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Discussion on Won't go
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New Member:
Cfilly
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 7:35 am:
I have a 10yr old paint gelding, given to me by a girlfriend going through a divorce, she used him 5 yrs as a trail horse, he was originally a cutter. He is a gentle giant (16.2) we have only started to ride him around the yard etc. He does good at first but then when he doesn't want to go anymore, he will stop and try to turn back to the barn. When you try to keep him going out he just starts backing up, you know towards the fence, trees or whatever. What do you do to keep him moving forward?}}
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Member:
Westks
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 9:07 am:
I am sorry to have to tell you this but you are going to have to take charge of this horse.
When he backs up towards anything instead of moving forward! Someone, if not you, needs to wear out his behind!
This horse already knows you are scared of him and if you are not a very very good rider you need to get a trainer to do this.
His reaction will be to do any or all of the things below:
Rear up , buck ,spin one direction quick then the other, run forward and backward and try to rub ya off. It has worked so far for him so when ya try to convince him with crop he is going to have his version of the ""shock and awe" campaign to scare you into giving up.
This is a well trained horse that has you right where he wants you.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 10:28 am:
Hi Chandra,
Janette is right and follow her advice. However, for another perspective you might try this from the ground first so you will know what his reaction could be and be prepared for it (i.e. trainer). He *could* be just testing you.
Do you have access to a round pen? Can you lunge him in different areas? What about walking him with another person that has a crop and ensuring he goes forward at those same places he's balked before?
I don't know much, but I do know that my ground relationship with my horse does carry over when I'm in the saddle. Maybe you need to get to know each other on the ground and let him know you want respect from him...in all aspects, respecting your space, etc.
Good Luck!!
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 10:33 am:
I totally agree with janette, he is just playing and taking advantage of you. A smart older horse will always jerk its rider around till he knows where he stands and what he can get away with. Sometimes its just worse or bigger antics than others. And right now he is the boss.
My mare does this to all timid riders. She wants to get a feel for the rider where the rider is mentally and if you are a little afraid she will act on that. One timid friend i have was out riding my horse one day. She said what a tyrant my mare is. HUH? she is just the sweetest thing imaginable... But, she solved the problem of my mare not wanting to go into the arena... Brandy just kept backing on her while she was trying to get her forward. So my friend outsmarted her by turning her around and backing her into the arena.... LOL... what a sight it was when Brandy realized she was outsmarted and was indeed in the arena. She has never given my friend a problem again.
Try outsmarting him first, then if it still isn't getting you forward then introduce the crop. See how he responds with it. If i use a crop on my girl she would throw a fit. So, try it on the ground first and see if one has been used before on him.
jojo
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Member:
Jerre
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 11:34 am:
Chandra, You can also make it very "difficult" for him to balk. If you're not a confident and skilled rider, get off and do this on the ground. (In fact, it would be best to establish all these moves on the ground before you confront the issue mounted -- get him to yield his forequarters, hindquarters, back him up, move him sideways, etc.)
So, next time he stalls, think "Fine, if you want to back or balk, we'll just stay around here and you can back up -- for 100 miles!" Or, get off and make him really use himself backing, sideways, yielding. Be assertive enough that he's crossing his legs and really moving -- it's harder for him than going forward, which is the point you're trying to make. It won't take long before he figures out that going the direction you originally asked is easier than "his idea." You may see him "get it" and he'll relax, DrOp his head, lick his lips. At this point, take off the pressure for a moment and then ask him to go forward.
These lateral movements may help you avoid the fight that using the crop to insist on forward might lead to. On the other hand, if he's really a wise old one, one swat, done fairly, might be all it takes.
Let us know how it goes,
Jerre
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Member:
Westks
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 11:43 am:
I would be willing to bet this horse doesn't do this while being led.
THE WORST thing you could do is get off when he starts it!
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Member:
Jerre
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 12:02 pm:
Janette, I agree, it would be bad to get off and GIVE UP and let him get his way. BUT, if you get off (only if this gives you more control) AND make him really, really work, it sends a much different message to him. It's not "you win," it's "OK, stay here and work your butt off." It would be most effective to do this while mounted, but it takes skill and confidence and the willingness and ability to stick with it if he does go through the evasions you listed.
What I'm suggesting is some version of a sideways approach to his evasion. Rather than tackling it head on, make the alternative harder for him than going forward, and maybe avoid getting into a straight-on fight about it. The crop on the butt will work, no doubt about it, but it's easy to get aggressive in that mode and things can escalate.
It would be a lot easier to decide if we could all stand around and watch it happening, wouldn't it?
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Member:
Gillb
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 12:20 pm:
My horse did not do the backing up but he had a tendency to rear, and throw himself around, all fours off the ground like a rodeo horse. One thing that really worked for me - but I stress you need to be sure of your ability to stay on - was 'milling' him round and round many times. By this I mean I pulled his head almost round to my foot and made him go in tight circles. When I stopped it seemed to shock him into submission and he went forwards, no problem! I only ever had to do this twice and he has never pulled that trick on me again.
It does depend on whether you feel able to cope with this and maybe the backing up/lateral moves would work better for you if you are unsure.
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Member:
Jerre
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Posted on Monday, Nov 17, 2003 - 12:53 pm:
Gill, your technique can be very effective -- by causing the horse to yield its hindquarters, crossing its hind legs as you "mill round" you disengage him. When his hind legs are crossing over he can't run off or rear. Yielding his hq is harder work than going forward, and also gets him thinking. It's the kind of lateral work I was talking about, and it great done mounted (but can also be done from the ground). Chandra, if you try this, make sure to lock your inside hand against your thigh, and let the outside rein be loose. Get him moving his hind legs, don't let him plant them and spin around in front.
Keep breathing, don't get angry, and release when you feel him give and soften his neck.
As Gill has experienced, when you then offer him the option of going forward, he's willing to oblige you.
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Member:
Cfilly
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2003 - 7:57 pm:
Thanks to everyone for all the great advice! Now if it ever stops raining here, I will go and try some of these suggetions. 
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Member:
Sspete
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Posted on Sunday, Apr 11, 2004 - 12:09 am:
I have this problem with my 7 yo arab/walker. We just keep backing up till he is tired of it, I only backed him about 20 feet and he was willing to proceed... only have this 'problem' in unfamilular territory once on a ride now and then.
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 5:39 pm:
Sheri,
I’d flex and hold his head to either side, nose to your foot and continue to give the forward cue. Backing flexed is difficult but it is also a good softening exercise. Once he even tries going forward stop the forward cue, relax the flex but move him in that circle forward one or two circles. Come out of the circle in the direction you want to go without stopping. If he stops and wants to back just start all over but I’d switch sides.
I also make the forward cue a bit annoying for him. I like a longer split rein that I can swing back and forth popping it against my boot top. Of course I stop all forward cues at the slightest try at first, then a step, and finally full forward movement.
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 5:44 pm:
Exactly . . . . worked wonderfully with a spooky Arabian mare that I saved from the meat man . . . Her favorite trick was to back up at 30 miles an hour whenever she saw something "scary" in front of her.
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