motivating lazy tb in the school

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cellie

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My tb is coming back into work after hock spavin surgery.He feels completely sound and I have been given the go ahead for light schooling in trot only.I have always found that he is really hard to get going until he has his first canter but obviously I cant do that at the moment.He doesnt listen to leg aids very well and I dont want to beat him up with the whip.
He been lame on and off for two years with different problems so its been really hard to be consistent.Basically he doesnt like going forward.The only time I had loads of energy was when I put him on competition mix but that sent him loopy and then gave me another set of problems. Its really hard getting him to work in a good outline when he doesnt like going forward.I hack out a lot and even then he is reluctant to go forward he just doesnt seem very confident although he is well behaved.Any suggestions welcome.
I should add that I am not allowed to lunge or do too many circles until I see the vet in 3 weeks.
 
transitions, leg yeild, turn about forhand, ride squares rather than circles, transitions within a pace (lenthen/shorten) basically get him reacting to your leg, dont nag him with them ask then ask again and back up with tickle of whip. make sesions varied basically.
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dont beat him with whip but you must be firm and use it to back up your leg if he doesnt listen or will continue to ignor you.
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include poles in your flat work also, fan them so you can start in middle and work your way to the outer wider part as you get him more forward
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That works for few strides then he just ignores it.I feel with all the injuries hes had hes bored silly .He loved jumping which really motivated him but its obviously out of the question at the moment . I could cope with the laziness when I had jumping to look forward to and he was a different horse then.He was a ex racer so maybe the slower pace just doesnt enthuse him.When we had lessons prior to the surgery my instructor rode him a couple of times and she did say that although he was lazy he probably didnt understand what we were telling him to do re. leg aids.Im finding it hard to stay motivated after 2 years of injuries and no enthusiasm from him .
 
I think by next week we can have some lessons then he will have plenty of transitions. I have a really good instructor but its just been very frustrating when he doesnt listen or understand.He puts his ears back and shakes his head if I tap him up with the whip it doesnt really send him forward.I appreciate what your saying I just cant seem to get through to him love him to bits but hes such a blockhead at times.I dont think poles are a option until I get the all clear from the vet thanks for advice I do apprciate help.
 
I'd forget about working him in an outline and just concentate on getting him moving forward with more motivation, like you said though you don't want to bore him at the same time so I know its hard, I've kind of gone through the same experiance with you by the sounds of things, keep your schooling sessions short and sweet an finish on a good note, before he switches off and gets his ''board of this'' head on, until your horse gets a little fitter and back into the right frame of mind as well. A good five minutes is better than a bad 15 minutes etc.
Work him on a long and low rein, lots of stretches, give him some rein and let him go a bit in trot on the length of the school...some times we think there being a bit lazy and awkward but sometimes its us thats restricting them. Mine was laid back, really resisting to go forward properly....fairy trots I call them, but now he's loves extending down the side of the school, he'd go round a 100 times if I let him! its quite funny.
As you say though if you have a good RI then I'm sure you'll be ok once he's back on track.
 
Agree with Kenzo, just focus on forward motion as your only aim; keep everything loose, reins legs etc etc so he feels like he can move. You may find that shaking your reins will send him forwards?
If he's been in pain for a long time, it may take him a while to get back to realising he can move and not be sore...... and I'm assuming that youv'e had his back, teeth etc checked and that his saddle is a perfect fit?
 
Never ceases to amaze me how many TB's have issues with moving forward! I agree forget the outline and for the next few weeks just get him moving forward and tracking up.....
 
Saddle and teeth have been done the last few weeks.I dont want to mess with his back at moment although he was looked at 3 months ago prior to surgery, everything was fine with his back at that time and he wasnt ridden for 3 months.I dont want her messing with his legs when they are supposed to be fusing.He has more development in muscle tone down one side of his rump than the other but this is because of the spavins.I will have mc timoni lady out as soon as I have seen vet (3 weeks).He doesnt like contact but moves better if I collect.I wondered about changing his bit but hes in a mild one french link snaffle.
The trouble with riding loose and free is that being tb if his adrenaline levels go up I can go from nothing to everything in 2 seconds.Boy can he rodeo if he feels the urge and Im too old to hit the dirt to often lol.
 
I didnt realise that it was quite common with tbs not wanting to go forward thought mine was the exception.He does fantastic rein back normally in the middle of the road if theres something he doesnt like the look of.If he walked forward as well as he did backwards I would be alot happier.
 
Thanks Kenzo will give it a try .He is one of those horses that takes 15 mins to build up to any good work but Ill give him plenty of rein and see how it goes.
 
can really sympathise with you, I have a lazy boy too, and his friend is an ex racer and even worse! neither of them pay the slightest bit of attention to leg, spurs or whip and just carry on at their own pace, quite infuriating! The only time either of them perk up is when a jump is up but that's out of the question for you for a while
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Just try to keep things varied and short and sweet, and concentrate on going forwards rather than worrying about the outline, however I find it easier to push Flash forward when he's in an outline and more engaged. Good luck, if you find a miracle solution let me know, Flash is filled with oats and still happy to just plod *rolls eyes*
 
I have just come back from a schooling session and he worked a lot better this morning .The wind helped it kept him awake.I think all your comments helped motivate me into being more positive and determined.Ill book a lesson next week and keep varying the routine and see how its goes.
My daughter has a welsh cob that goes like a tb and I have a tb that goes like a welsh cob.What a combination.Ill keep searching for the miracle Ive changed his feed so hoping that might help .I had to keep him level headed when he was in recovery.
 
My tb was the same...she was not forward going and would do her pace in the school..which was sloooooow...
After 20mins or a canter she was much better...and when jumping.
I know what you mean it is frustrating but having lessons can really help as it gets them thinking..I think they can switch off. We used to do faster trot down the long sides and collect at corners which clicked her in a bit more. She was never very tuned in to my leg so I did have to flick her with a schooling whip and in the end just a slight moving of my hand was enough if she was getting lazy.
She could even frustrate my instructor...but when he used to approach her from behind that would get her moving on!!! We had to concentrate on moving forward more than her outline which came naturally once working properly...she knew what to do but wouldn't always necessarily want too!!!
She had treatment for hock spavins too...and was actually far more 'bouncy' afterwards which helped our schooling but I was aware she had a boredom level in the school... once 'working' she would get really in to it...we kept it a variety..long-reining, loose schooling, jumping when we could.
She seemed to go much better in lessons...as if this was the proper time to school...when I was on my own she would think it wasn't serious!!! I even had someone stand in the school so both of us would think it was a lesson!!!
It really is a case of seeing what 'clicks' with your horse...good luck and hope it gets better and better.
 
I remember speaking to you about the hock spavins.Like you there is definitely a bit more bounce which is good news.I do the threat with the whip as well and will also wave it on his shoulder anything that helps move him on is great.Im beginning to wonder if tbs struggle doing a fast trot in outline because he will collect at a very slow pace but then with all the injuries hes still learning.
Ive just had some great news looks like my insurance company are going to pay what a relief just had to share with someone.£3500 is a lot of money to find but Im really pleased we had it done.He doesnt throw me on the wrong diagonal anymore so there has been alot of improvement.Guess what ins co Im with this will be a good one to post if it all comes through ok.lol
 
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