How do I get my horse to love running fast?

Question

Ok, my horse is really lazy. He doesn't like to go. I can get him into a trot real easy but getting him into a lope is hard. He will go but not for very long. Even when I try running barrels its hard to get him to go into a full out speed. He will do it running back from the last barrel but going to them he wont. I dont know if I should use spurs or not. I can kick him forever and he just seems not to care. He likes to be lazy and hates work. So how can I get him to go into a lope or even better a full speed very easily or with him wanting to? I've tried running him in an open field and he still doesn't really seem to want to run. I even put him on a new feed that should help but I'll have to find out later. I know he can be fast if he would just go when I tell him to. Please give me any ideas that I can do.

Answer 1

Your horse isn't suited to barrels...I doubt he ever will be from your description. Consider selling him and purchasing a horse that want to do it. Spurs and whips won't change his attitude about running.

Answer 2

It is his personality.  He likes to be lazy.  Don't think you can change it.

Answer 3

Some horses just do not enjoy running fast. Also it sounds like maybe you've kicked him so much that he's become deadened to it so now just ignores it. You should not just violently kick him to get him into a canter/lope. you need to teach him the specific cues to canter for each lead and work on lots of transitions. Start him out on the lunge line and teach him to canter from a verbal command. When he's doing that well then move back to undersaddle and start over. You need to lay off on his sides, start carrying a riding bat and use it to cue him until he catches onto the softer leg cues.

A horses sides are like their mouth, you always want to keep it as soft and sensitive as possible, always try to use the least pressure possible to get a response. When working him at home on the barrel pattern, don't ask for for speed, just trot through the pattern then work up to lope enough to get the lead changes down, only ask for full speed when actually competing or they get burned out quickly and resent it.

Answer 4

He may be giving you all he has and that's it.If he is sound and fit. He could be just plain sour.Try riding him in a relaxed way for awhile and skip the barrels,just to give him a break.a little change of pace may do the trick,Sounds like he is meant to be a easy going trail horse and to some people that would make him worth his weight in gold.You can't force a horse to be anything other than what he is.Speed doesn't come in a bag of feed or supplement.

Answer 5

Never give up. Use a crop(not a whip), and leg force and ask for that canter like there was no tomorrow. Horses are smart and as soon as they think they can get away with something they don't want to do, there not gonna do it. Your never gonna get your horse to love to work, It is already hard drived in his head that he wants to be lazy, but you can teach your horse to obey you if he likes it or not. I rode the laziet trail horse ever. Just like your horse he was stubborn and smart. I was getting him to canter on a regular basis easy after lots of work, then one day I was pretty tired while riding him and I asked him to canter, he didn't do it right away so I said "forget this, I'm tired" , and then stop asking for the canter. Bad move, I had to re- train him to canter again, because I let him see that I would give up(when I was tired). Don't let your horse see that

Answer 6

He might not like galloping. Just because he's bred to do something, doesn't mean he has to like it. Just like if both your parents were Olympic swimmers, does that mean that you have to love swimming and have to be a great swimmer? NO! You can hate swimming for all anyone cares, and horses can hate running. You might consider selling him and getting a horse who loves running barrells.

Answer 7

My suggestion would to be to not ever ask him to run without a purpose.  What I mean by that, he should have a lot of work, slow work, that teaches him to be responsive to your cues...,slow down cues and speed up cues....Just running him aimlessly in a field does nothing but tire him out...get out on some trails, build up his muscles that will allow him to have some speed, teach him the barrel pattern at a walk, then a trot, slowing to a walk around the barrels...then a slow canter to the barrels and break to a trot around the barrels...so that he gets the idea that speed is for in between the barrels, and to rate himself going into the barrels.  The more that you can stay out of his face, the more that he will use his head and his speed....I would also stop kicking him...it only deadens his sides...carry a quirt or tie a short length of lariat rope on your saddle horn, to use only when you want speed, normally just returning from the last barrel.  Remember to add appropriate verbal cues to reinforce your commands, be consistent with them...as the more that you do that, the less you have to be in his face or whipping him or urging him on...I would also make sure that he has a high fat content diet along with a good quality hay...He should have hay in front of him 24/7.  In the long run, sometimes you simply cannot make a lazy horse run...they have to want to.

Answer 8

Your horse can run fast, he just knows you won't make him do it. Get a bat and don't stop using it until he's doing what you want him to. Make sure to ask with leg pressure first, then spur then bat! Pretty soon, he'll learn that if he doesn't respond to your leg pressure the bat's coming soon. Be firm as neccessary. He's walking (not running! haha) all over you. Be the boss but don't just sit and beat your horse either. Good luck!