Help schooling lazy horse

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littlen

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Hi,

Well I have had a lesson today and have established that my horse is pretty much dead to the leg and is also in the wrong bit.. hence the problems.
I am planning to go back to basics with a snaffle and re-school him with weekly lessons from an instructor.
I also want to practice lots in between lessons but I am not sure of what excerises I should be doing?

Has anyone got any ideas how to get a horse to respond first time?
For example, if I ask for trot I have a hard time getting him to break into trot and then he falls out of trot after a few strides because he cant be bothered. I have tried kicking on every stride but to be honest I am finding him exhausting. He will also not canter unless following a lead horse.
Any ideas how to make him more forward thinking?

He also cant bend or flex and will not trot or canter on his stiff rein.
 
I had a similar problem with mine you could try lunging him and getting him to respect verbal commands and then work it into your schooling sessions. I also had a proffesional come and work on him once a week and she ended up having to use spurs once he relized that it was harder to avoid the work then actualy do it he got really good and the spurs only lasted a couple of lessons
 
Have you tried building in voice commands? I click when I want him to go faster - it's what he's used to as previous owner did the same.

As I said with the water question - I would make it clear what I wanted him/her to do with clear leg aids, if ignored I'd growl or shout 'get on', if ignored again I would give a smack. In time he'll learn to shift after the growl so the whip would be made redundant.

Do you only trot/canter in school or are you able to do these whilst hacking? It may make it more fun for you both to have a quick hack and then work.

I've also been victim of a poorly fitting bit - mine has started working a lot better since.
 
I have used to methods for Kai when she was younger.

I asked her to trot, if she igrnored me, asked again more firmly, if that didn't work give her a big pony club kick and allow with the reigns so she goes off into canter, then bring her back to walk and asked her to trot again, repeat the pony club kick if neccessary. They soon learn it is easier just to trot.

The other method is again ask her to trot, if she doesn't I ask her again, she gets a tap with the whip, but don't use this at the same time as asking her to trot. After I tap her, and she stays in walk, then ask for the trot. And repeat if neccessay.

She is now very reponsive to the leg and the big, especially for a big hunter.
 
A schololing whip in each hand makes a huge difference to my kick-along, plus being very black and white and clear about expecting immediate responses.
 
When I school lazy ponies I tend to ask once and use a schooling whip if theres no response.Ensure you ae soft with your hands when asking for a transition.Constantly do upwards and downwards transitions,making sure the horse responds first time,and use your voice aswell.If you still have a problem, prehaps consider spurs or lunge lessons.Kicking will only deaden the horse to your aids so dont be afraid to hit him to back up the leg.Stiffness is usually due to lack of schooling -circle and serpentine exercises are a good idea :).
 
From the moment you get on your horse you need to make clear its job is to do what you ask. When you get on your horse make it stand until you want to move off .... and make the first few steps really positive and forward NEVER accept anything else. If you loose those first few strides you are always going to be on a losing wicket.

Make sure your legs are far enough back to connect with the body of the horse - if they are on the girth it is going to be much more difficult.

If it is difficult for you both keeping up the pace then maybe only start with 10 or 15 minute .... but every single step has to be forward going for that time!!

The pace you are looking for it it is just about to burst into trot.

Consider spurs - and also going out (eventing, hunting, with friend) to get it thinking forward.

Can you tell I have been there with my horse!!! It can change, its just a matter of changing the habit of the horse.





If your legs are a little bit weak at first then wear spurs and only do 5/10
 
Ensure that your own position is absolutely correct and that your aids are precise. Your instructor will of course help with this. Have back, teeth and saddle checked. Keep schooling sessions short and accurate, with frequent changes of pace & direction, so that he doesn't know what to expect next. If you can get a friend to watch your weekly lessons and then to help you in the 'in-between' sessions, this would stop you falling into your bad habits without your instructor.
 
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