How do you stop a horse from jig joging?

Question

I have a horse, really nice to ride most the time. He tends to start jig joging( like prancing on the spot) and starts going backwards forwards left to right etc. and i dont no how to stop him from doing it. He suddenly gets really touchy with his mouth and breaks out in a instant sweat all over his body. When he starts this all i do is try n push him on and i get him to walk and trot in a big circles. Sometimes it works but only for a little while but usually he ends up stoping and wont move at all... No matter how hard i kick him, i dont use crops or spirrs on any of my horses, but i used a crop on him once and he did nothing n i hit him with it a good 2-3 times on the butt and sholder, but he just stood there.

If you have any ideas on how i could fix it. As soon as he starts it i basicly let go of the reins and use ALL leg to get him to move coz he is so touchy with his mouth once he starts.

Answer 1

I also agree it sounds like anxiety. The why is a bit harder to determine.  I would keep a journal to track the circumstances that the Jig occurs.  I would also have a trainer put your horse through its paces and see if he does the jig with her or him as well.  If possible I would video it, so you can see it yourself from the outside looking in.  You can also examine the activity more closely.

Good luck

Answer 2

Sounds like anxiety. Horses often "shut down" like that when they are presented with more than they think they can handle. Its important to remember when training high anxiety horses is that they put A LOT of pressure on themselves to do what you want so any pressure you put on him is twice as bad. I have a horse like this and I have found that the more I ride him the more stirred up he gets. But if I ride him and ask him for the hard stuff in the beginning remembering to pet him and coo to him a lot and then do very simple work later that I know is easy for him he won't shut down on me. High anxiety horses should not be ridden more than 15 minutes max at a time if you are actively training him, and any time you are on his back he is trying. Also I would look at trying to ride him more consistently horses can build up mental energy if they are not used often and then it sort of spills out all over the place when we least expect it. Even if you just lunge him the rest of the week do some turn arounds and moving away from pressure, etc to keep his brain active. But remember never punish him when he shuts down like that. These horses try really hard so needs lots of reassurance that they are doing the job right, then they don't get so frusturated and shut down. My horse wants to do things right so bad he will try to do everything I ever taught him, side pass, leg yield, back,  trot in place, all in the the name of trying to figure out what I want, if I continue to press he will balk and not move at all. When he starts that (because I failed to recognize the early signs, teeth chomping fliking ears, grunting while breathing) I completely relax my whole body and ask him to back, then I pet him really big and tell him good boy. Then I walk him off on a loose rein. Always finish with something positive with these horses as well, I swear mine will think about it all night if he had a bad ride, I know people say they don't think that way but I would bet money on it!

***When I say 15 minutes I mean actively training him, not just poking along on a trail.

Answer 3

First off, get him vetted. Maybe he's in pain.

If he's okay medically, go back to the ground. Maybe there's something you're doing specifically that's making him 'jig jog'. Lunge him and see if he still does this.

You say he's touchy with his mouth... is his bit too strong? Get a trainer to see if he needs a softer bit.

edit

The tricky thing about the internet is that I can't actually see your horse's behaviour. I'm sorry, but there's only so much I can do from my computer chair, my best advice would be to get a trainer out there to correct the problem. Sorry! :(

Answer 4

get a vet to check him over, and maybe get a horse chiropractor

Answer 5

He sounds sour. It also sounds like you are doing a lot of riding, it's possible he is just being sour. Sometimes you've got to let a horse be a horse. Give him a week off in a turnout. Then start back slow...maybe go on an easy trail ride. Positive reinforcement for going forward. Once you have his mind back...try the ring again. Flat work for a couple of days, and ease him back to jumping starting with small x rails.