where the buttons are or if they are installed!

 

[quiteniceforacob]

Instructors had a sit as have a few people on the yard. He needs a forward rider and I’m having to learn to be that! I school on hacks but want to get him out to dressage etc.

He’s the same if I hack him alone though, it’s only in a group that he really comes alive!

 

[mini_b]

He might be lacking in a bit of confidence and is taking that from the rest of the group.
He needs a forward rider as in a gung ho confident rider? Or someone simply quicker than yourself to correct when he’s getting behind the leg?

You might find that he’s all of a sudden very forward when you take him “out” somewhere to do dressage ?

It’s important to remember that horses often aren’t all things to all men, he might not actually enjoy flatwork etc just work with his strengths and have fun!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It might just be a lack of fitness in the school and it's not as exciting as hunting, but with a not so forward thinking horse I think you have to be quite strict and teach the horse to move off a very slight aid, and you have to ride them like that always and try not to slip back into the nagging way of riding, I would from the off concentrate on getting him forward with minimal leg even hacking or schooling, if he doesn't respond get after him until he does then repeat until you get him to go from the lightest leg aid, but you have to ride him like that every time you ride so he understands that's how it is

 

[quiteniceforacob]

It might just be a lack of fitness in the school and it's not as exciting as hunting, but with a not so forward thinking horse I think you have to be quite strict and teach the horse to move off a very slight aid, and you have to ride them like that always and try not to slip back into the nagging way of riding, I would from the off concentrate on getting him forward with minimal leg even hacking or schooling, if he doesn't respond get after him until he does then repeat until you get him to go from the lightest leg aid, but you have to ride him like that every time you ride so he understands that's how it is

so how would you do this? I kick, and he trots, and then he drops back from trot to walk after a few strides, how do I not nag?
I did some reading around this but struggled putting it into practice!

 

[mini_b]

Kicking is where this not working.
You want him going off a squeeze.
If you are constantly kicking he’s ignoring your leg as it’s shouting all the time.

It will take time and you will probably have to spend a couple of lessons on it but you want to reward any forward movement from a squeeze.
This is something you can be working on with your instructor it’s what you are paying them for!

 

[LEC]

Schooling in an arena is hard work. He just needs to build stamina and strength. It’s like you being a runner and then making you go to a dance fitness class. You would be exhausted.

personally two schooling whips is my go to building forwards and teaching off the leg. You ask with your legs and if ignored use both schooling whips to back up the leg.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

Thanks all! Will put this all into practice going forward

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

so how would you do this? I kick, and he trots, and then he drops back from trot to walk after a few strides, how do I not nag?
I did some reading around this but struggled putting it into

As your walking in your mind think trot ask with a light leg aid, if nothing happens flap your legs and flick the whip until he moves then just repeat until he moves off on a light aid and praise, he only stops trotting when you say same rule applies but you often have to be a step ahead and use your leg before they drop you.

 

[Carrottom]

Does your instructor come to you? If so, would it be possible to meet them at an arena hire to see if a different environment makes any difference. Even try to share a lesson with a friend so he has company. I would do this if possible before increasing feed with a new horse.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Mine used to be like this when I got him, you basically needed a schooling whip and Spurs to get him into canter ?

biggest thing we did was simply not tolerating laziness. He had a few sessions of “escalating aids” where he gets one chance to to respond before upping it: one gentle squeeze -> one gentle kick -> a boot in the ribs and a big smack with a stick. It doesn’t matter if they canter off or shoot forward, as long as they go somewhere! Might sound extreme, but worked brilliantly, and personally I think it’s much better for them than having to nag the whole time. It took surprisingly few sessions for him to get the idea! At first he’d need a reminder session fairly regularly but very rarely need to now.

He’s now beautifully forward and off the leg, sometimes a bit too much haha.

 

[mini_b]

Mine used to be like this when I got him, you basically needed a schooling whip and Spurs to get him into canter ?

biggest thing we did was simply not tolerating laziness. He had a few sessions of “escalating aids” where he gets one chance to to respond before upping it: one gentle squeeze -> one gentle kick -> a boot in the ribs and a big smack with a stick. It doesn’t matter if they canter off or shoot forward, as long as they go somewhere! Might sound extreme, but worked brilliantly, and personally I think it’s much better for them than having to nag the whole time. It took surprisingly few sessions for him to get the idea! At first he’d need a reminder session fairly regularly but very rarely need to now.

He’s now beautifully forward and off the leg, sometimes a bit too much haha.

This does work - and it’s so much kinder than nag nag nag nag nag nag.
Less tiring for you as well!

 

[Lurfy]

He sounds like a lovely horse I used to have who also was not forward. He was my daughter's horse before he came to me. She had many lessons on him and one good dressage instructor suggested finding his forward button by taking him to wide open spaces and get him galloping. I must say this transformed him, he became more forward and responsive overall. So when he was in work, he was regularly galloped to sharpen him up, he loved it.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

Sorry! It stopped notifying me of responses. I’ve been trying this and it’s working really well! Ask, and then second ask is with schooling whip. Lots of transitions. So much more responsive now - thank you!

 

[mini_b]

Sorry! It stopped notifying me of responses. I’ve been trying this and it’s working really well! Ask, and then second ask is with schooling whip. Lots of transitions. So much more responsive now - thank you!

glad to hear update!