Outline..How would you deal with this hypothetical horse/rider?

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royal

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Ok, so horse 15.1 Irish Sports Horse x and is lazy! Rider has tried many different techniques...clicker training, back up leg with the whip, swishing whip in the air for auditory cue, spurs, leg off-leg on technique...back, teeth etc all checked on a routine basis - no problems, feed - managed very well ie: not over/under fed, plenty of fibre etc has tried oats with no real effect...
Horse would be brilliant at dressage if she could just wake up a bit! Has been with current owner nearly 4 years who is relatively experienced (20 yrs horse ownership), takes lessons (one trainer suggested pony club kicks...didn't work, just made horsey even more dead to the leg. Second trainer suggested clicker training...small improvement but not much).
Its not just about outline, but horsey doesn't move well when hollowed out, works much better in an outline ie: back rounded, stepping through - but this is almost impossible to achieve. Schooling sessions contain plenty of circles, lateral work ie leg yield, shoulder in, transitions etc...
What would you do with this horse to improve things and be able to ask for rounded outline?
 
OK I might be barking up totally the wrong tree here but do this horse and rider have a varied schedule? Perhaps the horse is a bit stale...I would maybe try and vary the routine, do some hacking, a bit of jumping, even go back to long reining just to give the horse something else to think about.
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OK this might sound crazy but has this horse been hunting, cross country pairs or something that would normally wind a horse up. Another option would be to go out on gallops with local point to pointers etc?
I know my old horse was a lazy so and so but following a moonlight steeple chase he became a different horse.
This horse may have already done something along these lines but it is just the only thing that comes to my mind.
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I would be interested to read others replies.
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Thanks for replies...she is exactly the same out hacking...will go for a gallop with 10 others, but once gallop is over, retuns straight back to 'normal'!!
Also forgot to say, she is 8 years old, is lunged, free schooled and long reined on a regular ish basis...
Re: varied routine...yes, she varies between hacking and schooling, free schooling etc...she is exactly the same hacking re: laziness, just alot more spooky!
 
Thats what my mare was like. I just have given her a "holiday" bar hacking to see if that wakes her up, it seems to of because she is rather "fresh" on the once a week hack that we do!!
 
Perhaps try some different feeds - I've found some of the competition mixes very heating particularly when they have maize etc in them.
And maybe ban your horse from the school if you think she's stale.
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She has just had 6 weeks off, and although is a little more forward, is still very slow off the leg and requires a huuuuuuge effort from you to move away from the leg!

Off to look at the equi jewel.....thanks!
 
I;d havce a physcal check up in case there is a reason for being reluctant to move.
Blood tests, soundness, back etc.
If all ok, then consider finding her a new job as a steady happy hacker, they are much in demand.
 
Like LCobby I think I'd consider finding her another home where her outlook on life would be appreciated, loads of people would love a horse like this!
 
OMG. He sounds the SPITTING image of my sister's horse... (15.1hh ISH gelding and the most lazy thing I've ever sat on - but talented at dressage when he's awake!
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) She schools once a week in spurs, and takes him for the occasional gallop to blow away the cobwebs, as well as alternating hacking/arena work/jumping to keep him interested. Oh, and oats
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Works well , he's improved loads since we got him
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And he always goes MUCH better at shows...
 
[ QUOTE ]
Electric cattle prod instead of a whip
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[/ QUOTE ]

LOL. My first reply was going to be "How about a rocket up the backside"?

Neither is very helpful though.
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Do you use spurs at all? My friend with a very lazy friesian had to use BIG spurs to get him to listen to her leg as he was oblivious to all normal aids, the whip, instructor chasing after him etc etc. Now he's back down to no spurs at all as he is very active now. Sometimes you just have to be a bit more firm to get what you want.
 
Cattle prod!! LOL....

Bigger spurs are an idea...only ever been ridden in very little ones (maybe 10mm)...it difficult to feel when you've used them so maybe worth a go....

Don't want her to be 'retired' to happy hacking as she would take county level showing by storm and has an amazing jump. Plus she's only 8 and is really capable IF and WHEN this laziness issue can be dealt with....I can't just give up on it...

She's definitely not stale, IMO its either just in her nature or she wasn't taught to move off the aids....

Thanks for all the replies...
 
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