lazy 4 year old mare

[marissa]

My 4 yr old new forest mare can be a little lazy. She is ridden 5/6 days a week as i've realised she does not really enjoy her days off. She loves her work and is great to ride. I just feel she is a little lazy sometimes. We've just started jumping and she is doing so well, not one refusal and is clearing about 2ft3. The only prob is getting her going, sometimes she'll trot so slowly to them then almost stop and then jump it! other times she'll canter the whole course?? Also when on a hack another horse can canter off and she'll happily plod along making no effort to keep up. Dont get me wrong i'm glad she is not tanking off with me but i just wondered what would be the best thing to feed her to give her a bit more umph with out her wizzing up to much. she is just on chaff and pony nuts at the moment. She is also a good dooer and with spring comming i dont want her to gain to much wieght or risk lamenites. any ideas

 

[titchy]

Hi Marissa

I posted a similar request a few weeks ago concerning my NF pony and had quite a few suggestions. If you type in "Laid back pony" in the search facility above it will take you to the link. My user name is "titchy". I think you may find the replies useful.

Jane

 

[marissa]

Hi Jane,
Thanks so much for that, I've read through it all. Def sounds like a bread/age thing then. I also found when i was doing my lunging and long riening she was difficult to get going but after lots of chasing she got it in the end. I must say as i do more with her she seems to get better and more forward going, we can now get a whole lap and a 20meter circle in canter!!! I took her hunting and i must say she was very up for it with out being strong. She is an amazing pony and a pleasure to ride, never spooks,bolts,bucks and for a very young 4 year old i think thats amazing. I hope you are getting on well with yours now. Thanks again. x

 

[sycorider]

To b honest I have found that alot of horses this age are lazy I had a irish draught once who I sold and then brought back 18 months later I sold her because she was to quiet and brought her back because she had become a handfull and I have since heard a few times from friends that their horses are to lazy at this age give her time, also what i ahve done this time with my 4 year old british sports horse is put her on Allen and page oats, all the others blow her brains out but these ones seem to give her enough energy without blowing her