New horse sluggish & little unbalanced

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tan8856

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Hi, just after some advice.

Ive started exercising a horse and she's a bit unfit, not forward-going and sometimes feels a bit unbalanced when we canter out hacking. Ive not done any schooling yet and will have lessons with her soon.

What advice can you give re a) making her a bit more keen. I cant constantly kick and click, its exhausting! Plus she's a bit numb to kicking. Im hoping she will get more lively as I get her fitter?

b) why might she be unbalanced cantering out?

I dont want to quiz her owner at this stage as i dont want her to think me rude if i suggest her horse is unfit etc! And im no expert having never owned a horse before.

Thanks.
 
If she's dead to the leg you need to school her to be more responsive. So first a very gentle squeeze, if she doesn't respond to that, a firmer squeeze, and if she doesn't respond to that, a tap with a stick. Don't be drawn into the constant kicking thing or it will just make her even less responsive.

Also try doing lots of transitions to wake her up a bit. So like five strides walk, five strides trot, four strides walk, halt to trot and so on.

How long have you been taking her out for, and is she worked regularly? My mind always jumps to health problems, but an unfit horse who is working on the forehand will be more prone to stumbling.
 
How long has this horse had off work? If it's more than 6 weeks you really need to start a proper re-fittening programme, with walk at first then introducing trot and eventually canter work.

If she's sluggish try a lot of transitions (although keep to direct ones, you don't want to over do it with an unfit horse) and see if you can't back up your first leg aid with a whip or spurs.

What do you mean unbalanced in canter? It is very rare to feel a lameness in canter, do you mean she's dis-united? Does it happen in both reins? She may benefit from a vet check up, it's very difficult to say otherwise.
 
Please don't keep kicking her - she clearly doesn't know what it means or that she has to respond, and it must be very uncomfortable for her, not to mention feeding into her misunderstanding. If her walk potters down to a very slow one, move her up to trot - one nudge with your leg, followed up by one smack with a whip if she doesn't respond. Then back to walk and the same again each time she slows right down. And moving off from halt - same thing, legs ONCE then whip. You will pretty soon have her responding to your leg, and then you can see whether she genuinely doesn't have any energy (health or lameness) or whether it was just a communication problem.
 
Thanks for your replies.

I rode her in the school today and she responded well but seems to tire quickly. I think her owner only rides her twice a week and is only doing once if at all now Im doing twice. I feel I need to improve her fitness - is it possible to really do that if Im only riding her twice a week? I think her owner is happy to have a nice sedate ride whereas I like something a bit more lively :p .

Her owner has asked that I dont use a whip.

My friend also rode her today and said she didnt feel unbalanced so maybe she just gets a bit trippy/skippy when we're hacking and cantering a bit faster & for a bit longer which shes not used to? Im sure theres no illness or lameness, shes very well cared for (perhaps a little spoilt!)
 
Very well cared for horses can certainly get sick and/or lame. Looking after a horse doesn't guarrantee that it won't do a tendon or ligament, that it won't get kissing spines or SI troubles, or even simpler things like getting an abscess!

Her fitness level may well have a role to play. You will struggle to get her fit with two rides a week. Ideally you want to ride her minimum 5 times a week.

As for the whip issue, it's an aid it can be misused like all aids, but if the owner is bonkers there isn't much you can do about it!
 
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