my 3 year old is like a slug!

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kimmacey

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Hi :) I was wondering if any of you can help me, I have recently backed my 3 year old he can walk trot and canter perfectly our only issue is that he is soooo slow and ploddy, it takes a lot to get him motivated I carry a whip and even that doesn't do the trick :/ what would you huys suggest? Would it be wrong to ride him in spurs? Should I give him high energy food? What's best? Thank you
 
It might just be the way he is - high energy food could help, but if he is a good weight now then you need to be careful he doesn't get fat on high energy food (which in turn will probably make him even more ploddy!) it sounds to me like it is just his way of doing things.
 
if he is responsive to your aids and goes well, it is probably just his personality. if he is listening and trying spurs wont help- if he is ignoring your leg however?
 
He's a baby and probably putting all his energy into growing, and perhaps doesn't have the muscle and balance to work the way you want him to. Or maybe he's just laid back.

Are you working in the school? I prefer to do as much of the early work (post backing) out hacking as most horses are more forward going.

If he's doing well in w/t/c and hacking out, I'd be tempted to turn away and let him grow on a bit more, and bring back into work as a rising 4 year old. :) They can change a lot between their 3 and 4 year old years.
 
He's putting all his energy into growing and managing to find a bit to learn to carry you and do what you ask. Please don't use either a whip or spurs, you could sour him.
Turn him away now until he is 4 and ready to do a bit more.
 
If he is walk trot and cantering he prob just needs chucking out for the rest of our so called summer and re started over winter turn of the year x
 
he's three - spurs, whips and high energy feed are not the solution. Long term, schooling him to be light off your leg will be the answer, but in the short term I would be inclined to turn away after basic work and allow him to mature for now.
 
Its probably because hes unsure to, he wont want to hurt you and plus as has already been said hes young, so they usually go on auto pilot after 15 mins work to give themselves a rest. I suggest hacking him out over summer to get him intrested and give him confidence and try back in the school come winter, also I wouldnt lunge much either as this can make them learn to switch off in the school. Aim at keeping his attention and making him alert to what you want both on and off him so he really listens to you.

Perry Wood has written an excellent book called -How to Create The Perfect Riding Horse, i highly reccoment it as it gives step by step advice on how to get them moving off the leg and being responsive. x
 
Agree with others, at 3 he is using a lot of energy for growing & learning. I'd turn him away till spring when he's 4. But if you must carry on riding, I'd stick to gentle hacking minus spurs & whips.
 
When my girl was three I thought I may have to get off and carry her! Only hacked her out twice after she was broken (could walk, trot and canter fine) and then turned her away for 6 months until she was four. She was like a different horse after her break, forward going. Some are too weak at three to do a lot, please don't use spurs or whip him, he needs a rest :)
 
Thank you all for your replies, we have done most of his learning out and about prior backing, we have just moved yards which has a school so he has only been in there for 2 weeks :) from next week I will be taking him out on a couple of hacks its just finding someone to come with me (as don't feel safe to go on my own ) then turn him away the end of this month :) thanks again
 
I agree with all other answers.

The only thing I notice other than what has been mentioned, which is completely subjective and am only taking what I see from the two horses in your sig pics, is that they both have horrendously underdeveloped toplines. Without knowing the circumstances with these horses, or if they have indeed been ridden by you etc etc etc, if they have been brought on by you then I can see that maybe you aren't riding them correctly enough to be pushing them on so that they ask for a contact and round down of their own accord. If this is the case then I suspect that maybe (and this is all a complete long shot!!!) you aren't applying the aids properly and strongly enough. I would recommend a good instructor to help you out, and you should get fantastic results! :)
 
None of the horses in my sig were produced by me, I didn't have a horse at the time I made that, they were just a friends horses. My boy has an exceptional top line and has started to round off quite nicely :)
 
My welsh pbr was very similar as a youngster, soo laid back she was almost horizontal, she was backed lightly as a 3 yr old off for the winter then brought on slowly as a 4 yr old and off for the winter again as she was still growing then started doing a lot more as a 5 yr old but I was constantly worried about her energy levels, I tried oats and nag enerG etc but nothing really worked 100%*

This year (she's just turned 6) and towards the end of last year has been the turn around she seems to have finished having such massive growth spurts and has found her go button!!!! She is beautifully forward and loves her work.

I would say that it is a combination of 5 things that you need for your youngster to find their "fizz"*

1. As others have said turning away to grow and mature is soo important with a slow youngster!

2. When you do start work again Short but effective schooling sessions that focus on getting them quick off your leg, not letting them slop along on hacks ensure they walk out at all times.

3. Getting the vitamin and mineral balance right so that they can utilise the energy that they are getting from the forage/feed you are giving, I use baileys lo cal balancer fed at the recommended amount and it is brilliant!

4. Time, your youngster will still growing which takes a lot of energy and they will be concentrating all their energy on doing this right!*

5. Patience, I know it can seem frustrating, I don't know how many people told me I was going to sell mine as she was not enough for me but i am so glad I didn't, she is still laid back and easy to do but my word can she turn her hoof to anything!! She jumps anything you put her at and can turn on a sixpence, she grows a hand when doing flatwork and is showing such great promise and finally (the bit I was most worried about!) she's found her go button and loves a good gallop across the plains!*


Don't despair it will come and you will be so pleased!

Would just like to point out that despite being this laid back mine is the spookiest horse I know and as a stubborn welshy can be a little bugger he be!!!
 
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