How to teach a golden oldie

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FlorenceBassey

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to work in an outline when is very very oppinionated and stubben plus has never really been asked much on the flat before, He can work very well we he so choose's its just the rest of the time when he is being an old git i have trouble getting to do anything, he tend's to drop the bridle and shuffle along in trot whe i take up a contact, i have very short legs so cant really wrap them around him to drive him forward, i have used spurs/schooling whip in the past but i dont want to have to depend on them to get some nice work from him, he is currently in a cherry roller as this is what i've found after 4 1/2 years he goes best in, He has been a jumping pony for most of his life but seeing as he is getting on a bit i'd like to do less jumping and more flat work to keep his brain ticking over and he's legs under less stress,
any tips very gratefully received :D
 
hmm, pretty much the same as a young git tbh:D
start long and low and persevere, I know it's easier said than done... last night I only wanted to do 20 minutes walk and trot, not even an outline as such, just steady contact and ''quiet head'' - it turns out that we can't go in a straight line, we run through the contact in WALK:eek:, I've been run backwards with, chucked about like a rag doll, my arms were pulled out of sockets and after a good hour I have managed to trot one decent circle.
So, obviously, I'm not the person to ask how to teach any horse anything, as clearly, I can't ride.humph
 
It is good that you wish to give him less physically demanding work because he is getting on but dressage I am afraid is not good for the joints and soft tissues of the older horse so my advice would be to do more hacking with him in nice straight lines rather than circles in an arena.
 
Why don't you have some lessons with him? Please don't be offended but your post is quite hard to read...try breaking it up with full stops.
 
Been riding for 20 plus years and most of the teachers round my way just suggest draw reins and spurs which is not a route i'm prepared to go down which is why i dont have lessons, to be honest i'm not looking to to fancy dressage stuff just give him something to think about other than throwing his weight around when he is asked to do something,
Martlin i know that feeling very well :p
 
Owlie185 after attempting to turn him into a happy hacker with the result of him just becoming more and more naughty schooling was the best/safest option for both myself and him, today i put him in a happy mouth loose ring today to try and encourage him into the bridle which worked to an extent after fighting with him for 15 minutes he gave me some lovely work, When i say he's a golden oldie he is infact 18 but has done quite a bit in his life.
 
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