Horse walks incredibly slowly being led

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GrumpyHero

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This isn't a huge problem, just more of an inconvenience for me. My loan horse is an absolute slug to lead! It takes roughly 30min to bring him in from the field because of how slow he walks! He's the same walking back to the field.

He does quicken up if I hold a carrot in front of his nose for the whole walk but i don't want to feed him too many as I'm trying to give him as little sugar as possible. I'd rather not use a whip but was wondering if anyone has any tips on getting him to quicken up or whether I'm stuck with the sluggishness!

He is generally quite a laid back thoroughbred, he will go when you ask him to when ridden but would prefer to live life in walk!

Any tips shall receive cupcakes :--)
 
I'd spend a few hours teaching him that he gets a move on, using a whip as necessary, and then expect him to walk properly with few reminders. Or you can spend an hour a day irritated and nagging at him all the time you have him.


All that is assuming you've tried the obvious by marching smartly by his shoulder, growling if he slows up etc.
 
I've tried pushing him pulling him getting angry staying calm! He just stops or walks equally as slowly. Doesn't help that he's in the furthest field too!
 
my boy can be like this, but not too bad, so not tried much yet, he is actually very whip sensitive (ex-racer- whip = gallop!) but i am tempted to carry a schooling whip so if he doesn't respond to my voice asking him to walk on more i can jut reach back and tap him on his bottom. he is typical in that going in is slow but turning out to join friends he is fine!
 
My exracer can be exactly the same - like dragging a beach donkey along! He generally only does it to the field gate though, or when you're walking him to the school the lazy toad!
 
Must be an ex racer thing. My boy is slow mo when coming out of field and also to the school from stable but on way out he is fine. I just take it that its good he is chilled now as when first got him he wasn't at all and leading was scary!
 
Well I don't know if Hero raced but he is a thoroughbred so maybe its a secret code they all abide to! Scheming slow walking horses damn you!
 
I'd take a schooling whip with me. Frank is a terrible walker (and def not an ex racer) and when doing in hand walking rehab I would always take a stick to tap him up as it was important he walked properly. (I pref to long rein but obviously not practical just for getting to and from the field!)
 
Odd, both our ex racers have a good march on them.

Funnily enough, our lazy toad of an ISH has a good march on him too.

Unless it's my dad leading him, in which case he takes his sweet ass time and will quite happily let you drag him the best part of 5 acres.

Carry a whip, or flick the end of the lead rope instead.
 
Make sure that you are walking at his shoulder, do not pull him along, that will make him even slower. Rather than touching him with a schooling whip, swish it through the air, the noise will encourage him forwards. You may find it helpful at first to have a friend walking behind him to swish the schooling whip.
 
My horse is exactly the same, and definitely not an ex racer!

Some days he marches along and other days I feel like I'm dragging him along (usually the days where I'm late for work or need to be somewhere!!)

He doesn't give a s*** about whips so I have been working on voice commands. He understands 'walk on' and a click on the lunge so I have been working on doing this while i lead and not letting him slow down.

Oh and a handful of oats a day has been working wonders too ;)
 
mine used to do it when i first got him and it drove me mad. its completely the horse taking the p*ss and dictating the speed.

I did a lot of groundwork and really using body language and voice to make him respect me more. It started with just work in the arena making sure he kept his eye on me and followed when i turned and moved, then moved on to making sure he matched my pace. It only took one or two proper sessions and the leading in issue was fixed.

I have no hassle leading him now and he follows correctly at whatever pace im doing.
 
If you are leading with you right hand carry the schooling whip in your left hand and use it like you would if you were on his back, a tap behind your leg so to speak, also encourage with clicks, and when he speeds up, release then he will know he is getting reward because the pressure has slacked off, so he ist be doing the right thing.
 
And my ex racer....I guess they feel their job is done and now is chill time, although sometimes they take it to the extreme!

Mine can walk properly when led but would rather choose to stop every few feet smell some flowers, have a look around...generally be a donkey and take the p*ss
 
My ex-racer does this too... I'm seeing a pattern!

Mine isn't rude i.e. won't pull away to eat/look around ect just walks 1mph to and from the field.
 
Landcruiser said:
Just a thought. What's the surface between field and yard? Could his feet be hurting? Is he quicker on grass?
Click to expand...

He has hoof boots with pads as hes a new barefoot, he was exactly the same shod too! So his feed shouldn't hurt. Its gravelly stoney mud at the moment!

Did the carrot trick again tonight .. along with a few taps of the leadrope when he lost interest!
 
Give him some treats when he gets to box the. He will start thinking yummy there are nice things waiting for me lets hurry up. Mine do that in winter esp when there is no grass in the field and they know there is hay in their box.
 
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