Not having much fun lately with Blue

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Lill

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Its got to the point now where i don't really enjoy riding him. Not flatwork anyway. Its just an endless battle between the two of us and i may get a few mins of decent trot out of him after 30-40mins but for the 30-40 mins previously its killing my shoulders and arms and its just no fun.
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I used to really love riding him but now its becoming more like a chore.
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I have decided to send him away for 2 weeks in January to be trained on the flat as i'm sick of battling with him.
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I jumped him on Fri and went out on a hack on Sat so its not like he hasn't done anything different for a while!
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Just sucks. Just wanted to moan cos am fed up with it now.
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Does he pull? Try using flexi reins (Stubben) or Carl Hestors new elastic reins. I used the flexi reins on my mare as she pulls like a steam train and after about three sessions she was really improved. You can buy them on eBay for abt £20.
 
Lill, I'm currently feeling the same. How old is Blue?

All the fun seems to have gone out of riding for me at the moment as my horse is being so awkward in the school and absolutely loopy out hacking. I don't feel motivated to ride at all but know I have to tackle her schooling issues.

Hopefully it will pass for us.
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ETA: zalacca, I'm going to get some of those reins - they might be just the answer for us too. Thank you.
 
Me too.

I think you're doing the right thing if you send him to be schooled. i know someone who is really comitted and throws everything she has into her (several) horses, and training and is climbing up through the ranks of dressage, she sends hers away every couple of months, for weeks.

I have been put off, as I lost some nerve with a napper in the spring, also I hurt myself skiing which unnerved me, then my daugher and I bought a horse to share and it was too much for her, and spooky, so thats put me off some more (sold it the other day!) and now I'm about to try one on thursday, but I can't get the enthusiasm going. I know I don't want to be without a horse, but I need to find "the one"

I can ride but I want to be really loving my horse.
 
The only thing I would say is that people I know who reach a brick wall usually send the horse to their trainer to be schooled. If the trainer has either helped create this problem or at least not provided any solutions to the problem, then they may not be the best person to sort it now, they may just be exacerbating it.
Long winded way of suggesting a change of approach probably, it's usually what works for me. Good luck though.
 
He pulls lots when i try make him work with a contact. He's 7yo. Just been outside and its freeeeezin so have decided to lunge him tonight instead of try to school, he's a wally when its windy anyway. See i was absolutely fine when we were showjumping hacking and having fun but now we're trying to work properly on the flat its just a disaster.
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It's really hard to comment, but I would try and get a good trainer to have a look and see if they can help. He could be pulling because he's on the forehand, or because he finds the work hard, or even because you are pulling him. He could just be being bloody minded and taking the pee
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Don't despair though it's not uncommon, my mare is a complete pleasure to ride so long as you don't get hold of the front end, then she pulls like a train and gets stronger and faster till she's out of control.
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(never with me of course!)
 
I've had a few lessons lately with him and he improved LOADS after the first few and then the last one i had few weeks back he was just awful. She was saying he will feel heavy until he learns to soften? Even when i had a lesson with someone else he said pretty much the same thing, short reins and give Blue a contact to work into but it kills my arms!!

He tends to 'run' if he finds things difficult and i do most of my trot as sitting trot because if i do rising trot i end up tipping forwards which puts him heavy on his forehand but its a habit i don't know i'm doing till i look at photos and i can't stop it!
 
I have the same problem. I've had a really good instructor who's worked on me(not the horse) basically she's worked on my seat to stop me leaning forward, slowing the horse down with my seat. He then started going into a nicer outline. Once that was achieved she then worked on the contact. It took me 6 months with lots of practice and I still have to remind myself when he gets strong not to lean forward.
 
Good example of my tipping forwards in rising trot here:

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Very annoying habit probably comes from too much showjumping and riding in no particular style as main aim was always to stay on the horse - when i used to ride the dealers.
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I am fine when i am sitting trot (see pic in avatar on orange beastie) but rising just tip forward.
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