NEWBIE WITH A QUESTION?

[pipper]

Hi everyone - i am a newbie here, i am an 'older' rider with a Section D gelding of 17 years. who i have owned for 22 months.
i have been rather nervous of him in that time but have gradually built up my confidence, when i first got him he was nice and forward going - the problem is now that because I have sort of ridden him 'backwards' as in, not forwards, he is now not very forward going. He does go forwards BUT i need to keep my leg on all the time. Can you give me some tips to help get him back to how he was please. i try to do lots of transitions in my schooling and vary it with hacking ect.
thanks

 

[_Rach_]

a schooling whip??
x

 

[pipper]

[ QUOTE ]
a schooling whip??
x

[/ QUOTE ]

lol!!!! i do use a schooling whip but dont want to keep using it constantly - or would it be best to do just that, for a while rather that leg leg leg??

 

[Lauraoscardillon]

Perhaps as hes getting older hes just slowed down naturally? I may be wrong, but you would have thought that perhaps if we wanted to go forwards again maybe he would have by now?

similarly, perhaps when you were nervous you perceived he was more forward going than he really was? When i had my first pony i used to think he was the fastest thing in the world and i was nervous when galloping, but now i don't feel the same. perhaps your new found confidence has made you realize perhaps hes not as forward as you once thought?

I may be totally wrong, but just using my experience with my pony =]

 

[Shazzababs]

I think the problem is that you have your leg on all the time. By doing this he is becoming dead to your aids (like a riding school horse), and therefore does not react when you ask him for something. I am assming that he is well, his teeth have been done regularly and your tack fits properly, and this is just a schooling problem.

Basically he needs to learn (or in this case remember) that when you ask him to move at a certain pace he should keep that up until you ask him to do something different. Ask him once (nicely) with your leg, and then back it up with the whip if he ignores you. If he used to be forward going he will probably not need many reminders. Remember that one sharp smack with a whip is better than 10 half hearted ones.

Good luck, and I'm glad you are getting confident with him.

 

[Ludi-doodi]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
a schooling whip??
x

[/ QUOTE ]

lol!!!! i do use a schooling whip but dont want to keep using it constantly - or would it be best to do just that, for a while rather that leg leg leg??

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes! Eventually he should realise that if he doesn't move off your leg, then Mr Whippy comes visiting! Not that I'm suggesting you beat him up but a tap/smack with the whip is much better than him going dead to you leg. Far more experienced people than I will probably give you more detailed and descriptive answers

 

[mik]

A whip is ok for occasional corrections but they soon learn when you haven't got it, just go stand by a dressage arena and listen to the riders coming out, the horses know when you haven't got it. In general, and it's hard to do you have to be quieter and sharper with him, if you are stable enough in your seat, a small pair of spurs may be the answer, as a quick correction then you must keep quiet, and he should stay in the pace and at the energy level, you have asked for without you banging away like a kiddie. It may be best to have a couple of lessons with a decent trainer to get the hang of how to do this, you are halfway there doing lots of transitions, make sure he is quick off your leg and use your voice, (here you might find it easier to practice this by lunging him and sharpening up you voice commands). Add poles and things he enjoys to the training, and make sure he is off the leg even when out hacking, be consistent and patient if you can.
Best of luck.

 

[silverbreeze]

Do you find you're constantly nagging him? If so, you need to stop. One clear signal and even if you get a slight forward movement praise him. The the same again. If you are constantly nagging then he will just start to ignore you.
Make sure when you go from halt to walk, walk to trot etc there is immediate energy too and even when you are leading him don't let him dawdle. If you have a schooling whip you can use that in conjuction with the leg if he ignores your kick (try kick first) .
Instead of squeezing I adopt the 'pony club' kick as it is a little clearer, less easy for them to push in to and then you can tone it down as the response improves.
Also, make sure when you are kicking you aren't gripping with your knees or holding on too much with the rein as this gives conflicting messages. If he suddenly leaps forward as a response make sure you let him go for a couple of paces before bringing him back, even if it is the wrong gait (he has still gone forwards)
Are you confident enough with poles? Try putting trotting poles out and do them, you can lunge over them too.
Make sure your schooling isn't circle after circle if he is a little prone to dropping off the attention.

 

[Cliqmo]

I agree with Shazzababs entirely. Also (if this doesn't seem to be/fix the problem) you might consider breaking up his routine a bit and doing some more fun/faster work with him? Cantering and galloping in an open field for example? Obviously you need to be careful (and safe!) but perhaps his steadiness has become a habit over the last couple of years and now he has forgotten how much he enjoys going out for a jolly?

**edited to add** I suggest this because we bought my Mum's horse back two years after selling him and clearly all the fast work he had done in that time (with the nervous lady we'd sold him to) was collected canter in a circle

He came back beautifully schooled but had sort of lost his 'spark'

- rest assured after a few weeks back with us and couple of trips out around the farm jumping all the hedges he was soon back to himself

 

[sj_xc_hannah_]

One method I have used before is wear a pair of spurs (no whip) and make sure you hold your leg still and don't nag, squeeze, and if he doesn't move on, than exaggerate moving your legs away and then give one sharp kick. (By sharp I mean quick and sudden, do not use the spur directly!)
After a few times, when you move your leg off him he will anticipate the kick and move off on his own. Make sure you do not go back to nagging, and that he moves along at the constant pace you have set without slowing/quickening or stopping without an aid from you. Be careful to be sharp but not nasty, it's just a warning, not a punishment. Good Luck

 

[Equus Leather]

Can I just say I spat my tea out when I read this:

then Mr Whippy comes visiting!

 

[pipper]

wow!!! what quick replies - and so many!
many many thanks - i shall give your ideas a try.
x

 

[CaleruxShearer]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
a schooling whip??
x

[/ QUOTE ]

lol!!!! i do use a schooling whip but dont want to keep using it constantly - or would it be best to do just that, for a while rather that leg leg leg??

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes! Eventually he should realise that if he doesn't move off your leg, then Mr Whippy comes visiting! Not that I'm suggesting you beat him up but a tap/smack with the whip is much better than him going dead to you leg. Far more experienced people than I will probably give you more detailed and descriptive answers

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto the above, i have a Welsh D whom I am planning to event, When I bought him he was not very foward going at all. I basically mad sure i rode him REALLY consistantly, in that, I use a light leg aid and if he dosen't immediatley go off it then one short sharp tap with the schooling whip. Then you must make sure you reward him when he goes off your leg. After about two weeks of riding my boy this way I REALLY started to notcie the difference, he has gone from being and lazy stodgy horse to ride to lovely, light and responsive

Good Luck x

EDT: Excuse the appalling spelling, not sure what went on there! Also Welshies are clever little buggers, he'll soon get the idea, trust me mine would much prefer me to just be touching his sides rather than constant kicking.