need help with a contact

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dannirre

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Hi was wondering if anyone has any ideas

I have started to pick my horse up a lot more and make him use himself better and track up more and he was struggling as he was building up more muscle because he was being quite slow as he found it hard as he is not use to using himself in that way. As he was finding it hard he has been trying to find ways to avoid going forward as he didn't want to do what i was asking. Long story short... now he has found a way and getting worse i won't ask a lot of him he will now not listen to my leg if i kick him he just stops and shakes his head and i ignore him and tell him he is good if he walks on and he listens but he does it again! (he shakes when he doesn't want to do it) then he will go backwards but never reared just goes backward. i have told him enough is enough and give him a big whack but he just don't listen. Then when he does this it is so hard to get him forward i have had someone come in with a lunge wip and he goes does stop still but knows he has to go forwards. But i can't have someone coming in with me all the time while i ride i need to find ways that i can stop him from doing this, i have tried playing his game by making him go back and it hasn't really worked . Tried spurs but i can't do that all the time as it works but i'm not riding him in them 24/7. Not sure if he is bored or not.. Just any ideas off what i can do now as this is so frustrating 😫
 
You sound as if you have pushed him on beyond what he was physically or mentally ready for, knowing he was weak and struggling to maintain it you would have been better to just ask for tiny improvements going back to his comfort zone before he started to resist rather than pushing him until he protested.
It also sounds as if you have tried to pick him up from the front instead of getting the hind quarters stronger and more engaged first, it is not easy to advise with no idea of your experience or your horses capabilities but my first thought would be to back off with the schooling, get him going forward out hacking, on the lunge or even loose schooling and forget what the front end is doing, obviously keep enough contact to remain in control, until he is really going forward, moving from a soft leg aid, using his quarters and above all being a willing partner, it may take a while but try and make life fun for him rather than a battle.
 
Kicking him and whacking him is not going to help - nor is using spurs. You'll just end up in a massive fight and the bottom line is that he is stronger than you are.

Be positive has good suggestions as always. For me without knowing your level of experience etc I would suggest you get a good instructor to come in and work with you both. This should be a willing partnership - not a battleground.
 
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