Lazy horse?

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Amylaurenx

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Any training ideas or tips and tricks to make a lazy horse move!!

I ride in Spurs (roller balls), schooling whip even tried adding oats but nothing seems to give him any go, asking him to canter is like asking him to jump a 1.40 course twice over? back story to him we’ve had him a few months was previously riding school in his younger years and is now 15 (teeth back feet all fine)
 
If you are sure there are no physical problems do lots of hacking, ideally in company with a group of more forward horses. It will build up fitness and help get him more forward thinking.
 
Amylaurenx said:
He won’t go alone and I only have 1 person I can go with so have to get the days together and times etc, think he potentially has some separation issues
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Thing is a most horses that have been in a riding school don't hack alone as they have never done it.

I would be inclined to try some really different stuff with him to try and get a bit of spark back he does sound a bit fed up with just going in the school.
 
If he was in a riding school it would make me think it’s his personality. My first horse was like that and she came from a riding school she never changed I tried everything nothing worked and she had nothing physically wrong with her. I think some horse are going to be like that and wouldn’t change.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Thing is a most horses that have been in a riding school don't hack alone as they have never done it.

I would be inclined to try some really different stuff with him to try and get a bit of spark back he does sound a bit fed up with just going in the school.
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Yeah I get that even in the school alone he will constantly whinny for the others and if there is another in there with him he will nap ALOT to try be near them, I know this would come from an ex riding school just wondered if anyone had experienced it and them change after a while!
 
The Irish draft said:
If he was in a riding school it would make me think it’s his personality. My first horse was like that and she came from a riding school she never changed I tried everything nothing worked and she had nothing physically wrong with her. I think some horse are going to be like that and wouldn’t change.
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i think it is and I mean he’s safe as anything which I’m so grateful for after I had a pretty bad fall at the start of the year (different horse) but just wish he would pick up some speed!
 
Amylaurenx said:
just wondered if anyone had experienced it and them change after a while!
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Yes, me. I had a little ex riding school mare. We stayed out of the school for 6 months and hacked. It took hard work to get her used to going out alone, but we got there in the end. I also went on sponsored rides and hunted her to ‘sharpen’ her up. She was a cracking little horse.
 
he isn't going alone, he's with you! a lot of ex riding school horses can be a bit nappy going solo on hacks. they can be very arena-sour and institutionalised. even get someone to lead you on lead rein for hacks, bring him alone, and just keep at it gradually increasing the distance with loads of rewards, just make it fun. also aim to do fun stuff like easy fun rides, short endurance hacks, Trec etc. the key is just finding what he actually enjoys. so many school horses just learn to accept the drudge of being ridden and they don't get enjoyment from it. when you figure out their personality and find a good fit work wise they spark up and come to life.
 
Amymay said:
Yes, me. I had a little ex riding school mare. We stayed out of the school for 6 months and hacked. It took hard work to get her used to going out alone, but we got there in the end. I also went on sponsored rides and hunted her to ‘sharpen’ her up. She was a cracking little horse.
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my only issue is that to get to the bridleway we have to cross a 60 mph road the only other route is private so we can’t use that, my fear is I take him alone and he spins and try’s to bolt home on that road I’d never forgive myself if he got hurt after I’d been told he won’t go alone
 
Amylaurenx said:
my only issue is that to get to the bridleway we have to cross a 60 mph road the only other route is private so we can’t use that, my fear is I take him alone and he spins and try’s to bolt home on that road I’d never forgive myself if he got hurt after I’d been told he won’t go alone
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Ah, that is tricky. Can you box up to nice rides?
 
Amymay said:
Ah, that is tricky. Can you box up to nice rides?[/QUOTE

I should add there is a path on the side of it it’s like a little A road but I don’t imagine in a panic he would stay on it and there’s a ditch the other side of the path, yeah we have took him out to a xc course and he had a gallop and a few jumps so I know he has it in him maybe more of that needed
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paddi22 said:
he isn't going alone, he's with you! a lot of ex riding school horses can be a bit nappy going solo on hacks. they can be very arena-sour and institutionalised. even get someone to lead you on lead rein for hacks, bring him alone, and just keep at it gradually increasing the distance with loads of rewards, just make it fun. also aim to do fun stuff like easy fun rides, short endurance hacks, Trec etc. the key is just finding what he actually enjoys. so many school horses just learn to accept the drudge of being ridden and they don't get enjoyment from it. when you figure out their personality and find a good fit work wise they spark up and come to life.
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I don’t mind the napping if it was a safe route I’d take him out more often than schooling and sort that but it’s a dangerous road and if he was to spin and bolt off on that road I’d never forgive myself for taking him after being told he won’t go alone
 
Could you maybe move yards I wouldn't feel happy riding a nappy horse near a road like that, sometimes you have to put the horse in right environment to get the results you need.

Years ago when I backed my first arab we had to ride along a fast lane to get out and he was petrified of all traffic, it became dangerous so I moved to a yard without road work and I happily hacked out on my own fir years there.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Could you maybe move yards I wouldn't feel happy riding a nappy horse near a road like that, sometimes you have to put the horse in right environment to get the results you need.

Years ago when I backed my first arab we had to ride along a fast lane to get out and he was petrified of all traffic, it became dangerous so I moved to a yard without road work and I happily hacked out on my own fir years there.
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that’s the thing I don’t really want to test him on his own on that road and that’s the only option ☹️ I only have him on loan so I can’t move him it’s such a lovely yard and there a lot of land behind it just a shame we can’t use it, saying this we do have someone moving st the end of the month so will have an extra body to go out with!
 
Amylaurenx said:
that’s the thing I don’t really want to test him on his own on that road and that’s the only option ☹️ I only have him on loan so I can’t move him it’s such a lovely yard and there a lot of land behind it just a shame we can’t use it, saying this we do have someone moving st the end of the month so will have an extra body to go out with!
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Awww that's a shame its so hard trying to find people to ride with I know I have had the same problem, just try and get out hacking with someone as much as you can.

Is the land near you crop fields?
 
Pinkvboots said:
Awww that's a shame its so hard trying to find people to ride with I know I have had the same problem, just try and get out hacking with someone as much as you can.

Is the land near you crop fields?
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yeah I believe they are there is another private yard behind us so I’m unsure if they own it or a farmer does, frustrating because as soon as you get off the road it’s a big woods so it’s great just getting to it is the issue!
 
Amylaurenx said:
i think it is and I mean he’s safe as anything which I’m so grateful for after I had a pretty bad fall at the start of the year (different horse) but just wish he would pick up some speed!
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As the saying goes 'you pays your money and you takes your choice'. You bought patent safety - you are not suddenly going to get wizzy. Work with your horse on hacking alone. Choose a short circular route and lead him round it, then long-rein him, if you know how to do that, when you are confident that he is confident enough, hop on for the last little bit of the route and then keep reducing the in-hand part gradually until finally you are leaving the yard on top.
 
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