How to make my horse more fowards

[Haha123]

Hi my horse is coming back into to work soon and he is really lazy except out hunting!! Is there any feeds or sumplements or something else that could make him more fowards? Thanks!!

 

[Mary3050]

I don’t want to seem like that person that nags about everything must be a vet problem . But from my experience I have had one that was always ‘lazy’ she actually developed EMS but that was the only sign. The other was due to a liver issue . However I know most of the time this not the case .

You can get mad do an energy boost syringe not sure you can use it all the time but that help one of mine when tired at shows. So they may be other supplements that help with this.

Apart from that lots and lots of transitions . Always encouraging forwardness . Variation in schooling ie poles and jumps with hacking mixed in . One of mine used to benefit from flat schooling, lunge, poles, hack and then jump . Then every month I would swap the order and try to vary the horse we hacked or shared the school with.

 

[Haha123]

I don’t want to seem like that person that nags about everything must be a vet problem . But from my experience I have had one that was always ‘lazy’ she actually developed EMS but that was the only sign. The other was due to a liver issue . However I know most of the time this not the case .

You can get mad do an energy boost syringe not sure you can use it all the time but that help one of mine when tired at shows. So they may be other supplements that help with this.

Apart from that lots and lots of transitions . Always encouraging forwardness . Variation in schooling ie poles and jumps with hacking mixed in . One of mine used to benefit from flat schooling, lunge, poles, hack and then jump . Then every month I would swap the order and try to vary the horse we hacked or shared the school with.

Yes so mine actually has ulcers before he started showing signs of them he was super forward and keen and a little bit strong. So his laziness is defo due to ulcers and I obviously don’t blame him for that!! Since we found out about his ulcers he has been going on a 30 min walk hack once a week and that’s it. I won’t start fully riding him again until he’s completely better so I’m hoping once his ulcers are gone he’ll be back to his speedy self!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't ride a horse that has ulcers I would wait until they have gone it must be incredibly painful and the rest will do him good and help with healing.

How long has he been on treatment for them?

 

[Haha123]

I wouldn't ride a horse that has ulcers I would wait until they have gone it must be incredibly painful and the rest will do him good and help with healing.

How long has he been on treatment for them?

The vet said it was fine to do light work with him and suggested that a light hack would be good but compared to the work he was in before this is absolutely nothing.

 

[Mary3050]

The vet said it was fine to do light work with him and suggested that a light hack would be good but compared to the work he was in before this is absolutely nothing.

That makes sense glad everything’s been ruled out and treated as such. As I said transitions variation maybe ring a few companies of advice

 

[equestrian7474]

Hi my horse is coming back into to work soon and he is really lazy except out hunting!! Is there any feeds or sumplements or something else that could make him more fowards? Thanks!!

As said above - rule any health issues out first.

If you’re in the all clear, like a lot of others mentioned transitions, transitions transitions! Working him forwards through the warm-up is so important. Switching up your flatwork is great too, lots of different poles and exercises.

In what way is he “lazy”? Not willing to move forward off of your leg? Dropping off and breaking? Losing rhythm and impulsion?

 

[Gloi]

I find that extra feed makes naturally idle sorts more spooky rather than more forwards.

 

[stangs]

Yes, when you say “really lazy”, what do you mean?

I suspect it’s a combination of being unfit and being in recovery. Personally, I wouldn’t be too fussed for now while you’re only doing 30 min walk hacks - if you’ve got more varied hacking, I’d be changing the routes up a bit in case he’s getting bored. But that’s about it.

I definitely wouldn’t be adding more concentrate feed to a horse with ulcers.

 

[Tarragon]

I find that extra feed makes naturally idle sorts more spooky rather than more forwards.

I find that extra feed just made mine fatter!
The only things that made a difference was keeping them slim and fit and plenty of variety.