Horse training question - reining/western pleasure - Halfinger?

Question

I just got a Haffie in for training for 60 days to "polish" him up for show. I have known this Haffie for a while now and he has the same personality of my personal Haffie. STUBBORN. He is really sweet and great with kids. Just a overall GREAT horse. The only thing that is "wrong" is the "abnormally stubborn - i am going to do what i want to do when i want to do it".. Anyways...

I am taking the horse in for training for 60 days and he is a 12yr old that has always had that streak in him and has gotten away with a lot of things with his owner. I am trying to work on his headset in the lope and have him be consistent in the lope.

What i mean by consistent, is that he continues his "lope" everytime he is in the lope. You ask for the lope for 10 strides. then jog him. then lope him for another 10 strides; he will be either faster or slower than he just loped at.

Also, he knows his lead changes and is very solid in the simple lead changes. His owner really wants me to work with h

Answer 1

I have found that with stubborn horses it can be a lack of respect for the rider.  You may want to try some long lining and work him at the canter both directions and get him really really comfortable and consistent on the long lines before getting on his back.  It sounds like a flying lead change may be a little too advanced for him right now. A good solid flying change is a really advanced move and the horse has to be really solid in its canter both directions before it can move on like that. OR circles...lots and lots of circles. Let him canter on the wrong lead until he changes to force him to swap and keep asking him for the lead change until he does it, and then the moment he gives it to you let him canter on his own for a minute, break him to a trot, and do it again.  When I trained my horse to do lead changes, he couldn't do more than one or so at a time before taking a "break". GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 2

First of all, don't let him get away with anything. Second, It can sometimes do alot of good to go on a trail ride. Horses often get bored of going into the same old arena every day and doing the same old thing. Also, if he wants to do something, let him do it, but make him OVER do it. If he wants to hold his head high then make him hold his head higher that he wanted to and for longer. Soon he will realize it is actually more comfortable lowered. If he wants to go to one part of the arena, fine, but make him work hard when he gets there. As for the consistency in speed, lope him as you are for 10 strides or less but then bring him to a stop. Then lope him again and stop him. Repeat this. eventually he will be consistently slow at the lope. When he misbehaves or gets stubborn, make him back up about 5 strides or more. Groundwork will also help. You need to gain his respect on the ground before you get it in the saddle.