ideas needed

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janineangel

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I have an x racer who after recoving from almost starving to death is quite difficult for me to get him going forward, he was beaten by previous owners which made him throw them off, and i mean beaten with a lunging whip. another rider if he didnt go sat there until he decided to move, that can work i know, but would like to do some basic dressage just prelim stuff, so he has to move off my leg when asked,i hate using whips and have often been told off for tickling rather than smacking,
i have banged my legs on his side, rather than kick, this helps also clicking to him, but he does go terrible slow, when ridden.
any ideas how to get him going forward, with out resorting to the whip ?
he is the same on hacks walking, his trot is slightly better,
until i take a contact and then he almost stops.
 
Have you determined whether there is a physical reason for him not wanting to move forward? That would be my first concern..

If pain is ruled out then I would start with lunging.. My ex racer was very lazy and I used lunging to sharpen her up as like you I didn't want to resort to whips, spurs etc.. I think it's important to get horses very respondent to the voice, so I did lots and lots of transitions on the lunge so she became responsive and quick off my voice, I then applied this to riding.. Doing lots of transitions, and lots of praise!!

Having some lessons with a good instructor would also very useful. Having someone on the ground is such a great tool as they can spot any minor errors that may be effecting the horses way of going (:

Good luck x
 
yes he is checked by chiro every 3 months and in the field other night he cantered up and over the elec fence he can move fast if not on him,
he also just had his saddle fitted to him,
he has never been taught to take a contact, he is good on the lunge and in fact walks trots canters with out a problem,
i did get a girl on him who trains horses and she did get him going but he went very slowly and she had to use an awful lot of leg on him, to be honest i get too tired to do that the whole time,
I have regular lessons but the instructor loses patience with me as i wont smack him and make him move or rather i 'tickle' him with it, she reckons he is taking the pee.
it isnt as if he does much either.
 
Will he long rein. This would encourage him to go forward.

You could also lunge him with someone on him again this would help. You can then get the rider to ask him to move forward while you encourage him from the ground? Another thing you can put the reins under the stirrups so there is some contact.

How long have you had him. Where are you based as there could be someone near you that could help you.
 
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Ok that's good, can rule out pain (: ...

With taking the contact, do you ever lunge him in any training aids? I just use elasticated side reins on my girl, pretty loose, it works a treat, she works beautifully, long and low stretching out her back or you could always invest in a Pessoa if you want go the whole hog! (:

What is his top line like? He may just find carrying people properly difficult at the moment due to lack of muscle, my ex racer is getting far more forward as her top line is improving.

Also what's his diet like? :)
 
Do you mean that he's already recovered from being emaciated, i.e. has he already built up enough weight/condition/muscle to increase his workload?

Is he more forward-going in the school when he's in the company of other horses?

(I think it's great that you're not resorting to using violence. You can't beat a horse into submission.)
 
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Until he's thinking forwards & moving forwards trying to school him, or take a contact or lunge him isn't going to do any good. Infact, letting him do it wrong does more harm than good. I'd take him on fun rides, out hacking with lively forward going company, groups of speed junkie teens etc. Then when he's moving forwards himself you can start more intense schooling.
I would also rule out physical problems, even if he's back to a good weight & the vet has ruled out physical problems caused through being emaciated its possible he is just weak & needs a bit more time to recover.
 
Following on from what littlelegs said my horse had a virus for which the only symptoms were lethargy under saddle. This was conf by blood tests. Just a thought! Good luck..you sound v caring & patient with him.
 
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