Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
One thing that popped into my mind... have you tried making him work when he balks? Like turning him in tiny circles, turn on forehand, turn on haunches, trot off a few strides in a direction he will go, trot back to where he balked, anything else you can think of. If you can do this, he may figure out that it is just easier to keep on bloody walking in the direction you want him to go.
Or keep on trying to desensitize him to the scary whip. G sometimes requires me to use it meaningfully when she decides she can't be arsed moving it off the leg (actually, when she really blows off an aid, thwacking my boot with it so I get a lot of noise, but no physical discomfort to the horse works best) but I ride a Welsh D who also occasionally sees when happens when she ignores the leg. A wee touch, just a touch, not remotely a whack, changes her mid.
Or keep on trying to desensitize him to the scary whip. G sometimes requires me to use it meaningfully when she decides she can't be arsed moving it off the leg (actually, when she really blows off an aid, thwacking my boot with it so I get a lot of noise, but no physical discomfort to the horse works best) but I ride a Welsh D who also occasionally sees when happens when she ignores the leg. A wee touch, just a touch, not remotely a whack, changes her mid.
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