My horse doesn't listen to leg aids at all, help!!

[Leary]

I bought my horse last July and have been having lessons on her. I didn't think she was listening to my leg and find her very hard work. Anyway, my instructor rode her yesterday and confirmed that she doesn't take any notice whatsoever of any leg aids. The reason we think this is is because I bought her off a lady who has dwarfism and so never rode with her legs, and my horse isn't used to having legs on her at all. Her previous owner used to ride with two whips (I think). Anyway, my question really is that she is 16 now, so is she too old in the tooth to change, and as I'm a novice myself, is it something I can do myself? Does anyone have any tips please??

 

[the watcher]

If she went nicely for her previous owner, is it possible for you to go back to her and ask about what aids were taught, you might find, for example, that your horse is more sensitive to aids from the seatbones and upper leg. If you can find her buttons you can still ride her, but without much lower leg - there should be no need to change the aids the horse understands unless it is very important to you to do so. In that case, no it is not too late. Even older horses can learn new tricks.

 

[Meadon]

It could be that her previous owner rode her in a special saddle due to her disability. Just a thought! I wouldn't say she's too old to learn new tricks, my loan horse is 17 and this last six months we've been learning to ride side saddle. My horse is quite dead to the leg and I do loads of sitting trot with her and it works.

 

[Dressagebabe]

A horse is never too old to learn, it just takes longer!! the area just under the saddle flap and around where your calf sits is one of the most sensitive areas on a horse, if they were to step on your toe the quickest way to get them to move off is to prod your finger in this area, try it, you should see how quickly she will move over. This applies to her when riding so you must make sure you are positioning your legs in the correct place. There are several ways of sensitising her to your leg, the main one is to apply your leg and if ignored then back it up with a schooling whip by tapping her exactly where you would put your leg on. The other is to make sure you are in a school and allow her to have her head a little longer than normal, now put your leg on as you would normally, if she ignores it then slam BOTH legs on with a really hard 'pony club' kick, she should shoot forward at speed but make sure you don't grab at the reins and pull her in the teeth, you have to be prepared for this reaction so that it doesn't startle you. Maybe ask your instructor to try it first if it worries you.

 

[Leary]

mother_hen - good idea I will ask e-mail her and see what she says.
Meadon - she did have a special saddle due to her disability, and its the saddle she is still ridden in by me, due to finances really, but it is comfy, just very short saddle flaps.
Dressage_Babe - I will try this and see what happens cos she is so lazy in the school it would take alot for her to startle me

 

[pottamus]

I have taught my horse to go predominently off voice commands. I started on the ground first in hand and on the lunge as they soon pick things up that way and then, when it was drummed in, I applied it to ridden work. So he will walk, halt and trot pretty much off voice aids now and canter just needs a bit of 'encouragement'.