How to get my cob moving forward!!

A

Annie&Amy

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Don't know if anyone else has this problem but my cob is very dead to the leg, she plods along and if i really gee her up or when she's coming home she'll quicken up but she's hard work!! She is 23yrs old and ex riding school xx
 
I suppose if shes ex riding school and hitting 23yo she may just be slowing down a bit anyway.. just happily plodding along and not wanting to do anymore than she has to.
 
Just be as quite as you can with your leg so she maintains her own pace. The more you kick the lazier they get, but when you do use a leg aid make sure you get an instant response. If you are not getting the reaction you are looking for get right after push her to canter using big PC kicks and stick but make sure you have a loose contact so she doesn't get a sock in the gob. Keep doing it until she gets the idea that leg means go!
 
I agree with the above..however in response to your thread i would say try varying her activities..do a bit of across country riding, light schooling/jumping/grid work..and then hacking to cool off......Just ride with a crop behind your leg to encoirage her forwards and ride with your lower leg and seat....use voice..make the ride interesting for her as much as possible...try riding with a friend and go for canters etc...hope i could help
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I would ignore her age as long as she is sound and working according to her level of fitness. IME the longer you keep them working properly the better they do. One horse I ride is 24 and still doing veteran dressage and fun rides obviously I spend a lot of time warming up carefully but he loves it so he has kept his zest for life.
 
If she is sound and well, her age will not be a problem. You will need to be sure that she is fit enough for the work that you are asking her to do. Is she fed enough/too much? My horse is part cob and prone to becoming Mr Blobby without lots of work. I would ride lots of upward transitions as quickly as you can without making her unbalanced. Lots of halt to trot, walk to canter if her level of schooling allows. If she slobs along, back your legs up with a tap of the schooling whip. Be consistent, as its no good letting her get away with murder when you fancy a plod about and then the next day getting after her for not being a bit more lively! I think that if you are consistent, you will see an improvement. Agree with the pony club kick (but no hanging on to the reins)!
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I feed mine with the slow release competition food to give her the energy to get fit. Now she is very fit and doesnt need the food!

She is only 13 so maybe it would be different for an older horse?
 
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