schooling ideas please

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goodtimes

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I have owned this horse for 6 months now. I bought him knowing he hadn't done much schooling, which was fine as I love to school, particularly for dressage.

I never school at the weekends, and during the summer tend to hack at lot and school whilst I'm out - same at the weekends. But during the week I can only ride in the school with it being dark nights - and my boy hates it. He naps, isn't forward thinking, spooky - But starting to think this is all work evasion rather than anxiousness as I first thought. After 10 or so minutes he settles and works fine.

That is until I bring him back to walk - then he thinks he has finished work and has a paddy when I pick up trot again.

I have my weekly dressage lesson on Thursday evenings and he is ok (my trainer rides him for 20 mins first). Much better for her than for me when I take him in there anyother night.

I'm looking for some ideas I can do in the school to incorporate into our schooling, in the hope it might help him enjoy it a bit more.

And hopefully some success stories if you have any.

Thanks in advance
 
Could you do trotting/canter poles with him. Create a obstacle/trec/handy horse type course. Loose school/jump him.

Basically just try and create positive associations with the school. Also school as you hack, you can do loads of stuff whilst out and about xx
 
Supertrooper said:
Could you do trotting/canter poles with him. Create a obstacle/trec/handy horse type course. Loose school/jump him.

Basically just try and create positive associations with the school. Also school as you hack, you can do loads of stuff whilst out and about xx
Click to expand...

Thanks.
 
That's ok, I too had a horse that had negative associations with schooling. Also you could try schooling him in field rather than ménage. Initially perhaps just go into school to walk one lap, pat and get off or go for a hack. When you get off in school just make sure you do it in a different spot everytime xx
 
Supertrooper said:
That's ok, I too had a horse that had negative associations with schooling. Also you could try schooling him in field rather than ménage. Initially perhaps just go into school to walk one lap, pat and get off or go for a hack. When you get off in school just make sure you do it in a different spot everytime xx
Click to expand...

I always get on and off in a different spot each time as he used to be really nappy at the gate.

Its the first few laps where he doesn't want to go forward, so although I love that idea - it wouldn't work. He's a silly boy! And a tap with the whip just makes him buck and throw a real paddy.
 
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