Refusing to move

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SJ_06

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As some of you may know I have a youngster,anyway hes not very brave..sometimes he gets really phased and stops dead and refuses to move, mainly at a new venue or like today hacking he saw something he didnt like. I know a few others who do the same and i know its just a baby thing, but im only little and really struggle to get him to move. i use my whip,voice,sqeeze, ect but nothing will work. I had to leave the ring once because of this! I got him to move on the hack today after a few mins n encouraged and praised him really well and he sort of got the drift, but im worried it may happen at the next show or something. so anyone have any suggestions.. I thought bout just hiring places out for a bit as soon as hes fit enough to go out again? thanks
x x
 
long reining is definitely the key to building bravery in new situations in a youngster..might need two of you to start with, but as horse's confidence grows you will be able to do it on your own
 
Take him out and about as much as you can afford to do,and count the trips as part of his education, NOT as competitions.If he wants to stand for half an hour then let him....simply praise him when he does move forwards.
smile.gif
 
try getting him out and about to as many different places as possible. Can you hire arenas at local places near you? Might be worth a try, just so he gets to know that life outside home isn't always scary.

Definitley longreining at home will help build up his confidence to go forward
 
My youngster used to do this - I was at the end of my tether and couldnt think what else to do, so I took her back to basics and did lots of in-hand work with her, walking her around the school, the fields, turning this way and that, standing, walking on, trotting on etc. Every time there was an increase/decrease in pase I backed it up with voice commands and then would make a huge fuss of her when she did as I asked to (ususally verbally). Now even if she stops and looks at something and I can see she is thinking 'oh my god, its going to eat me', a firm 'walk on' gets her going again straight away, backed up with a praise. Progressing this on to long-reining is also an option, although I didnt need to.
 
assume ur sjing lol, if u do the clear rounds or bsja warm up rounds, then obv is cheaper and there isnt a problem with the amount of time you take/circling/cadjooling (sp?)...
keep taking him out of his comfort baby zone, and make your totally clear with your praise when he does move. he obv has trust in you so build it...
sometimes nappers and babies get shook up when u tell them to stop, before they stop!try it!its worked with some ive ridden..
 
ok well weve hired an arena out for next week just to go schooling. i think the main prob is that weve started indoors and he gets in the ring and is like ''omg! such a little dark place, with so many jumps!!' sort thing so feels over phased by the situation almost? anyway im just gonna keep hiring places out and hacking and see what happens, i was gonna wait till outdoors to start sjing again anyway..alsxx i like that idea.. will use it if theeres no progress in a couple of months.
 
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