improve horse's concentration?

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outandabout

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Bit of a downer post :(

I've had my horse for about a year and did inherit him with problems (that I knew about before I bought him), some of which were caused by physical issues, that are now sorted, and other behavioural issues caused by previous owners/riders being weak with him as he is rather wilful! The napping has more or less stopped (though he still has his moments!) and he will work in the school without having a massive tantrum as he used to. However, though I know he will never be a dressage horse I would like a basic competency so we can do some low-level eventing or unaff dressage. It has been like dealing with a green horse, only worse as his bad habits are so ingrained.

He is so...inattentive! I have regular lessons with a good instructor and she said that she has never seen a horse use so many evasions! I can deal with them, and my instructor has been really helpful, but it is so so difficult to extract good work from him. Self carriage, lightness and harmony seem like impossible dreams! Typical dressage comments are 'head VERY high' and 'horse inattentive'. I thought it might be that I am simply not good enough to deal with him and had a frank conversation with my instructor to this effect - she thinks that I am more than capable, that I am doing the right things, and that he is just being a complete toad. I can get a decent tune out of most horses, and have had good lessons on ex-GP horses - why do I struggle so much with my own? In fairness, I haven't seen anyone else ride him better, but this is not much consolation when even attempting a Prelim test to a decent standard seems impossible!

I saw a supplement today that claimed to improve concentration in stubborn horses...99% of me thinks this is grasping at straws, the other 1% thinks 'could be worth a try'. Sorry for the long post, it just feels like we are making no progress and I would very much appreciate any advice or hearing from anyone who ha similar problems :(
 
I have had my mare for 2 years now, and I like you bought mine with known problems, physical and psycologcial. It used to be bucking, though that has been solved with good diet and turnout. The main problem I have with my mare now is napping and lak of conentration, when I first got her I put it down to simply being in a new place, but 2 years down the line we still nap every now and then. But I have to say the recently after trying a looped hack I haven't had the problem, she tended to bceomce unhappy when she was turned back on herself. But it isn't every time which is the oddity.

I am still wishfully saying that I will go to that show next year, and i've been saying that for the past 2! I guess the point in me saying all of this is to show you that I am having simelar problems, but you are deffinatly ahead of me with your dressage; well done.
Sometimes I will spend time with her and I will feel that we have really made progress, she will listen, move forward nicly and rounded ridden, but then others she will completly ignore me, she will try to break off her lead rope when tied, and when ridden it sometimes seems to have been a waste of time, as the outline we are establishing will disappear, and she'll hang off the reins.
When I got her, her head carriage was high bcut that was due to an old hip injury that effected her movement, bcut after some physio, and work in a passoa, we are now workingc in a partial outline. I'm not saying that your horse has an injury etc, but it may bce worth asking a physio

I find its very demoralising to think you have made progress one day and the next you take 2 steps back.
I don't have a solution yet, but for my mare I have a theory, that the 2 years that I have had her isn't enough to undo 13 years of psychological damagce/pain. Mine has been moved around alot in the past so I wonder if some of her lack of conentration comes from not fully trusting me yet or something simelar.

All I can say is persevere and perhaps some reasearch.
 
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