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Discussion on Just Started 3 YO Friesian Sporthorse that Doesn't Want to Move Out!
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Member:
Smorton
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Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - 2:37 pm:
I have a question on how to approach my just started (ridden a handful of times) sporthorse. He hasn't offered to buck, kick, rear or anything until yesterday when he got a little light in his front "loafers" when I asked him to move out for me. He doesn't want to walk at a normal pace or trot/ keep trotting. I don't want to start a fight with him and I did carry a dressage whip to reinforce my leg (I didn't crack him with it, just taps to get him to understand the leg meant move out). He really is JUST learning everything, but I need to be able to keep him moving and get him to walk and trot (which is our focus until we can do it really good!) without stopping on me or making it so hard that I work up a sweat just trying to get him to walk around the arena in less than 10 minutes! But at the same time, I want to keep him quiet and not fight with him. Anyone have any kind of advice that might help? Thanks so much'!!!!!!
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 - 6:28 pm:
Ground work, ground work, and also add some more....ground work. Time to get the lunge line and lunge whi...uhhh wand (for the PC crowd, an you know what the P stands for) out.
DrO
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 7:24 am:
If he's anything like my 3 yr old Sport Horse, I don't think you want to get in a fight while riding him. Too big, thick neck, etc.
I am not riding my Sport horse yet, but I am having the same problems with another gelding I have. He's LAZY and keeps stopping. I always start out doing ground work. We review moving back, moving the rear over, and moving out when I ask for direction. I point where to go, and he'd better go like NOW. When mounted, I don't kick, or tap with a whip. I really move around on top of him, flap my reins, a real get moving encouragement on my part. Usually this annoys him enough he so that he moves!! This guy has been a bucker so we are starting at square one, and I don't want to get him thinking about bucking again.
I also spent alot of time flexing his head to the side, as well as getting him to move away from my leg and turn on the forhand. I find that if I get on him and we do some circles that way, we've got some energy going already then I just straighten out and let him walk. I might add, I am doing this all with a rope halter.
I find on the lazy horses, which frustrate me cuz I know Arabs better and they go, go, go...you have to do the ground work and be sure not to fight while mounted cuz these horses will sometimes turn into buckers or rearers because the don't understand what you are asking. By doing alot of ground work, and mounted circles, you make sure you don't do nothing to their mouth except a pull to the side, never straight back.
I like my horse to know voice commands also. "Walk, Trot, Whoa, Over, and Back". Taught from the ground really helps when asking mounted.
Good luck!!
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 7:27 am:
BTW, Shannon the reason I am not riding my Friesian Sport horse yet is because he is lame after a major bucking incident after I put the saddle on him the first time. After seeing how well he could buck, we do NOT want to repeat that while I am on his back!!!! And he was being a real good boy doing his ground work.
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Member:
Miamoo
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Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 11:07 am:
Often it is not just lazy, but simply confused. When horses are first being ridden they sometimes just don't understand what is being asked and react by not wanting to go. If you can get another horse in the arena for them to follow until they get the picture it sometimes helps.
Ella 
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Member:
Chrism
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Posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 5:58 pm:
Can you have a ground person that can reinforce "forward" by flicking the lunge whip?
After a bit, they won't be necessary.
Also, do you lunge him prior to riding? Does he have voice cues for forward? When you ask him to go forward, do you praise him as he is going foward? He may not really get the idea of leg/go and tap with whip/go - often they are stoic about being smacked and just accept it! Voice cues can help you here. Leg, voice, tap, go, praise, keep going.
Finally, do LOTS of forward trot, change of direction, big figures, etc. Keep his mind busy thinking forward. If you get desparate for "go" have a friend ride a lead horse to follow. Amazing how they will follow one another. Then you can associate the aids for go with going.
BTW, you have to put his buttons on. Don't assume he has any idea that he knows what you are asking. Praise for any try that is a response to you.
Cheers.
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Member:
Chohler
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Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2005 - 1:59 pm:
Precursor ground work make sure horse understands you control his legs.
young horses are unsure about forward movement have a tendency to want to crow hop, especialy at the trot or canter. Feels huge but is nothing significant, hang on move your horse out. Repetition builds confidence. Speed is a flight response and horses need to be made confident that they aren't fleeing from danger.
Make sure he understands and can lunge or go around in a round pen at the speeds you ask with appropriate cues, If they have this good I do the first couple of rides on a lunge line with a helper ask for forward motion and the helper reinforces if needed if your horse excels at this walk, trot etc. then go without the line. I still keep a helper around for the stuborn ones.
Repetition builds their confidence at speeds greater than a walk.
Make sure your body is moving forward and saying go forward, don't let your body slow or anticipate.
for those that don't want to slow I disengage the hip and flex them to a stop. I do repetitive circles ask horse to move out at speed asked for and then disengage and flex to a stop. I do this for about 10 minutes for at least the first 10 sessions with green horses. Also make sure your body says stop and that your not actually hanging on to the horse and asking for go.
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