Help! my horse is "dead to the leg"

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SueandSplendida

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Two months ago I became the proud owner of an arab ex endurance horse. He is 11 years old and character-wise is an angel. I don't know his history but think he has never been schooled other than stop n go in the arabian desert (I live in UAE). The problem is, he does not respond to my leg aids and I find constant "thumping" tiring and completely fruitless. I am a happy hacker but quite enjoy school work and would like him to do a bit of simple dressage and maybe jumping. He is even reluctant to canter when hacking, unless with other horses, then he likes to race. Most of my time I ride alone and he hates being alone, probably due to his endurance racing past.
I think the only way forward is retraining to voice aids. Can anyone give me some advice as to how to go about this, or any other ideas? I have plenty of time on my hands (Im retired) but the climate is against me. Its 40 degrees and rising!
 
The way a breaker is taught is on the lunge - can you do that? Train the different paces to voice aids and then use them from the saddle. And try not to keep using your legs, all you are doing is teaching him to ignore them. Once he is working form the voice, you can restart the leg - use the leg FOLLOWED by the voice, so he begins to anticipate and the leg eventually takes over. Nice project to work on :)
 
Could you be a bit tight in the seat and thigh? My horse is completely dead to the leg unless you are loose in seat and thigh, he understands tightness as stop and is completly confused if you kick or touch him with the whip when you are gripping. unfortunately if the horse isn't going forward it's easy to start getting tight and digging which just makes it worse!
 
Try using a schooling whip in each hand then if he doesn't respond, flick him on both sides together, instead of him jumping off to one side it will shock him into jumping off forward. He will soon learn to go forward when asked.
 
Dotty1 do u mean using leg aids first & if he doesn't respond then flick with both whips or do you mean use the 2 whips instead of the leg aid? Just wondering as always eager to have my horse as 'off the leg' as possible :)
 
Ask with your leg first and if he doesn't respond, flick him on both sides together. It doesn't take long for them to learn.
 
What's his fitness like? I find mine can be unresponsive after any tme out of work or in very light work. Once their fitness builds up and they find the work easier they become more willing to go forward. If he is unfit, I would concentrate on the hacking for a few weeks to build up some muscle and general fitness, then start work on the lunging and some school work. Just my experience but if you start the school work too early they are more likely to get resistant and unresponsive because they find it all very hard work.
 
dotty1 said:
Try using a schooling whip in each hand then if he doesn't respond, flick him on both sides together, instead of him jumping off to one side it will shock him into jumping off forward. He will soon learn to go forward when asked.
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By schooling whip do you mean a dressage type whip? and you use it behind your leg?
 
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