Help with lazy pony

Snowy Celandine

Snowy Celandine

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I've had my new pony for a few weeks now but not ridden him much during that time as I've been busy with my other pony and had some time off due to illness (me, not horse). He has always been lazy but I thought I was getting somewhere with him and that his attitude to work was improving. However, I have ridden him today for the first time in a fortnight (he is exercised by someone else if I am not riding him regularly) and he was as lazy as ever and bucked me off when I tapped him with my schooling whip :rolleyes: Not the response I was really seeking.

Has anyone got any ideas how to liven him up without smacking him (if that is going to lead to me sitting on the floor every time :p ) and get him to be a bit more enthusiastic about his work? He loves hacking by the way and is happy to canter on a hack. He works well in walk and trot in the school but cannot seem to see the point in cantering. He was not used to schooling when I got him and was a bit unbalanced but he has improved immensely in the last few weeks.

His saddle has been checked by my usual, trusted saddler and there are no issues. His back was checked last week and nothing found and his teeth were done shortly after I got him. He did need a fair bit of rasping but there were no major problems.
 
He may just have to get more used to he idea of schooling.
What i've been taught, is you ask for gait lightly, (canter in this case) then if he doesn't respond, give him a good had kick, that should send him forwards, let him run on of a few secs (its no good telling him to go if you've got the brakes on) and ask him back to a nice canter, bring him back to trot for a few paces then ask lightly again, then if he doesn't respond, you kick him again. He'll get the idea after a few times. This will also teach him to be more responsive.

ETA: it may be worth putting some poles or small jumps out to make things interesting, a lot of horses get bored schooling
 
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