My horse wont trot for me and he has no injurys or anything hes just lazy any ideas?

Question

He also is very spooky when the hometown fair is in town like the rides and the jingles on the heavy horse wagons

Answer 1

1/2 gallon of oats twice a day; that will perk him up.

Answer 2

maybe he's stubborn

Answer 3

use a crop/whip

Answer 4

Your horse sounds like he has a respect issue.  In a horse herd, there is an alpha horse, and a beta horse.  Right now, you are the beta horse, which means he is the leader of the herd.  You need to be alpha, which means you must have his respect. This can only be attained by time, and consistent, long, hard training sessions.  Longe him instead of riding him for a few days.  Start at a walk.  Ask him to trot with a voice command and soft whip cue, and if he doesn't listen (she probably wont), slap him with your dressage whip.  He should pick up a trot or canter right away.  If not, slap again.  If he absolutely will not trot, you need better ammo.  Find something that is harder to ignore than a dressage whip.  If he does trot, keep him going for one or two circles and then let him walk.  Repeat until he trots with a voice command/soft whip cue.  It should not take that long.  He needs to know that you are serious about controlling him, and that you will follow through if he does not listen.  This groundwork will carry through in the saddle, and if not, bring a crop.  Once you get his respect (you can move his feet back, forward, left, right, and make him stand still), his problems will go away by themselves.  Longe him some every day before you ride, to remind him that you are in charge.

Answer 5

he could have a rock in his hoof, or maybe a part of the saddle is digging into his skin.

Answer 6

does he feel lazy? or does he feel like he has energy and just wont go?

if he is feeling lazy (like when its hot out im sure you know how it feels to have a lazy horse underneath you) you will need to carry a crop or a dressage whip and give him a firm smack when you ask with your leg. if he doesn't go, smack a little harder, if he STILL isn't going (don't get into a beat fest!!!) pop him onto the lounge line and really make sure he isn't lame.

if he seems like he has lots of energy "spooky" and just wont go, it might be that you are holding onto him, perhaps you are nervous at the prospect of him spooking? i don't know! but make sure you let go of his mouth when you ask, don't worry he wont go anywhere, at this point ANY forward movement is good (even if he canters away praise him just let him know its good that he is being responsive to your leg)

if you have an area to work away from the fair sounds, work there first and get him responsive to you legs. (quick tap when you squeeze, if he goes PAT HIM!)

as for the spooking, don't tackle that until you get him responding to your aids. when he is being good, bring something TO him, have someone jingle bells and so on, then bring him near to fair and hand walk him around, let him take a good look at the objects and pet him, let him know he is safe and you will take care of him. if he starts to spook, talk to him (louder than what ever sound he is shying from) and circle him near it. just keep talking to him and force yourself to relax in the saddle, even if you are scared or worried make your muscles relax because when he feels you relax he will understand there is nothing to worry about!!

good luck! and if all else fails! call in a trainer!

Answer 7

for the laziness....a crop or some english spurs (they are milder than western spurs). be consistant on him and he'll learn. the spookiness may be from a traumatic event in his life around those noises.

Answer 8

p

Answer 9

u can feed him 1/2 a cup of alfalfa cubes a half hour b4 u ride... if u need u can wear spurs & carry a crop... 2 wake him up just give him a tap on the shoulder (not a smack he didnt do nething bad), if that dosnt work give him a tap behind ur leg... u can also get those apple strips that u put on the bit that will keep him occupied so he dosnt get bored & stop responding 2 u

Answer 10

get another one

Answer 11

Walk him past everything if you can and reasure him. Get a crop or whip and kick his little butt off. Make it uncomfortable to not listen to you and make it easy for him to obey.

Answer 12

It would first be helpful to know how old your horse is;  however, without that information, let me suggest you work with him in an enclosed area on the things that seem scary to him.  I have placed aluminum cans on the ground, plastic bags on fences, and any of those other frightening things where my horse has to look at them each day.  After a few days  you can remove items your horse seems to have gotten used to.  Also, trotting him in an enclosed area, such as a round pen, may be helpful in encouraging him to move when you tell him to.

Answer 13

smack him on the butt with a crop