Lazy horse :(

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xxbrubblexx

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My horse is getting quite lazy only me and a few others can get him going - its not that he's un fit and its not a training issue he responds to aids really well just slowly - he' got a lovely jump on him and would really do quite well locally which is what i want to do but im just at the point where i dont know what to do. He has his sudden bursts of energy when he sees a big jump but i really want him to be more energetic all round he gets bored in the school and when he moves ive been told he moves really well. Please help with any suggestions words of encouragement would also be great Thanks x
 
What's he like if you vary his routine? Does he have energy when he's hacking for example or doing something different? Assuming all the usual checks have been done I'd be wondering if he was getting bored with schooling.
 
Always tried to vary routine. when he's hacking yes and believe it or not cross country i have no breaks which i like because he is forward going. We have checked - he had a bad back a few months ago but thats all better now thank god. thank you
Fjord said:
What's he like if you vary his routine? Does he have energy when he's hacking for example or doing something different? Assuming all the usual checks have been done I'd be wondering if he was getting bored with schooling.
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I'm sure you'll be told this by everyone on here but transitions are the key. 5 steps of walk, halt, straight up into 8 steps of trot, 3 steps of walk etc etc and then start including canter work into it. Give a squeeze with your legs and if he doesn't move straight away, a big pc kick, if that doesn't cause an IMMEDIATE reaction then a firm tap with the schooling whip. Ensure you aren't nagging with your legs- if he's gone forward and you're still kicking him he's going to get confused, as in his mind, he's done what you've asked him to do but you're still asking for it. What's he like out hacking? Try and find a flat space to do some work out hacking if he gets bored in the school. Hope this helps
 
Clearly the 'ask' is not sufficient.

I have this with mine. He is very exuberant out hacking having a canter, but schooling bores him. I was advised, ask him, and then whack him - get a reaction but don't nag!
 
That really did help thank you i will try this over the next few months and see - he does like hacking i suppose it reminds him of xc because we jump on the forest sometimes you really have helped thanks
FlaxenPony05 said:
I'm sure you'll be told this by everyone on here but transitions are the key. 5 steps of walk, halt, straight up into 8 steps of trot, 3 steps of walk etc etc and then start including canter work into it. Give a squeeze with your legs and if he doesn't move straight away, a big pc kick, if that doesn't cause an IMMEDIATE reaction then a firm tap with the schooling whip. Ensure you aren't nagging with your legs- if he's gone forward and you're still kicking him he's going to get confused, as in his mind, he's done what you've asked him to do but you're still asking for it. What's he like out hacking? Try and find a flat space to do some work out hacking if he gets bored in the school. Hope this helps
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xxbrubblexx said:
My horse is getting quite lazy only me and a few others can get him going - its not that he's un fit and its not a training issue he responds to aids really well just slowly - he' got a lovely jump on him and would really do quite well locally which is what i want to do but im just at the point where i dont know what to do. He has his sudden bursts of energy when he sees a big jump but i really want him to be more energetic all round he gets bored in the school and when he moves ive been told he moves really well. Please help with any suggestions words of encouragement would also be great Thanks x
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I'm afraid I don't see the problem, you can get him going, he's got a lovely jump on him and he moves well. What more do you want? How many people do you want to ride him?
Perhaps try doing your schooling on your hacks, a change of scenery will probably do him good.
 
Is he getting dull to the aids? If so it means you are nagging him instead of starting with the lightest possible aid every time and increasing the strength of the aid until you get a response, and then instantly rewarding him by removing the ask......
 
I think as much as anything the confusion is coming from the fact that the op states quite clearly in their opening post that this is not a training issue and that the horse is responsive, just a little steady eddie. So when the op only responds with any kind of clarity to a post about training and seems very dismissive of posts about feeding and routine it does seem a little at odds with their initial statement.
 
If he is fine hacking and xc this issue IS a training one. Most of us make this mistake at some point. Usually with a new horse or I'd we have been nervous

What we do is apply leg, horse goes forward but slowly, we praise or release aids. Basically they soon get used to giving the minimum effort ie slow trot instead of a good forward trot
So now you need to train him that you want more instantly not 10 mins later
So ask for trot and if he doesn't give you a really good forward
trot give bigger aid repeat repeat repeat. Don't ever settle for a slow half hearted pace. He will soon get the idea
 
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