HORSE WONT ACCEPT MY LEG

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Frankie66

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My 5 yr old mare has started napping/stopping when i put my leg on in trot, she will stop dead and either rear or buck, i have tried the nice way and also the hard way but she will still not budge, once in canter she is fine and walk also.
I have had her back/teeth checked and she is not in any pain at all.
Just want a few tips on what to do as its annoying!!!
 
how are you applying the leg?

calf or heel? what if you back it up with tap with schooling whip?

are you sure you are giving her enough rein to move into when you are applying the leg?
 
Obviously i wrap my calfs around her consistently, but its when i apply my heel for transition to trot or when in trot, yes i am giving her enough rein as i have tried on a loose rein and she still does it.
She is fine when jumping and lunging etc..
I always ride with a schooling whip but backing my leg up with it either makes her buck or she pays no attention
 
Have you had your saddle checked? Just wondering as obviously it moves most at trot so has the most potential to upset your horse. Does he do the same if you are sitting/rising? Does he trot forward freely on the lunge? What happens if you shorten your stirrups and stand up?
 
Have you had someone experienced watch from the ground? Sometimes you get a better perspective of what's happening. Has anyone else ridden her? Does she do the same thing with other people on board?
 
Yes she trots freely on lunge, Sitting or rising doesnt seem to make a difference, just when i apply my heel to go forward she stops and shoots her head up and bucks or rears.
After a 30min battle she does give on and works great!
 
if your calf is on constantly she may be getting a bit annoyed at not getting any rest from it?

do you use your heel for the aid in walk and canter as well?
 
My young horse was not great at responding to the leg. He has just spent a month with a dressage trainer. She did a lot of work in hand and with the schooling whip to get him to respond. It really worked.
 
if all checks are done and she is ok it sounds like she is napping and just being plain rude- it could be that she finds this difficult and this is a way of evading you...perhaps try cantering her round really forward every time she thinks backwards and then after a few laps ask her back to trot- if she trots forward nicely make sure you reward her with a pat and a nice loose rein to trot into...its about breaking a habit and not making a fight out of it. i'd get someone else on her and see what she does with them....
smile.gif
 
I've known two young horses do the same thing. It seems to be a phase some go through but you MUST get her to go forward before it becomes a bad habit. I do think it is more to do with being a bit nappy than pain related.

When she does it again take your legs off her side and give her a good kick whilst making sure you are not restricting her with the reins. If she does not respond immediately give her another kick along with a tap from the whip. To start with it doesn't matter if she canters but do bring her back to trot and praise her.

I find that sometimes swishing a short stick backwards and frowards from ear to tail (without hitting them) and growling can be very effective.

I don't like to keep my leg constantly "on" on a young horse but teach them to keep going in the pace until they are asked to change it. In the early stages you have to give them plenty of reminders!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Obviously i wrap my calfs around her consistently, but its when i apply my heel for transition to trot or when in trot, yes i am giving her enough rein as i have tried on a loose rein and she still does it.
She is fine when jumping and lunging etc..
I always ride with a schooling whip but backing my leg up with it either makes her buck or she pays no attention

[/ QUOTE ]


I would try the leg on leg off aproach.

If you constantly have your leg on ( wrapped around) there is no relief for the horse.
Try giving a quick tap (not kick) with your lower leg forward by the girth then release your leg. Give your horse a chance to react and if she doesn't tap again and release. keep doing this until your horse goes forward then praise. Your leg should not be "on" all the time
 
This is really interesting to read, as I have just started riding a 5yr old horse that is doing exactly the same thing! I took her out on a hack today and after walking calmly for 15 mins, she had a little tantrum and decided to nap / spin / buck and squeal ... but eventually settled again and by the time we were headed for home she was relaxing and went into a lovely trot with no resistance at all (granted we were trotting alongside another horse but its a start!). We also made the final part of our hack a walk through woods which involves lots of manouvering through trees / stepping over things and that seemed to help her relax as she was so busy focusing on that rather than planning her next tantrum!

I'm going to try getting her out hacking and going forward and relaxed before doing too much more in the school as I think that will help her relax and enjoy work - rather than seeing trotting as just a boring schooling thing. I'm also planning on putting lots of things like cones to steer round / poles etc to keep her mind active so she has less chance to plot!! Thats the plan anyway!

Let us know how you get on - I'm really interested to see what works for you.
 
I would as others said check her back first and fit of tack and if all ok.

It takes a brave person
I would do the Carl Hester method, make sure the leg is not on all the time as that desensitises, however every time you apply your leg and she does not instantly go forward, you must follow it up with a mightly kick and maybe a reinforcement at the same time with the whip, making sure your reins are loose and not in any way restricting, Any forward movement is to be rewarded so let her canter on a few strides, then bring her back and try again.

It never takes many goes before she will get the idea and go on the first polite ask.
 
my horse did this after coming back into work after a few months off. it was definitely a panic thing with him - but i just had to ride him through it.

hes 13
smile.gif
 
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