He won't back up. . . . .

michellev123

michellev123

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Hi
I am havig trouble getting Oscar to back up
Started by trying to move one foot at a time then praise, he generally will move one (although not every time) but I cant get him to move more than one or very rarely 2!

I have tried constant pressure on the leadrope, gently getting stronger and also have tried short "jabs" and a constant pressure on his chest.

But nothing works he will occasionally step to the side instead of going back.

I dont know if i am not telling him clearly what i want or if he is being stobbon/coltly (only just been gelded)

Is it that he doesnt respect me?
Or he doesnt understand me?

A long term goal is to do TREC with him so will have to be backing up through "L" shapes etc so this is very important groundwork.


Any advice please

Thanks
 
To me it sounds like either a lack of understanding or a lack of respect? For me it is really important to be able to control your horses legs have you thought of trying out a pressure halter? such as the richard maxwell type?

Whats he like if you ask him to move over in the stable?
 
Hi, thanks for the reply.

I already had a pressure halter and have recently bought a MR dually, He is slightly better in the dually but tries to resit it. I have done all the basics explained on the dvd and he knows if he moves the pressure comes off and to walk forward he is brilliant just not backwards :(

He is turned out 24/7 but will move out of the way in the filed at the gate and out on walks etc alhtough again this is mainly forwards or sideways not backwards.
 
Stick your thumb in his chest and push - saying 'back'.

He simply doesn't understand what you want, and waggling a lead rope won't help him understand.
 
Dont waste any more money making life complicated for him and for you.....just poke - not push - poke him once or twice in the chest with your index finger HARD and give him the command to back up. Done correctly he will soon learn to back up when you point, you wont even need to touch him.
 
I have taught my little one to back up when I give him a treat last thing at night in his stable.....I hold it right in at his chest, and say "back".....he moves backwards to get the treat!

He now will go back when I say and then gets the treat....
 
Try to reduce his dominance by leading him through all manner of moves , starting with the ones he does well and finally moving on to the ones where he resists you. So head up head down move forward to voice command and stop. yield to left and right. if you get him acquainted to certain voice commands / noises and you use short jabs with a finger when you want him to back up he will eventually back up just to your voice. The most important is to be consistent and to synchonise the voice and finger action and then lots of praise.
 
spaniel said:
Dont waste any more money making life complicated for him and for you.....just poke - not push - poke him once or twice in the chest with your index finger HARD and give him the command to back up. Done correctly he will soon learn to back up when you point, you wont even need to touch him.
Click to expand...

This is how I teach all my youngsters to back up. They have to step back away from the door whenever someone goes into their stable. They soon get the hang of it. It might help to stand him against something solid like a wall and have his head very slightly flexed away from it as this should help keep him straight. You might also find it helpful to poke him with the wrong end of a riding crop (don't hit him) to get a bit more pressure.
 
54321 said:
hi
it sounds that maybe he could be a chiver if you research this in more detail it will tell you more it basically means the horse cant back up hardley or he may just need to have a firmer hand hope this helps
Click to expand...

I think you mean Shiverer.
 
With Ginny I usually put on my angry and deep voice and say "back" - making the word short and snappy, she usually gets that I mean business when I use this.
I also walk into her. Stamp you feet from about a meter away and slowly (but with lots of steps, if you get me??) stomp towards him saying the words 'back'. As soon as they back up stop and give him a pat :)
 
Have you had his back checked? If he is 'out' somewhere (sorry but I am not sure where) then backing can be very, very difficult for them. I remember watching an Olympic rider that was gutted as she lost marks in her test (was an eventer) as her horse had got himself cast in the box the night before her test and he physically couldn't do the rein back. Just a thought.
 
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