How to encourage a lazy horse to go forwards?!

Question

I've been riding for quite a few years, but I havent really had much experience with different types of horses. I used to share a horse before the owners moved away. I'm currently helping at my local riding school, and one of the horses I'm riding is really REALLY lazy! I don't like using my whip all the time but he just doesn't listen to my leg aids...help please?

Answer 1

If he's a riding school horse he might be suffering from boredom and if he's been ridden by lots of beginners he might be dead to the leg. First step might be to try and do some different things with him and see if you can awaken some interest. You could try taking him out on a fast hack with some other horses who are more forward going or try him with some poles/small jumps if he is not used to doing these sort of things on a regular basis. You shouldn't use spurs on a horse that's not yours without the owner's permission - not everyone is happy for them to be used.

I used to ride a cob who got stale through having too many beginners - lots of forest hacks, cantering in open spaces and a bit of cross country jumping made him come alive and enjoy his work again.

Answer 2

I wouldn't use spurs unless he's used to them. I've had horses that went crazy by the feel of them. Maybe talk to someone about it and see if you can get more grain in his diet. That usually perks my horses right up. My other opinion is don't use a wip! I NEVER hit my horses. And if I ever do use spurs I use the most harmless ones and I just let the horse know that their there and they listen.

Answer 3

Well the best way (that i know) to wake a horse up is using a crop, and im not saying beat the c**p out of him, im saying a little tap on the sholder when he gets of task. Another thing that can help is adding some different things to your warm up. You can try lots of circles, reversing, figure 8's, and just stuff that might wake him up and get his attention, dont forget stopping and backing in various places in the ring.

Good luck and have fun, and be safe!

Answer 4

SQUEEZE  with the thighs and kick with your upper leg! if you dont want to use a whip get someone to stand in the arena with and let them use a lunging whip it worked for me dont let them hit the horse just whip it behind them hope this works!!!

Answer 5

I wouldn't resort to spurs or crops because as someone said horses will become desensitised to them. Try using your seat better to urge him on and really squeeze, not just kick. Also really use your voice. A lot of riding school horses respond to voice commands as they're used to the teacher shouting out.

Answer 6

I have an extremely lazy horse too.  and i get so frustrated.  I use spurs but sometimes i need a little more encouragment to open him up.  Try opening up your pelvic area and sitting back with lots of leg. usually when i sit forward he slows down because that is where my weight is.  Try focusing on his hinquarters and equal out his weight. he will probably feel alot better too.   Hope this helps!

Answer 7

Dangle a carrot???!!!

Answer 8

at the end of riding horses of this type you will have stronger leg muscles. other aids to use would be clicking, voice commands and use of whip behind your leg to stress your intention of going forward. also spurs can be used, but need to be used correctly.  i would be surprised if spurs were actually allowed to be used on riding school ponies.  ask the riding instructor what you should do as they know the pony better than you.   big kicks don't look good but sometimes are needed.  

happy riding.   don't ride him  every time????

Answer 9

my horse is also really lazy i use a kick kick smack with her and after a while she got the idea that if she didnt go she got smacked she now goes really well

Answer 10

The secret is to ask him as little as possible. By kicking all the time he thinks that's normal and takes no notice (like if you shout all the time people don't care but if you're quiet and then shout people really notice 0 same principle). so ask normally and if he doesn't go use your legs really strongly (little blunt spurs would help and won't do him any harm) or just give him a bit of a pony club kick! Then as soon as he moves forward take your legs away. When he slows down use your legs again. You need to get an instant response and if he doesn't then really use your legs strongly and back it up with a tap of your whip. Just make sure you give when he does. Also, do lots of transitions, walk to trot to canter all the time so he never knows what you're going to ask him - keeps him alert. And walk to canter transitions are really good to get them moving on. Good luck!

ps if you're worried about using spurs, do it in a lesson first

Answer 11

I suggest spurs if you are ready (legs don't flop, toes pointed forward and not out, don't spook and grip with your heels, etc.)

Answer 12

Spurs is a good idea

Answer 13

Can you tell me what is his feeding program?

Is he getting enough vitamins?

I once thought I had a lazy horse, but when I switched her feed to Senior Horse Feed, meant for older Horses. It picked her spirit right up! Now she begs to ride.

If he is truly lazy, he could also be testing you. Can you ride him outside the school, and make riding interesting to him?

As riding down the road, and letting him see different surroundings.

Or try Julies web-Site for a flag that helps a horse move forward, and wake him up.

Here is her Link.

http://www.juliegoodnight.com/q&a.php

Perhaps instead of being lazy, could he just be bored?

I would start with his feeding, and make sure there is nothing wrong with this Horse, such as an illness.

I won't use any spurs, but you can also make a flag it's like a crop with yellow plastic on the end. I have never bought one, but it will prabally do the Job.

Good Luck on your Horse!

Answer 14

Don't use spurs unless you have a lot of experience with them--I tried, just nudged my gelding a little, and he started bucking like crazy. Just tap him a couple of times on the butt with a riding crop. If he doesn't move, tap a little harder. Only smack if he has disobeyed you in a dangerous way, like bucking or rearing. I've been doing this, and now I can barely stop my horse. He just loves to run! This should work for you, too.

Answer 15

spurs are the best but if u have never used them u should ask the ppl who own him and explain.

my dr instructor is at advanced level dr and with my horse who doesnt go forwards i do alot of very sharp and quick transitions every few strides i.e walk then 4 of trot back to walk trot walk etc! i will work eventually and with get the horse listening.

u dont have to use ur whip all the time but give him a wack with hand off rein and behind ur leg to tell him whos boss! he should get the idea! and also using whip to much makes the horse resistrant to it

good luck!

x*x

Answer 16

Try using a set of spurs, but learn how to use them properly before getting on the horse.  There is no need to gouge the horse, which is a common misconception amongst people who have never used spurs.

Answer 17

if you resort to a crop or spurs, the horse will just become desensitized to them, and eventually just listen to them as well as he is listening to your legs now. i had a lazy horse come to my place this winter for me to wake him up a bit, and i used a Clinton Anderson method with him that worked wonders. outfit your horse in a plain snaffle with no leverage, dont use spurs, and carry a short riding crop (a jumping bat works better, the leather popper at the end gets a better reaction with a lighter smack). mount, and stand still. squeeze lightly (LIGHTLY) with your legs to tell him to move off. if he doesnt respond, cluck and squeeze a bit harder. if he still doesnt do anyhting, smack him with the crop (enough for him to just jump a little bit, and really energize his feet into a fast walk). praise him and tell him what a good boy he is. stop him and do it again. repeat this until he easily moves off your legs without the crop. he'll understand that it's just easier to move off your light squeezes, because he'll know that the crop is coming. then repeat at the walk, telling him to break into an energetic trot. once he easily goes into a walk and trot with no crop, do it at the trot into a canter. he'll understand that it's in his best interest to move off your leg before the crop comes. i did this with my assignment this winter (an impossibly lazy kid's paint) and it did wonders with him.

just as a clarification: when i say "jumping bat", i dont mean a baseball bat type thing. =] i mean a short, thick crop with leather folded in half over the end to make a popper. just making sure that people dont think i beat my horses with whiffle bats! xD

Answer 18

Get a crop and tap their shoulder, and you have to constantly be excited, my arab horse is like that, just get their attention. Spurs may make them buck. My really lazy arab actually started bucking when spurs were used and would not behave either.