spurs on 4 yr olds?

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emilylovesotis

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well i have a new horse which has been used to being ridden by men with big strong legs or other people always using spurs.After he'd been ridden in spurs when i went to try him he was very responsive and always went into canter with me.. but now i have had him for a couple of weeks and were having lots of difficulties getting into canter my legs aren't very big and not very strong but i try my best but dont use spurs..i ask him using the aids ie outside leg behind the girth inside leg on bend and i say canter he will then ignore the aid so i back up my leg with my stick in which he throws a huge buck and totatly un settles my seat then either will go into canter or just keep on with his huge bouncy trot.now i have had lessons and i have been told i just need to keep on with it.I don't know if i should start to use spurs someone suggested i use them for a while until he is more used to the aid and then gradually start to not use them anymore so what does everyone think i should do? any advice will be appreciated!! x x
 
I think you need to persevere with the stick as now is the time to put the effort into getting him properly off the leg.
You may need to de-sensitize him a little to the stick by touching him right shoulder, right hip, left shoulder, left hip in quick sucession (really works)
Also now to re-inforce the action of the leg you should teach him to move his quarters away from leg pressure with turns on the forehand, leg yielding and shoulder-fore in walk.

I'm not anti-spurs on a baby as I think they have their place in some cases but it sounds like he's throwing evasions to the leg at you
 
I always have belived that spurs, as with a double bridle, should be a refinement of the aid, not used to give it in the first place. Sounds like previous owners couldn't be bothered to educate baby propperly and wanted quick results so used spurs. Perservear, you'll get there in the end
 
As you have only had him a few weeks I would keep up the lessons and give him a little more time. I would not rule out the spurs idea but give him another month or so first, he may just be trying it on a little but perseverance should get you there in the end.
 
I would consider spurs on a youngster under certain circumstances (I have a youngster who gets worried and comes behind the bit, he then ignores the leg and the whole thing becomes stuck - he loves the spurs! I have had to drop my whip and no longer need to boot him ever). However, I would agree with everyone else that perhaps you need to keep on working as you are now for a little bit longer before you try other things.
 
thankyou for your advice i will keep on with it.. you should see my after i have ridden so tired as i have tried so hard to get a canter..hopefully it will pay off in the end..
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are you using a short jumping whip or a schooling whip? a light (really light) flick with the schooling whip to back up your leg aid should work. if he bucks at it, he's being rude... he's neither accepting the leg aid nor the whip aid, so persevere. i wouldn't put spurs on a horse that's behind the leg, he's got to learn now. you shouldn't be tired, he should!
i'd do lots of transitions from halt to walk, halt to trot. walk to trot, until he always goes forward from a light aid.
if he doesn't go forward, give him a boot with both legs but DON'T then stop him in front, let him zoom off a bit, then praise him. really important lesson for him. he's got to realise that leg = forward.
i'd always ask for the canter in the same place in the school, from a good active balanced trot, and praise him immediately he canters. make sure your aid is as simple and clear as possible, obv. best of luck!
btw, is he a big, weak 4 yr old? if so, i'd keep the cantering to a minimum for a while, or only ask for it out on hacks, tbh.
 
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thankyou for your advice i will keep on with it.. you should see my after i have ridden so tired as i have tried so hard to get a canter..hopefully it will pay off in the end..
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Maybe, in an odd way, that is part of the problem. Correct me if I am wrong, as I am just speculating here, but is it possible that you are a bit tense about getting the canter transition and when it doesn't happen your body tenses up more? I have this problem quite a bit and it tends to make things a lot worse, so before I ask for anything difficult, I remind myself that my job is to ask not to do, the horse has to do, I just have to sit there! Also it might help to think of your legs being really long, your back really straight and believe that you will ask once and it will just happen. Might be worth a try?
 
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