HELP! Lazy Horse Syndrome!

R

RBAD94xx

New User
Joined
1 February 2016
Messages
6
Visit site
Hi!
I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on my horse. I have gypsy cob that's my first horse and I brought and broke him last year. This year I have been doing my first ridden shows on him in the novice ring however he is extremely lazy!
When I school him at my yard he is lovely, he is quite forward and will go from walk to trot with just a squeeze however when im in the ring he doesn't move!!! He doesn't like coming out of the line up and im having to constantly kick him round the ring at a snails pace and he doesn't really listen to me!! I've tried taking a schooling whip in and ive tried spurs however neither of these really made a difference!
I'm stuck with what to do as schooling him at home is not really an issue! Some people have suggested changing his food or giving him an energy shot however im not sure whether I want to do this or whether it would work as the energy is there hes just not using it!!

Any advice would be lovely!!! Thank you!!!
 
Not sure I can help that much tbh but I'll give it a go and see if other posters on here can add their advice too.

If he's schooling well at home and it's a case of him changing to lazy bones when he gets to a show, then it could be just a case of nerves/semi napping on his part. If so, then it'll be getting him out more and building experience at shows (you could stick to novice classes so you don't feel out-ranked) and making sure it's not your nerves that are transferring to him. I'd also try doing some faster work in groups e.g. sponsored rides, hunt rides, taking him to the gallops, fast hacks.

I do also wonder if he's not quite as forward as you think even in his work at home, so working on lots of transitions, getting him more reactive to your leg and really learning to use himself properly pushing from the hind end. And generally getting him as fit and well muscled as you can.

I wouldn't change feed unless he's underweight or needs condition. I only up the feed once the increased work has started if they need it, otherwise you could just make him fat which won't help (although it might help in terms of 'show condition', but I'm not a fan of that when it means fatty horses!).
 
It's probably the fact that his not done much ridden showing and his at a strange place, one of my horses was like this for the first 2 seasons, I would get him out as much as you can even just riding round a showground and let him see everything, it's like a nervous reaction some go into themselves some go nuts some just take it in their stride.
 
He's napping. Doesn't want to leave his newfound friends and safety, I doubt very much that it's lack of energy or laziness. Try plenty of clinics with a group of riders where he has to work in open order and get used to leaving the others without the pressure on you of doing your show.
 
9tails said:
He's napping. Doesn't want to leave his newfound friends and safety, I doubt very much that it's lack of energy or laziness. Try plenty of clinics with a group of riders where he has to work in open order and get used to leaving the others without the pressure on you of doing your show.
Click to expand...

Take every opportunity you can to practise riding in company and leaving the other horses. Can you set something up at home to replicate walking out of a line up and giving a show? Have you done much inhand showing with him? I would use inha d classes to get him used to leaving the other horses in a show ring.
 
Thank You for your advice!!

I do feel like he is just taking the mick out of me!! I do transitional work and things like that and he is lazy but does listen to me at home. However he does play up for me if I asking him do to something different to another horse in our paddock. So I think you might be right about the napping!!!

I have done a whole season of inhand with him and he was absolutely golden! That's why I moved onto the ridden showing. He doesn't mind leaving the other in inhand but I didn't know if that's because he was still walking next to me because he will try and cling to the judge aswell! People and horses! Its a nightmare at the moment!!

A few people have suggested fun rides! I may try and get onto one! Thank you!
 
I am sure you will both enjoy fun rides but am not sure how they will help you in the show ring, where his problem is the lack of confidence to leave the other horses. In your position, I would enlist the help of friends. Hack in a group, get him tovtake the lead and somewhere near to home, get your friends to turn off, while you head straight home. When he is confident about that, give him a longer stretch to do on his own. Build his confidence up gradually, getting him to leave the others, rather than having them leave him. I would take him to in hand classes to keep lractsing ringcraft and speak and spend some time riding round the showground, insisting that he ignores the other horses. Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top