Fibones
Member
Hi I'm Fiona (fibones) and I've been riding over 40 years. Currently horse-less but I help friends with their horses and use some of the natural horsemanship stuff I learned while living in the US (via Buck Brannaman) to help bring them on. I currently help with an ex-pacer standardbred who I am hoping to do some endurance rides with and a Shire horse who I have to say I'm struggling with as he is just so reluctant to do anything! He simply goes on strike and won't move forwards and leg aids have no effect at all, even if backed up with a spur. Other times (e.g. if heading for home) he can be light and forward going. It seems it is all on his terms at the moment. We have tried taking him out with another horse who can help support him, and also with a person on foot who can lead him when he gets stuck, but it is very hard going at the moment. It can take 45 minutes to get him half a mile down the road! Any tip from people with experience with draft horses...I've never met a horse with so little interest in going out and doing something! We try to keep his feet moving any way we can if he gets stuck, but he seems to be regressing!