He will not go faster than a walk?

Question

I have a tennessee walker gelding who is the most wonderful and responsive riding horse I've ever been on. He does exactly what I ask, even though we do often argue about whether or not he can eat grass when I'm on him. But there is one point we often have issues with: going faster than a walk. This guy is 16hh, a big ol' slow gelding. I know he can trot, gait, canter, I've seen him do it with his previous owner. I've tried everything, even breaking out my riding crop to use as an aide (he laughed at that). My cat actually out paces him on the ground. Leading him is impossible because it takes us 10 minutes to get from point A to point B. I'm not asking for a gallop or most of the time even a canter, I'd just love to see a flat walk or trot every great once in a while.

Now as a trail horse, I love how slow he goes. But I would, at some point, like to actually go somewhere. Any thoughts? I don't want to hurt him, aggressive methods are completely out of the question. Thanks!

Answer 1

you said he is responsive...well clearly he isnt...there are a few reasons why horses refuse to move forward...and sometimes it can be a combination of the following factors:

1:laziness due to improper diet plan..it is importiant to hire an equine nutritionist to create a plan for your horse.

2:pain...maybe he finds it painful in someway to move up into the next gait so call the vet and have them evaluate him for any medical issues and have them check your tack to make sure everything fits...

3:finally it could be something you are doing...at the walk it is importiant to start from there..get him moving forward and infront of your leg but make sure to also keep him in a frame to allow for impusion(which has nothing to do with speed btw) also do leg yeilds to get him listening to each leg individually but keep him moving very forward so he is thinking forward and do transistions from halt to walk(you have to first work with what you have)and get him listening to that up transistion and then when the time feels right ask for the trot and mean it! dont be agressive because causing pain will get you nowhere and will teach him that going forward means pain...so just be persistant and know what you want from him and when you get the trot do the same thing as the walk..get him thinking forward by going forward and keeping him in a frame to allow for impulsion and maybe a bit of two point might be nice too(he could be coldbacked-another thing to have the vet check for)and do walk trot transistions too and if you have to just work on walk and trotting but the importiant thing to remember is that you want to devlop everything starting at the walk and then when HE is ready move up to the trot and finally canter..horses learn progressivly and slowly..best of luck! =]

Answer 2

try getting him on a halter and lead under the bridle.

then get some1 2 lead u, when u ask for trott kick and then get them 2 pool, do this for the next week. then try going by yourself.

then try canter

Answer 3

Perhaps call his previous owner and talk to them about it  they could probably give you some advice on how they got him to move. (Maybe he's missing them?)He totally sounds like a sweetie and i agree, aggressive methods on horses are out.

Best I can offer then is persistance and patience  cheers and good luck.

Answer 4

SPURS!!!!!!

he needs to know that YOU are the BOSS he knows he dosent have to do what u ask him so he is simply not gonna do it he dont want to!!

and spurs arent mean or harsh just get a more rounded rowel (the thing u poke him with)

it wont hurt him!!!

and if he is just lazy then spurs will pick him up with out hurting him!!!!

Answer 5

Does he go on the long line? Have you had others up on him (Does he go for them)? Have you had a vet see him to rule out physical issues? Did you happen to see HOW his previous owner got him going?

Answer 6

what about spurs, have u ever tried that?, just wonderingm those work sometimes, unless u ride english, cuz i dont know if english people are allowed to use those, but try those, just dont kick too hard, especially the firdt time u kick him, just touch him a few times, c if he minds, then, if he doesnt, use them to trot, along with kissing and clicking with ur lips, and saying "trot" loud enough so he can hear, once ur in a trot, if u want to go faster, trot down a long flat stretch, then turn him around still trotting, and give him a good kick, most horses wanna go a little faster on the way back cuz they think they are going home, then turn around again, and keep doing that!!!

Answer 7

try join-up.

It was invented by Monty Roberts he has written some good books (they are probably at the local library).

Join up is a way of speaking to a horse in it's own language, sign language.

it is a way of gaining a horses trust,  so if he trusts you he might go faster for you.

Roberts devoted his whole life to horses (check his autobiography the man who listens to horses).

he has dealt with thousands of horses, so I'm sure he might have some good ideas in his books.

It might also be that he is somehow in pain, and moving faster than a walk is causing him pain. I have had a situation with one of my horses where it hurt it to trot on tarmac, for example. It could be that his tack is not a perfect fit, and is digging in. To see if he is is in pain, check to see if he is swishing his tail or acts like he is uncomfortable. If you do find this, get a vet to diagnose the problem.

There is another reason that I can think of, and that is that he may have had bad experience going faster than  a walk, for example someone may have asked him to canter on tarmac and he slipped. When things like that do happen, the memories often stick with the horse and make it scared of repeating the incident.

Answer 8

I would not give up.  Speed him up by asking for more and more.  Get him up into the bit and don't stop trying until he understands what you want.  Try using legs, body, seat and urging him on.  Let him know you want more! You will probably do more work than the horse, but don't give up!  I wish I were there to help.

Also, you could ask a Tennessee Walker trainer if you have one in your area.

Answer 9

I have the same problem with my TWH mare. I think she's a bit lazy. What I've found is that consistency is the key.  Start off in a walk. Give him a squeeze for the next gait, which for a TWH is the running walk. No response, cluck or smooch or other sound command, still no response, spank. And by spank I mean flip your reins or mecate lead rope across his shoulders (he'll see it more than feel it.) If you don't have split reins or mecate lead rope, cut a 3 foot length of rope and secure it to your saddle or even to your belt. Keep flipping it back and forth, increasing the pressure until he moves his feet. When he changes gait, immediately release the pressure, and chances are he'll  slow back down to a walk. Repeat with the squeeze, cluck, spank until he's back up to where you want him, never releasing the pressure until he changes gait. Do this as many times as necessary, he will eventually connect the three commands and require less pressure to change gaits and remain there until you ask him for something different. Patience and consistency will work  every time. :)

Answer 10

its all in how he was trained., you have to find what makes him go wheter it be a nudge in the runs, or a voice command