wwyd with a horse that just WON'T go?

Emilieu

Emilieu

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Ninety nine per cent of the time my horse is a joy to hack. Today fell into the other one per cent. When he decides he's not going nothing, and I mean NOTHING, will change his mind. Tried pony club kicks, smacks, growls, spinning, backing up, going sideways... stubborn git just would not shift :( any suggestions I haven't thought of to galvanise him into action? (Back and saddle done last month, teeth fine etc)
 
FfionWinnie said:
I'd stay there til he did. Correcting backwards/sideways and insisting on forwards.
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Equipped with a book, sandwiches and hip flask. He will get bored before you will. I know a hunt groom that actually did this. Two hours elapsed before naughty horse continued his hack, never did it again.
 
Turn him a few degrees to one side to unstick his front feet. And again. And again, in the same way if a horse plants when you are leading him you shift his weight to one side to unbalance him, as many times as it takes. He'll soon get fed up.

I did the standing still thing once years ago - people in the cottage by where I was came out and asked if I would like a cup of tea :) I had to give up as it was beginning to get dark and get someone else to give me a lead.
 
Is he sound, did you trot him up, feel for pulses, pick out feet for possible stone. Could you turn him around and go the other way. I would get off and lead until walking forward on his own then get back on. Most of all dont get angry cos then you lost the battle and they can feel it.

It is very frustrating though but i do believe a horse doesnt plant for nothing, got to be something wrong, just going by experience with the racehorses that jib and 99% of the time there is an underlying issue whoch only comes to light the next day.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Equipped with a book, sandwiches and hip flask. He will get bored before you will. I know a hunt groom that actually did this. Two hours elapsed before naughty horse continued his hack, never did it again.
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I also did this with a very stubborn Welsh pony, she did it 3 times (as I said - stubborn! ) and I never had a problem after that!
 
I also recommend just sitting there.

I did this with one of mine, and when I posted on here about it once I did get slated a bit, with people saying by allowing him to stand still I was rewarding his behaviour.

However, I saw it like this, he planted as he wanted to go home. If I sat there until he got bored and moved in any direction, but then wouldn't allow him to move, it was I who was ultimately dictating what we would and wouldn't do, even if it took us a while to get there!

He used to plant regularly, and the time when I just sat on him and waited, and waited, and waited was the last time he ever did it.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Equipped with a book, sandwiches and hip flask. He will get bored before you will. I know a hunt groom that actually did this. Two hours elapsed before naughty horse continued his hack, never did it again.
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I sat most of the day on the yard with one nappy one.
I had hop of for a pee a couple of times eventually it went .
Horse Learned the lesson though.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Equipped with a book, sandwiches and hip flask. He will get bored before you will. I know a hunt groom that actually did this. Two hours elapsed before naughty horse continued his hack, never did it again.
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Yup. Rarely takes that long, but even if it does, it's a long-term fix that's safe and low stress for you and the horse.

I have also had to do this with driving ponies - and it has worked.
 
Clicker training?

Since "pony club kicks, smacks, growls, spinning, backing up, going sideways" doesn't seem to work when he is in this mood, have you tried to just discretely, but annoyingly, tickle him somewhere?

I know that you shouldn't really reward stubbornness, but if he rarely does it, how about viewing it as an opportunity to just relax for a while, give him a cuddle, enjoy the scenery (or do what AdorableAlice and Broke_But_Happy already have suggested, bring a book and something to eat and drink) and just wait him out. Bonus is that then there is no risk, for that any perhaps impatient feelings from you "feeds" his stubbornness.
 
Agree with waiting it out, my cob planted in the school when I first got him, waiting it out cured the problem. He was quite determined the first time, took a good 45mins to get him going, second time was much quicker, only about 20 mins, and he's never tried it since. Patience really IS a virtue!
 
Mine never used to hack alone, when I was teaching him to do so if he stopped I'd get off and lead him a bit then when I'd got him moving again I'd get back on.

Obviously only an option with quiet roads and horse that's safe to lead.
 
Right thanks for the suggestions folks. Looks like sitting it out is the way to go - I have tried this before but it got dark so I had to give in and get off as usual. I'm usually quite happy to hop off and lead him for a bit but he's 17 hh and hoping back on gets tiring after a bit! Might also get the farrier to shoe him behind in case he's feeling his feet.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Equipped with a book, sandwiches and hip flask. He will get bored before you will. I know a hunt groom that actually did this. Two hours elapsed before naughty horse continued his hack, never did it again.
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Did this once when daughters pony first started hacking out. He planted, would not move. I sat there for AGES.....people went past and came back on their dog walks and I was still sat there....tad embarrassing but it was the one and only time he did it.....
 
I have done this with a driving pony that "planted". Take some water in a bottle and splash it at the pony's rear hooves. Worked a treat, no stress and only took a few goes for pony to get the message. I do realise that it is easier with a driving pony as the groom is there to help. Could you enlist a friend to come out with you? I would like to add, take care as not all ponies would react kindly to this. You know your horse and whether it would be a possible solution for you.
 
Im in the sitting it out camp. ok he wants to stand so just play his game. he wil get bored lol ok you need to set time aside but no conflict no stress just relax and watch world go by :) keep us posted :)
 
me&Harvey said:
Mine never used to hack alone, when I was teaching him to do so if he stopped I'd get off and lead him a bit then when I'd got him moving again I'd get back on.

Obviously only an option with quiet roads and horse that's safe to lead.
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I had one like this, used to spend more of my time leading her or long reining her. Finally gave in and sold her.

I think the waiting it out would be a good idea but you'd have to be prepared every time you rode on the off chance he planted.
 
My pony can be the same....its a case of if he chooses, he will go... if he point blanks refuses, We just wait until he decides that it is his idea, or will try asking him to go in a different direction. He can be quite challenging to get round most times....
I also use the asking once, asking twice and then asking three times method and if he does not respond I use the wipwop way (which I prefer using rather than a whip as smacking or tapping with a whip does not work with him), which tends to work.
 
Buy a seat saver! Sounds like you will be on board for a long time so that might help numb the pain!

I have seen the moving horses from side to side work when loading stubborn horses as it seems to unstick them so that's probably worth a try..
 
I'm with the 'sitting it out' camp but would try reducing the time spent by making it increasingly uncomfortable for the horse. Taken from a Mark Rashid book we used it years back on my daughters pony that would plant itself at the gate and nap towards the gate. Take your hand down one rein to the bit and pull the horses head to your stirrup - and hold - and hold - and hold! First of all the horse is cool with this, then it becomes more uncomfortable, then when he/she tries to move you just go in very tight circles. It may take 10 minutes or it may take 30 but it shouldn't take hours. Hopefully it will be a lesson learnt and your horse will be more than willing to opt for the easier option of walking forwards. If not repeat if necessary :p
 
I would try making it hard work for the horse not to go forward! Make him go 4 steps backwards, 4 steps sideways right, 4 steps back, 4 steps sideways left etc. then ask for forwards again!!
 
Some useful techniques here, have the same problem myself with my mare, even after all the checks etc.

Was prepared to sit it out the other morning when horrible neighbour and his wife walked past (he's trying to make our lives difficult by complaining to the council about everything we do/don't do - council are sick of him!) and sniggers 'what's wrong, battery gone flat?!' I have never wanted to punch someone in the nose more!

Luckily I managed to keep my cool, look down my nose at him (as one can when mounted!) and turn my pony in the opposite direction (muttering niceties under my breath!). Pony did it again at the other end of the village so I got off and led her, then got back on later on which worked a treat!
 
Have tried the sitting it out with mine, worked after 2 hours, but still tried it on every time we went out after that. He has a goldfish memory, cant remember what happened after 3 seconds ! He is still not cured !
 
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