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  Discussion on Moving off Leg Pressure Question
Author Message
Member:
Smorton

Posted on Monday, Nov 14, 2005 - 2:01 pm:

Hello!

I have a 3 year old Friesian sporthorse who is giving me some trouble recently. He has decided he wants to rear rather than move forward off my leg. He does it at the walk, trot - I haven't even attempted the canter since he started this. I have done several "experiments" to see what he is having a problem with including bitting him up and driving him from the ground, having his saddle checked to be sure it fits correctly by a professional, etc. The results of my experiement were basically verified last night when I worked him (bitted up) and then decided to ride him bare back to cool him out and work on moving off my leg pressure. Well I pressed with my right calf on his side and he did this wierd spin thing a couple of times - I thought he was just trying to misbehave and be with the other horses in the arena so we went to the center to do some serpentines and work on moving off my leg and the minute I did it again, he reared on me. I can't believe I stayed on but I did! My bareback skills leave a lot to desire. :-) It was when I pressed on his side with my leg and asked him to move off. He also does it when I tap him with my crop but at the time I wasn't sure if it was something other than the request to move forward but now I am sure that is what it is.

I have never had a horse that doesn't want to move off your leg and protests by rearing so I am looking for advice that anyone might have for me. I have done lots of ground work and can get him to move off my hand pressure right where my leg would be without any trouble so no I just need to figure out how to transfer that to the saddle.

Thanks in advance!
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Monday, Nov 14, 2005 - 3:18 pm:

Shannon, he may have pain in that spot. Maybe your legs are stronger than you think?
Do you have a verbal cue for "move?" Try that and see if you get the same rearing response.

I did have one polo horse that would kick up if I squeezed her when she was losing momentum . . . The owner said she only did it with "strong" squeezes, and that I must have pretty strong legs, so I tried to be aware of just giving her the slightest touch . . . which is better anyway.
Member:
Brandi

Posted on Monday, Nov 14, 2005 - 10:12 pm:

I was right along with Holly thinking pain, maybe ulcers, but if he's okay with your hands, it might not be pain--at least not in that one spot. It could be pain from another area--consider how your seat bones apply different pressure as you apply your leg. Not sure, because he reacted both bareback and with a saddle, so that would make me think that if it's possibly back pain, he's got a LOT of it.
Just a thought, good luck.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 15, 2005 - 9:11 am:

Yes you certainly want to check for pain but 98% of the time in a 3 year old horse this is a training issue and Horseadvice.com is full of such stories for horses up to 6 years of age where the problem seems to all but disappear. You have to remember that at 3, even if you worked the fellow very hard, he can't have had that much ground work. I recommend backing up a step and reinforcing all the other cues for moving forward including a light tap if there is delay in response, before you do this from his back. If you continue to get the rearing response consider professional training help.
DrO
Member:
Green007

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 15, 2005 - 10:13 am:

Like Dr O says, do things in this order:

1) Patience
2) Go back a step in training
3) Patience
4) Get help from a more experienced rider if it scares you too much or things seem to be regressing rapidly, and last but not least
5)Patience.

They are like human children. You can tell them over and over to not go to the bathroom in their pants when they are 1.5 years old, but somehow when they are 12 years old, it is all resolved to the point where you forget it was ever a problem.
Member:
Dtranch

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 15, 2005 - 10:39 am:

Ditto Dr. O .... Rule out physical first, 90% of time it is training. I train many young horses and one thing I can promise you is that they will test you and see just what they have to do, and what they really don't have to do. In most cases, the rearing is a simple "I don't want to do this" I don't punish the rearing, I simply put them to work. As mentioned, the circle and serpentine exercises are the most effective method (for me) to get the horses attention and focus back on me. Work a little, then ask for forward off leg again. If he rears, go right back to work. And I mean work. The most common mistake I see, is letting the horse lazily turn around in circles, not really paying attention to anything until the rider lets them stop. I work them hard in circles both directions, releasing hind quarters, serpentine, and flexes. Then I will let them walk out, and ask again. In most cases, two or three times and problem disappears. This is true in whatever you may be asking for .... As Debbie said, usually when a problem occurs, go back in training and be patient. A common error, even for professionals is getting ahead of yourself, and the horse. This is especially true for those "fast learners". They seem to be doing so well, that we skip important basic handling or control exercises thinking they are ready for more advanced work. In my experience, I will inevitably have to return to those basics. If you are not confident with riding through the problem, get help from a professional.
DT
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