Going backwards when doesnt want to do something help

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cazzaroogie

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Hi I have had my ex racer for nearly a year now and we HAD been progressing well with our dressage coming along nicely etc. Now it has got though that when he doesnt want to do something or is in a grump he will reverse backwards and whatever i do doesnt seem to help. I try to turn him in a circle or the other way but this has no effect i also try to kick him forward or tap him with the whip again nothing. He also tends to bunny hop in trot and canter and again wont go forward I am really struggling what to do. I put a flash on him as it seemed to be when he tried to get his tongue out that was bad and this fkash worked for a few days and we had no walking backwards but now it has returned!! He tends to do it more when we are against the fence if i keep him on an inner track he is better but not for long and before long we are hedding sideways for the fence!!He goes out all day and is ridden or lunged 6 days a week isnt feed anything sugary etc and is on a calmer!! HELP!!! ps. he has had his teet back and saddle checked all fine!!
 
naughty, sounds like you are doing the right series of checks, you could try a Baucher, hanging snaffle, if it is a tongue issue that starts it, and add cheeks for a steering aid, are you positive there are no wolf teeth? Shouldnt be as he is x racer.
Sounds like he now needs to be ridden through this a little more firmly, as it is becoming a habit, have you a trainer who can come and see the behaviour and help you ride him through it? He must learn to be in front of your leg, even if there is a bit of a fight the first time, he will soon realise it is nicer to do what you ask the be bad, do be careful as if he starts this on the roads it is really not very funny.
 
Have you tried making him go backwards when he does this? We have done this on one of ours when he went through a backwards phase and it seemed to help. Making him go backwards when he thinks its some kind of evasion seems to confuse them, then you can halt and ask them to move on again.
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hi i have an instructor who has seen him in action as such lol she said to keep trying to get him forwards but thing is he doesnt listen to my leg at all when he gets in one of his strops and goes backwards. I havent heard of the Baucher bit before will have a look he i. He is currently in a happy mouth french link. I didnt know whether to try him in some small spurs to see if this stops his naughtiness for a bit? Any ideas? I wear these with my other ex racer as he can be dead to the leg even though speedy!!
 
i would definitely try the spurs, but very carefully as he might go up. If you are OK with a bit of a fight....
remember try first to get him to stop running backwards, being passive can do this, once he isnt running away from you THEN reapply the leg+spur and use your voice clearly, try correcting him very firmly but not violently, or in a hurry, make sure he stops doing the bad movement first , then ask for the correct response, calmly and firmly and reward IMMEDIATELY he even thinks forwards. If this doesnt work maybe someone with a lundgewhip behind as well?
Be extremely clear what you want from him.
I have reschooled many with this type of disobedience. I dont want to recommend you are nasty to him but you need to be extremely firm about what you are accepting and what you are not. Make sure you dont pick a fight when you are alone just in case. Your instructors comment sounds a tad lame, isnt there anyone about who can be a little bit more positive about this.
The baucher just hangs and squashes the tongue less, it works for a few fussy horses, sometimes.... but the real issue now is he is being disobedient.
You may need to go a step further and really tell him off.
 
I had one that did this he was a TB also. When he did it & was about to stop going backwards, i would keep him going backwards. I made it really hard work for him he eventually realised that forwards was easier. Doesnt work for all & i only did this after all physical checks where done by the Vet.
 
Yeah I feel he is just taking the mickey really and not being scared etc. I am thinking I may have a go tomrorow with the spurs and see.When he does this backwardness I end up riding him for ages till I win as such and he goes forward and properly on both reins and in all paces. It is hard as when I try and turn him when he goes backwards he spins around really fast!! But I am stubborn and refuse to give in - or stupid you may say. so i really want to sort this out as he has the paces and makings of a lovely dressage horse just have to get him through this!!
 
it might sound drastic, but have you tried steering him as he backs and making him back into the fence? (if it's a safe one, obv.) he needs to realise that going forward is the more fun thing to do, obviously!
i'd try being totally passive until he stops, then calmly asking for forward again, so he gets no reaction at all.
have you tried one hard smack too, does he just ignore it?
another thing to do in a safe environment might be to put a blindfold over his eyes (possible from saddle, i've done it!) the moment he starts going back - most horses will freeze. you could then wait 10 secs calmly, take it off, see if he'll walk forward again.
have you tried having someone on the ground with a lunge whip? that would be my last resort, i prefer to sort these things out 1 on 1, obv.
tbh i wouldn't suggest spurs if he is ignoring the leg. that isn't what they are for... they are to refine the leg aid (make it more specific in 1 place) not as a goad to go forward.
hope you get it sorted!
 
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yeah he does spin and goes up and he turns in both directions!!!

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I wouldnt recommend what i have written above then if he goes up, that method i have written could make things worse.

Does he do this when he first goes in the school?? Or when your asking something of him?? Is he fine out hacking??

ETA- you mention a bunny hop, one of mine was doing this last year & it was a tiny amount of inflamation in one Hock, it was enough to make taking more weight on his hinds painful.
 
Ok well if that gets worse, a simple idea is to chuck a market harbourer on him or even draw reins just for control of the spins NOTHING ELSE at least then you can stop the spin.
You are going to have to read him carefully when you confront this. Good luck, I think you are on the right track. Got to go do my boys now, pm me if i can help more? I doubt it, you seem to have thought of everything, just be firm and patient and try not to get cross, stubborn is great but be ready to praise at the smallest positive movement! Good luck eh!
 
My boy is an ex racer and he did exactly this when I first got him.

Go in the school and start off walking all calm etc, before there's a problem ask for rein back, then walk on. practise lots of rein back even going round the whole arena if you have to backwards.

he uses backwards as an evasion - make him go backwards - it's no longer his evasion - its now your instruction

this should stop him thinking it's a viable way to get out of doing what you want, I would make sure that you are also really quick to show him that forwards is always the nicest route, put a nice soft bit in, and you could also try some little sheepskin cheek piece covers to get him thinking forwards.
 
I agree totally with Chloe GHE. If he goes backwards, keep him going backwards (as long as it is safe to do so). Once he learns that it is you, the rider, who has control of "backwards", then it is no longer such a good evasion.
 
I agree that taking running backwards and then controlling it into a reinback is absolutely fine and asking for it is also a good way of him realising that it is a controlled movement and also requires him to be obedient, however at some stage he needs to be obedient and come off of the leg, when asked.
I would only 'run the reinback' route in extreme circumstances, however be EXTREMELY careful as he might rear, spin and or sit down and even fall over depending on his reactions and the speed at which he does this.
I have used this method but be careful eh. allowing the running reinback by passivity is one thing riding it is another, it can become pretty hair raising.
I would still try passivity, when he runs backwards before riding it. (Its fine to back him into a fence etc, we have all done that, but it doesnt really solve the problem in my opinion). When he then decides to stop and realises it had no effect and that you still are asking him to go forward firmly but calmly, he will give up, albeit eventually!!
Just my way I guess, at least you now have plenty of ideas!
 
Thanks for all your advice I cant make him go back anymore as he backs himself into the school fence!! Will keep perservering, I have tried to sit there when he does it and let him have his reins etc but that doesnt seem to work.He doesnt walk backwards or bunny hop when first get on but when start making him work! Will let you know how i get on.
 
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