horse won't go, then won't stop

[sarahh]

i rode a new horse at my stables this weekend, which was very difficult to get into a trot (i can normally manage this fine) and then once it was in a trot either rushed along and was very difficult to slow when we were near the tail of the one in front, of if it didn't have a tail to chase would keep dropping out of trot. any ideas please?

i felt such an idiot not being able to get my horse to trot if i was trotting on my own (it would go into trot ok if the one in front had) , i was using leg aids, then a light tap and it still didn't, it ended up with my instructor chasing it to get it moving. i did have a go at trying to canter (which i can normally do) and after numerous attempts (again with instructor chasing and encouraging as well as me doing all the leg aids/cues) i got it to do 2 strides. after all of that i was exhausted and tearful, just felt i'd tried so hard but i obviously needed to do something different.

[Cochise]

I know it is very hard, especially when these horse know exactly what they can get away with. It is very common an ddon't beat yourself up about it. Many riding school ponies and horses are used to that competitive spirit to get in front..however when they get there, they often don't see the point of going as forward as they had in their attempt to get there in the first place!! You are doing everything you can to ask this horse to behave, yet he is obviouslyset in his ways of which he wants to behave. Surely if you are not happy on him you can ask for another horse? But if you are determined, maybe stay on this horse and work the problem out with your instructor. They instructor obviously knows this horse well to chase around behind him to get him going? But don't beat yourself up about it...ok.....smile!!:D
I see this thing happening all the time

[sarahh]

thanks cochise, its very nice to know i am not alone (i was the only one in my group with a difficult horse though!) i've only had this happen once before on a different horse but not to such a great degree. i think my riding school had me on the easier ones before which did what i asked them, so now i'm not a complete beginner i get to try the ones with their own agendas. apparently there is another horse which has come in, about the same size which may suit me better so hopefully i might get him next time. i had been riding a really super calm but responsive horse for a few weeks but very sadly for me he was sold and went to live on a farm, so now i have to practice again on the less willing horses!

[Felicity]

You're definetly not alone, this happens to loads of us! Some horses just don't like being out in front and I think that is often to do with them being afraid or lacking confidence. Another problem I think (and it's just my opinion) is that many horses, especially riding school horses, are simply confused about what they are meant to do. If the horse in front trots it is clear to them that they should trot too, but if they are in front they may simply not understand the aids and what they should be doing, and many people will be giving them lots of different messages and not letting them know when they have done the right thing consistently. Hope this makes sense!

I teach a bit at a riding school and when I started there was shocked the first time I rode one of the riding school horses at how little of the rider's aids they understood - they listen to the horse in front and the instructor often as these are more reliable than the huge variety of riders!

Being really kind and consistent with a horse like this and being very clear when it has done something good may help - he is probably 'unwilling' because he has no reason to be 'good'
;)

Felicity.

[Cochise]

Yes thats a really good point! They have so many different riders on them and and getting so many different types of aids, strong ones from a strong rider, weak ones from a weaker rider, confusing ones from a rider who isnt totally sure. Its very difficult for the horse to gage exactly what you want from him. Plus they do get very insecure being at the front. I used to teach at a riding school and we had one pony called Sam and as soon as he would get to the front, he would actually panic and spin around to face the others!!As he was only a small pony only small children could ride him and it was often very scary for them.Sam would try anything to avoid being at the front!!
I have a pic of him actually, he is very very sweet

[*Horse*]

Originally posted by sarahh
i rode a new horse at my stables this weekend, which was very difficult to get into a trot (i can normally manage this fine) and then once it was in a trot either rushed along and was very difficult to slow when we were near the tail of the one in front, of if it didn't have a tail to chase would keep dropping out of trot. any ideas please?

i felt such an idiot not being able to get my horse to trot if i was trotting on my own (it would go into trot ok if the one in front had) , i was using leg aids, then a light tap and it still didn't, it ended up with my instructor chasing it to get it moving. i did have a go at trying to canter (which i can normally do) and after numerous attempts (again with instructor chasing and encouraging as well as me doing all the leg aids/cues) i got it to do 2 strides. after all of that i was exhausted and tearful, just felt i'd tried so hard but i obviously needed to do something different.

i used to ride a pony that did that...he was fine when we were following someone but on his own,he just wouldn't trot!!!!:mad: :cool: :rolleyes: