Please read i need help?

Question

I everyone, i have just started riding for a lady and i will be entreing shows and doing pony club ect. I am having trouble getting the horse to move forward. She is a 8 year old australian stock pony x something, she is a chestnut i love her but, When im in the dressage arena with her daughter scarlet she is 13. I give her a kick (well a squeeze) and she will go into a trot(a very slow one) then slow down and stop. I can also not get her to canter, it is very weird. I am a very experienced and a confident rider and i have tried stuff and non of it work what can i do? PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

after you know there is nothing wrong(aka have the vet and farrier check her out) try lunging her to see if she will go on the lunge line. Then put a rider on her on the lunge line, and the lunge whip will keep her going.

Make sure you have some contact, but not  pulling back. use a dressage whip and, tho it sounds kinda mean, you aren't gonna hurt her, don't be afraid to smack her. Literally reach the whip back and hit her butt. If that doesn't help, or you are against giving her a good smack(once again, you will not hurt her.),  hit your own leg, where your boot/ half chap is(this means wearing tall boots or half chaps). It'll be a whip hitting sound and the movement should help too.

Make sure you are relaxed, and that you DON'T squeeze with your thighs. calves squeeze=GO! thigh squeeze=STOP!

Good Luck!!

Answer 2

hey, its probably this, you might not even realise it,

when you squeeze/kick her on you get tense and put your hands up and back, so the horse gets confused and doesnt know what to do...

Answer 3

reschool her? or she could be confused with what you are trying to do with her.

if it is not these things, she could just be trying it on.

Answer 4

Your reins may be to tight. Your bit may be to harsh. Or you could try a crop! Or have someone else in the arena with you using the whip behind you! Hope I helped!

Answer 5

maybe play games with the horse and bond with it and then it will be mroe responsivbe to you

xxxx

Answer 6

maybe just squeeze and squeeze and tell her to trot on with a firm voice or if that doesn't work maybe grab a whip and wave it every time she slows down and even give her a kick

we had a horse that would do the same thing but we tried this and it worked if you dont have a whip just walk her around the arena then tell her to trot, every time she slows down tell her to trot on with legs on and maybe even a kick or two till she gets up.

or even maybe get scarlet to try if that works ask her how she does other than that have a try dont get scared or nasty just with a firm voice tell her to trot on.

and when she trots for one hole

LONG side give her lots of praise and be overboard on it..

HAVE FUN...

Answer 7

Oh joy, a slow horse. I'm training one of these, and they can be so frustrating.

First off: this is a 1200 pound animal. She won't be offended if you karate chop her. You need to KICK. If she doesn't listen, get out the ol' dressage whip and give her a swat. She needs to understand that YOU are the boss and YOU will determine what speed you go at. Be assertive, but not mean.

Remember, always go 1. Voice 2. Legs 3. Artificial Aids.

You also need to get her attention. Instead of just going around in cicles, do serpentines, circles, go on the diagonal, anything that's irregular that you can think of!

I know I sound like I'm being harsh, but if she's not listening you need to be firm. Again, FIRM BUT NOT MEAN.

Before though, you need to make sure she's in appropriate shape to be doing work. Is there a medical reason why she can't go forward?

Good luck, email me if you need more help. :)

Answer 8

I agree with Meesha S about having a vet check her out. If you are consistently having a problem with her moving forward and have ruled out environment, tack, company.... I would make sure there is nothing wrong medically.

Answer 9

I would make sure you are under a professional trainer and get a vet in to make sure her back  is in line and stuff. :)

Answer 10

when you give up the horse will think that she can get away with anything keep your leg on her the whole time don't give up

she'll soon get tired of playing up

she's still young so there is no reason for her to be slow

unless she is ill or lame

Answer 11

Try a dressage whip and just having it there should make her move forward.

If not, a slight tap should get the job done.

Answer 12

sounds also like you have a stubborn horse haha fun fun

you just have to keep asking and telling  your horse maybe your horse is out of shape? hmm? why does your horse not want to trot? because she is being stubborn? or because she doesn't know what your asking? or because something else?

Answer 13

after the obv. checking of teeth, back and tack, and maybe her legs for movement, and the bit is correct type/size for her, and she has enough energy from food.

getting down the buisness of laziness - my old pony was very very lazy,and did exactly this, my instructor helped me by giving him a long squeeze release, and asking with voice. If he didn't respond, I'd give him a small kick, and then whip. Obv. not beat him up, just one smart tap on bum or shoulder.

Also, which worked brilliant for me is just do an "annoying tap" with the whip on the shoulder. Just gentle tap tap tap and as soon as they start trotting stop the tapping and praise.  

Have you tried doing these in the field and then moving into the school?  Also bareback, so you can get more of a feel of her.

Another thing is honey is brilliant balancing. It can re energise lazy ponies and calm down excitable ones. Try putting a tablespoon of clear honey in the feed.

I hope this helps and good luck! =]

Answer 14

Get her checked for back, teeth and saddle first to be sure there is nothing there affecting her then if not then it is schooling and lots of it.  Lots of transitions especially halt to trot and lots of changes of direction to keep her attention.

Does she lunge?  If so then you could try getting someone to lunge her with you on her so that the lunge aids can be given at the same time as you giving the aids on top.  This will help the horse to understand what is being asked.

Answer 15

Once you have had her back, teeth, feet and tack checked to make sure nothing is physically wrong, you need to add the physcological issue - speak to the owner or previous rider and see if this is normal for her? Has something happened to make her unhappy in her riding? Horses often become 'dead to the leg' when riders nag them and nag them. Carry a schooling whip and wear spurs (Start with comb edge ones). Give her a squeeze, if she does not respond, give her a sharp kick (not a boot, just a sharp "hey! move!") and if that doesn't work, a sharp flick across the quarters with the schooling whip accompanying another sharp kick. Do alot of transition work with her, making sure she does what you want when you want, not ten strides after. You need to work on sensetizing her again, she sounds like she's just switched off. Be consistent - only ever ask her "nicely" once, then ask very firmly, then tell her off with a smack and kick to say "I said move!!" With time, she will learn that she can't get away with ignoring you. When she is trotting, keep her trot active - keep the leg on and give her the occasional flick with the schooling whip (don't overuse it though or she will switch off to this too). But don't nag, if you ask her twice and she doesn't listen - flick her with the whip.

Answer 16

When I was younger I had a horse that put me in the same predicament as you... My grandpa said he was like a bicycle "when I stopped peddaling he stopped moving" wasn't funny at the time. any way I ride western so I had long split reins and I would just pick them up to where he could see them or throw them out to the side and he would pick up the pace nicely. My little sister held a stick about 2 ft long and he did just fine. It was a nice for visual motivation. But be careful if your horse is kinda jumpy and you try that trick he might bolt out from under you.