What would you have done??

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bex1984

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Found myself in this situation yesterday, and interested to hear what others would have done.

You take horse in school, after a good few days off work, having just hacked, galloped round fields etc for the past few weeks - all fun stuff basically. You walk for a bit, letting horse stretch and warm up. Then you ask for trot...you squeeze with your legs: no response. You kick: no response: You use your whip (behind your leg), no response. Whip again: no response.

So what would you do next?

Bear in mind that horse wants for nothing, has nothing physically wrong, tack checks up to date, teeth checks up to date, is carefully fed exactly what he needs, is clipped, is rugged etc etc....

I know what I did...but interested to hear how other people would have reacted.
 
Hmmm tricky one, probably panic to start with, as it would be so out of character if it was George. I would probably of tried with my legs and whip again with a loose rein so he was not worried about going forward, if that failed I would probably have got of and checked his feet for stones etc. and then seen if I could get him moving from the ground either on the lunge or inhand. Failing that I would begin to think something was wrong (but that would be George as he isn't lazy at all) and asked someone for advice.

As you know I am absolutely no expert, so this is just what I probably would of done.

Hope Murphy is ok.
 
I'd get off and have a good look at the horse, look at the saddle etc (has it slipped or twisted or the numnah moved). A stone in the foot or a bruise etc? Tooth problem?

If all OK for certain, I would do lots of walk halt tranistions and movements across the school. Perhaps some pole work.

Then see what tomorrow brings.

Could be sore, anaemic, viral, ulcerated. I've seen all these things manifest as reluctance and behavioural.

I never believe a horse is just taking the piss. I believe I'm too dumb to figure out the problem at first.
 
Being absulutely honest with Pickle I'd probs give him a massive kick a tap with the stick then hope he got the message! he goes through phases like this! and generally once he's got the message carries on as nomral
 
I suppose I should add that the horse in this case is rather prone to being a)stubborn and b) lazy!!! ;) This behaviour is very much in-character!!

He is fine though, just a stubborn, lazy little monster...:)
 
Thinking back to lazy horses (current one is like a bat out of hell).
As said, would ensure horse has plenty of rein to ensure not jabbed in mouth and then would give a sharp nudge with leg at the same time as 2 sharp taps with whip.
If that didn't get horse going, I would be wondering if something was wrong and maybe take horse for 5 minute hack and depending on response from this - either confirms something wrong OR horse really is taking the mickey.
It's been such a long time since I've ridden anything dead to leg that I can't honestly think what my next step would be.

ETA - Just saw your last response - if pony is definitely stubborn/lazy, as stated walk/halt transitions can encourage said pony to move (how could I forget about these, d'uh). One of the riding school ponies needed these a lot to get him moving.
 
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I would whilst walking him around do lots of circles, Halt and then walk for 3 strides, halt again etc. etc. to get him listening to me and antisipating my next move.
 
It would depend on the horse and his character.

I ride some VERY lazy horses that are used to flappy novices on them and they get away with not listening, with them I would have tried my leg again with vocal commands if that failed I would forget the trot untill I had some very sharp halt - walk transitions so I knew he was listening to me and then attempt the trot again.

I often growl at them if they are taking the mick!

I would be more concerned with the more forward going horses and would probably pop off to lunge them and get them moving forwards.

This is all assuming all tack / back / teeth are fine and recently checked!
 
If I def knew they were tkaing the mic and not a physical thing then when a horse plants themself with me my main objective is to get their front feet moving again adn rather than get into a kicking fight I try and make them at least move side ways by opneing up a particular rein and asking them to move over with it once they shift a front foot to do this I then ask with leg backing up with whip to move forward if it dosen't work to start I keep trying moving their feet from side to side until I get a forward movement to then big pats when they do.
 
Well, my sequence would have included voice aids rather than a whip - I'm a control freak, I need a horse to do what I ask because it wants to not because it is scared/hurt if it doesn't, I'm never going to win a fight with a horse!

But, assuming I'd got to the same stage and was getting no response
- check feet, tack, heat/injuries
- watch horse move from the ground

Assuming that horse will trot comfortably in the arena on lunge/free with voice aids from the floor (and if it doesn't I'd fix that first whether it be a question of understanding/strength/flexibility/balance/trust/whatever) I'd then consider
- how my riding might be holding it back (tenseness/rein contact/lack of balance)
- if horse is bored/lonely in arena, in which case perhaps try following another animal next time add some pole work (assuming horse enjoys that)/lots of transitions/changes of pace and direction, anything to focus the mind.
 
Well I know that your darling little horsey is the same as mine in temperament and 'work ethics'. So assuming there is nothing physically wrong with him if...sorry...when I am in that situation and do not have a rocket to hand, I am afraid I resort to shock treatment, which involves acurately placed pony kicking plus lots of noise on my part and flapping of his rein ends on either side of the saddle! Looks very un-professional, terrible riding wise but has the desired effect...wakes my little devil up and once trotting he is fine but I then make sure I do loads of short sharp transitions between trot, walk and halt. He is usually sufficiently 'woken up' then and realises I mean business.
I sometimes wonder if my little horsey has a twin that you have!!! Good luck...and remember...he is sooooooo cute...how could you possibly be frustrated with him!!!!!!!!
 
Oh, and remember it is usually more productive to find a behaviour you like and reward it than punish what you don't want. If pony is really just not wanting to do something find something you can ask for he does want to do, praise like crazy and leave the difficult things for a while. Work should be fun for both of you and it is easier to push once you've established that.
 
If mine was a piss taker like yours seems to be I would have been very un pc as I would have screamed and shouted at him and lollopped him a few times to mind him to remember his manners because I would have cancelled all other ideas in my mind as to tack, back, shoes etc while tacking him up and walking him over to school, by the time I got to the school I would have known if there was anything wrong with him. If still no joy I would have lunged him and lunged him until he was begging for mercy then I would have got back on and expected the right response. I don't take kindly to piss takers as you might have guessed and have only ever had to do this once because it worked.
 
Sort of depends - usually if a horse is being very lazy I suddenly realise so am I - I'd give up and go for another hack so we can both enjoy ourselves
 
on my horses i would wonder what the hell was wrong and wouldn't push it but they are very reactive.

However, if it was a horse that was known for being a stubborn, lazy animal it would get a very sharp smack behind the leg and yee-hahed forwards with no rein contact.

i agree to a point with being nice and rewarding correct behaviour when you are asking complex things or starting a youngster or a horse that is extremely green but imo if a horse knows the aids he needs to respond when i ask- not just when he feels like it.
 
I was definitely un-PC!! I thought, you know what, this horse is so pampered, he has it so damn easy for the other 23 hours a day when I'm not asking him to work, and all I am asking for is a little bit of trot in the school. So I told him this, growled at him, and gave him 2 VERY firm smacks with my whip. He jumped, bucked and galloped off (which I let him do of course - at least he was going forward!!). He was fine after that (if a bit grumpy!) and walked, trotted, cantered when asked.

Safe to say if I had taken him out for a hack, or in the field, he would have been a bit more forward in the first place. He is not a fan of the school, which is why we hadn't been in there for a while.

I do not know what I'm going to do with him in the winter when I haven't got fields to ride in, and it's too dark to hack out :(
 
if nothing was physically wrong he/she would get a sharp crack with the whip.

I dont need to carry a whip with mine as she is forward going, but i would use one if needed.
 
I think given the horse temperament and that it is not really out of character, I would have engaged in some very 'firm' riding!! My slightly lazy boy (as opposed to my incredibly crazy boy!!) is normally responsive to leg and voice but can suddenly ignore both if he feels inclined. However, I only have to hgold a stick and he becomes incredibly sharp (not becuase I have EVER used it on him, I don;t think I'd be here to tell the tale if I had!!) so thats what I woud do with him.

If it wqas the crazy boy I'd probably get off cry and phone the vet!
 
Do you do fun stuff in the arena?
Horses are naturally happy beasts, but if it means an hour of boring hard work you can see their point!

Why not try bending races, or set an obstacle course (le trec style)?

Fun things to do
Jump wings - set garden canes up 20cm higher than the horses wither and practise cantering underneath without knocking canes off

Tent pegging - 8ft-9ft garden cane, practise hitting targets on floor of arena

Polo - if you have a mallet - soft football and tap around

Polocrosse - if you have a racquet - practise stick and balling

Skill at arms - well you need a sword, but the other liveries will stop messing with you. Set up lemons and other fruit to swipe at in canter!

Balloon pricking - 2ft max length of cane with drawing pin at the end. Set up balloons and prick to get horse used to noise. Progress to jumping 2ft6" and pricking balloon at the side of the jump wing in mid air.
 
agree if hes just being stubborn about getting alot firmer with him. sometimes youve just got to have a battle to show that you are boss and they have to react to your aids. Once youve got past that, i would school every other day for the next week or so and just spend all of that time getting them to react to your aids quickly, doing lots of transitions. If you say trot, they trot.. if they dont, sharp (possibly OTT) aids untill they get the idea. Theres nothing worse than a horse that doesnt listen to you imo..

what did you do in the end??
 
Yep, he'd have got a wallop from me as well as some very loud growling. When you know a horse as well as you know yours you know when they are just taking the piss!! Obviously once moving forwards praise for doing what I wanted.

I'm a firm believer in having a very definite line with horses (and dogs and children) and when they are bad, tell them, quickly and sharply but equally when doing good lots of praise and rewards.

Definitely sounds like the little monkey was trying it on - hopefully a couple of smacks has got it into his head that taking the piss is just not acceptable.
 
Thank you for the suggestions Jen_Cots, they sound really fun :) We are lucky in that we have a full set of games equipment at the yard so we do bending poles, flag races etc quite often...in fact it is very rare that we just go in the school and do schooling!
 
Sometimes if mine needs a wake up call, I hold the whip above my head and flick it from side to side so it makes a swishing noise (holding onto the pommel, i hasten to add!!)

It always surprises him and wakes him up. Other than that, it would be a big pony club kick to hopefully achieve the same effect. No point niggling and niggling IMO.

Sounds like you did in the end what I would have done. Did it work? that's the next question!!
 
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jen_cots said:
skill at arms - well you need a sword, but the other liveries will stop messing with you. Set up lemons and other fruit to swipe at in canter!

Balloon pricking - 2ft max length of cane with drawing pin at the end. Set up balloons and prick to get horse used to noise. Progress to jumping 2ft6" and pricking balloon at the side of the jump wing in mid air.
Click to expand...

this sounds amazing!!!!!
 
Somewhere I read an anecdote about someone who had a horse which would refuse to move. So they bought a packet of fags, and next time the horse planted its feet, they just waited it out. Sat there and had several ciggies until the horse got bored, then made it stand some more.
The horse twigged after that. Never baulked again.
 
If you are 101% positive its just laziness stop using your legs altogether, he will carry on ignoring.

Instead, carry a schooling whip in each hand and insist he goes forward from these.

I was told to do this when riding a very lazy horse in a lesson with stephen clarke, years and years and years ago. still works!
 
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