reluctant to enter outdoor school

[ranger]

Hi there. I'm looking for some advice or ideas. I started to loaning a horse from a riding school about two weeks ago. He's a TB, 16hh, experienced, older horse and very well behaved generally. However, he is very reluctant to walk from the yard to the school (only about 100 m). He just stops dead and is difficult to get moving again. When we have gotten "stuck", I have asked someone to lead us and he will move (again quite reluctantly). The instructor at the yard says he's just taking the mickey (ie he doesn't want to work) and to give him a couple of good hard taps with a whip to get him going. I have only tried this once and it did work. However, I would like to try another method rather than hitting him - just not my thing. There is a tractor in front of the school that he has to walk past. I don't think this is the problem as he is not a very spooky horse but he did do a half hearted spook when we went into the school yesterday. He is turned out at the moment and is ridden 4 or 5 times a week (2 or 3 sessions in the school and a couple of hacks). Although he is a nice horse, he does seem to lack any kind of enthusiasm. I assume he's just not enjoying his work in the school and is also reluctant to work hard (aren't we all sometimes!). He will leave the yard and go out for a hack quite happily. He is also a bit stiff and not quite at full fitness.
Does anyone have any ideas for getting him into the school without using brute force and for helping him enjoy his schooling sessions a bit more?

[FreedomStar]

well, you say he is stiff and not quite fit yet? Maybe you should hack him out a lot, to get rid of the stiffness, and take him out on long trail rides to get him fit. If you put a horse who is not very fit into hard work, that may be the reason he is reluctant to work is because he tires out.

[ros]

I reckon you assume right. He's probably just had it up to here with school work, and if he's stiff as well, who can blame him? Has anyone ever done anything to make school work enjoyable for him? Is he allowed to feel he's achieved anything during a "schooling" session? Has anyone ever looked at it from his point of view? Probably not if you have to hit him to get him in there.

Riding should be fun for all concerned, but a lot of riders focus on themselves and forget about their horse. Asking just a little and praising a lot is a good way to start.

[ranger]

I do agree with you. I suppose what I'm looking for are some ideas for making a session in the school fun. Does anyone have any practical suggestions for exercises that will stimulate him or help him have fun? I have been working on large circles and serpentines to help his stiffness and plenty of transitions. I have only worked for 20/25 minutes at a time. I have tried to keep it as varied as possible but perhaps need some fresh ideas. I read a post from someone that said they gave treats to their horse when schooling to encourage him. Does this work?
Also, until he is happier in his work how do I encourage him into the school? Should I just lead him in? This does work. I don't have the option of taking him out on a hack during the week as it's dark at 4.45 pm here at the moment so I think that some time in the school is necessary.
I would appreciate any ideas or help.

[cvb]

put poles on the ground - either randonly or make lanes, boxes etc.

Then work around them and over them. (L shapes to work through, back through, walk over)(Boxes - walk over, or walk in, then turn around using turn on forehand and haunches).

One example from a magazine was to have big oil barrells in the school and put treats on them and on fence posts (outdoor school). Then the horse trotted around to find the treats !

Also if they have any gymkhana poles, or 'safe' jump stands, put them up and bend in and out of them. Or use cones instead. You can put them in a straight line and work up and down it, or use the cones to mark the 'corners' of a circle - mark out a 20 m circle with a smaller circle inside, then work on both circles, around the cones etc.

All this may sound very odd and maybe 'childish', but honest it works. Plus all the bending and turning helps with suppleness.

[Cathy Reynolds]

Heather feeds sugar lumps in the school (whilst riding, if they do something particularly good, I watched her stop at the side wall and fish a lump out of the box). I always treat, at the beginning and end, though many people disagree. H was really school shy but I'd say your boy is more school stale. He needs to enjoy himself and chill out a bit, doesn't he. What about long-reining for a change. Or try loose schooling. Or lunging over small jumps?

[Wally]

Get a book on clicker training, this will help with the "won't move" symdrome, you can then start teaching him different things, not necessarily riding him, but working him in hand from the ground.

I did laugh at where Heather keeps the boxes of sugar....if that was our school.... with kids on Shetlands, the lesson would consist of getting a pile of ponies out of the corner!:D away from the boards and to complete one circuit of the school. But Heather doesn't perch kids on her big horses. I expect her adult clients are well behaved.

I do think that a treat for effort or a movement well done is not inappropriate, so long as the horse doesn't take it upon himself to come and find it and take it only when offered.

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Wally
I do think that a treat for effort or a movement well done is not inappropriate, so long as the horse doesn't take it upon himself to come and find it and take it only when offered.

My horses *know* when they've been really good, and snake their heads around and look at me. "Mom? Please?"

[ros]

So does Merlin. I have to be very careful what I say, because he associates the word "clever" with a sugar lump and jams the brakes on! But I don't care. As long as I remember to keep my mouth shut when I do a dressage test...!

[CityGirl]

I give my horses a treat at the beginning (usually a carrot) and one at the end (a nice fresh apple is always a hit!). I only rarely will give one during the lesson unless the horse has done something really remarkable (i.e. got us both over the jump safely while I was in the midst of losing both of my stirrups!).
I do think its important to appreciate them - those school horses work hard!!!

[Wally]

Therein lies the rub:D

They do know when they have done well and on one occasion Cymro tried so hard over the poles and succeeded, did a 90 degree turn in to me with a full stop and his poor rider nearly went out the side door, So it is important to keep the horse obedient right up until he gets his treat.