numb pony.. ideas please

[amandal]

Hi I'll try and make this short....... 5yr old welsh D I,ve owned since she was 10mths. Lovely to handle not bargy or pushy infact very laid back which could be her downfall! No bother to back and for the last 6mths we've had regular lessons, problem is she is very numb to the leg and whip (not that it has been over used, just used to back up leg aids) Out hacking she has come on leaps and bounds but in the school she is just so unresponsive

Now I bought her for hacking so should I just carry on enjoying the fact I can now pretty much take her anywhere, or think that at 5 she should be working properly in the school? she wont work in an outline or on the contact...does she need to be turned away in the hope she comes back more sensitive? Or should I don the spurs and make her work? I know that she still has time to mature and really want to do the best for her?? I will be grateful for any ideas......

for the best ones!!!

 

[Dozy Mare]

Have you tried doing exercises to sharpen your aids at all? Walk her on a long rein and give a little nudge to say trot on, if she doesn't listen to this, give her a good kick and say trot on, still no reaction then kick and back it up with your whip. Repeat this until she respects that small nudge and you can do similar with downwards transitions too. Is it just the school she is unresponsive in? It may be that she finds it boring, you can do lots of exercises to make it more interesting, lots of bending/transitions/polework or even school her somewhere else, like in the paddock or whilst you're out hacking. As far as working in an outline goes this will be very difficult for her without impulsion as you're effectively pulling the horse into a contact and not engaging the hind quarters rather than pushing her into the bridle and working her through her back. Is she strong enough to work through her back? Lots of hillwork and flatwork above will help with this. Once she is working correctly start to think about an outline, try beginning with long and low and then use transitions to bring her up into the contact, lots of bending/flexion will help too
PS Do I qualify for cake?

 

[Moomin1]

Lessons!