please help me im stuck

[stephydoo]

the problem with gymy refusing to move has progressed as i feared.
he now:
will refuse to come out of the field(just puts the brakes on)
refuses to move if we see anything scary up ahead(ie a bush or boulder)
and has decided that since i cant move him other places while out on a hack he turns around and heads for home if i turn him back and try to force him he just stands dead still and will stay like that forever, no amount of pushing, leg aids whips ets will move him what can i do im at a loss i just cant budge him and he knows i cant i get off and try to lead him but he just stands there
i took out a schooling whip when i caught him one day and tried that then when it didnt work i pulled him in tight circles(the advise of a friend) thinking that hed rather walk on than keep turning he just puts the breaks on and sticks his head in the air what can i do heeeellp

[IrisSilverMoon]

one useful thing we do to get horses on a trailer if they won't go is just tap them constantly with the whip. A similar thing could work for you.

like the next time he stops when you are leading him you can sort of pull in the direction you would like him to go and then with a long dressage whip tap him on the shoulder, just taptaptaptap and keep tapping until he goes forward, then stop for a second and praise before asking him to move forward again. you can do the same thing when riding, make sure you have his attention on you. If he tries to turn around hold your elbows at your side and open your reins so he can't turn. your legs should be keeping him from moving his rear around too much as well, then you just taptaptaptaptap until he goes forward, stop and praise. The important thing is to keep him facing the direction YOU want him to go, if he turns, turn him back around and keep tapping, if he backs up keep tapping, the tapping only stops when he moves forward. When you first do this it would probably be best that you do it when you have lots of time, because everytime you give up he gets the idea that he can just quit if he hold out long enough.

the only time i've really seen this fail is when we run out of time waiting for a horse to get on a trailer for a show and have to sort of give up there or miss our classes.

good luck!

[LisaS]

Stephy, How long have you had Gymy? Is he a relatively new purchase? Is so maybe do some groundwork with him and later introduce some scarey things like plastic bags etc.

I find Kelly's book Perfect Manners has lovely ground work exercises in and they are fun and also makes your horse trust you.

The other thing I should ask is if, have ruled out pain and tack?

Lots of questions I know, but I don't think I'd use the whip as if it's pain or fear it will make Gymy worse. Only my humble opinion.

[Billybo]

One of my ponies occasionally plants his feet and refuses to move forward, especially if something is scaring him. If I start kicking him or using a schooling stick he just becomes more and more neurotic until he's so wound up he spins and leaps. What I find works best with him is just to pretend I've got all day and wait him out. He has 2 choices, he can go forward or stand still. He's not allowed to turn round. I find that after a while he gets bored and goes forward, even if it's just a single step at first. Maybe this'll work for you?

Good luck,
Mags

[stephydoo]

the last time i did that(waited it out\didnt let him turn) he stood like that forhalf an hour and no amount ofpushing makes him go
as for the health and tack nope they all got checked twice

[Billybo]

It took me an hour the first time I tried it:D ! Like I said, you have to pretend you've got all day! The waiting time should become shorter, though, each time. But the trick is not to give in.

Mags

[LisaS]

What about asking Gymy to back a few steps and then ask for forwards. If he starts walking then praise, if he stops again then ask him to back up again nice and calm.

Just another suggestion Stephy

[IrisSilverMoon]

Originally posted by LisaS

Lots of questions I know, but I don't think I'd use the whip as if it's pain or fear it will make Gymy worse. Only my humble opinion.

let me clarify that the whip isn't being used as reinforcement for ignoring a command, it should be an annoyance...like someone poking you or constantly tapping on your shoulder. it's just light tapping...*shrugs*

[stephydoo]

no iris i knew what you meant and will try everyones suggestions thanks

[Billybo]

Good luck!

Mags

[FellRider]

Hi, I too have a pony who just refuses to go forward when we are out on a ride. He will just plant his feet and no amount of leg aids, stronger leg aids i.e. a kick or then the use of the stick will budge him. He just ignores it. I then feel totally beat because there is nothing else I can do. AT first I thought it was because he was new (6 weeks at this yard) and he didn't know the rides but if I go out with others he is a different pony alltogether. I genuinely think he has not been out on his own though because although he follows the others happily enough he doesn't like taking the lead. He would just refuse to go in front of them. I have started to take him out on his own now and I am getting this problem. I have tried to take someone with me either walking or on a bike and this does work however I can feel him wanted to tuck in behind them. But take them away so there is just us and he knows that basically I can't do anything about it.

I have sweated buckets trying to get him to go forward and he will just stop and go backwards. I know he can do it because he has taken the lead in front of the others and he has been out without them and with just another person or bike for company, also he is perfectly OK on the way home. He will try to turn around and he can even walk the way he wants to go when I have his head turned the way I want to go! I shout at him too but he ignores this. The other day I set a goal which wasn't very far away at all but it took forever to get there but I didn't give in. I have tried to sit out and wait but all he does is rest his hind foot and enjoy the scenery.

The other day, I found that when he was hesitating and about to stop, if I asked him to stop first and then asked him to walk on then stop again and by the time he had figured out what I was doing, stop start stop start, he had walked half the way to my goal. By sheer determination on my part I got him there and I patted him to tell him he was good each time he did a few steps in the right direction and then allowed him to turn round and go home and then of course he was not a slug any more but an acceptable ride.

I think that the advice of IrisSilverMoon sounds like its worth a try and I will give it a shot the next time I am out on my own. I will post again to let you know if I have any success. If you find anything that is worth trying, let me know. In the meantime I am trying to go out in company on the weekends so I at least get a decent ride and then on my own in the week and even if he only gets up the road on his own I take this as an achievement. If he manages to turn round on me and he did this once and started trotting off with me, I circle him until he is facing the way I want to go. Also I find that it is not a good idea to go the same way and let him turn in the same place. I think I have a lot of perseverence work in front of me and wonder if he will ever progress to being forward going when there is no one in front of him!

[tubby]

Just an idea Stephydoo , what about backing him out through the gate , certainly I've had success with this on nappy horses .:):):)

[stephydoo]

thanks to everyone for advise and help, i have managed to succeed and he is now an angel to bring in.
i went out and he refused to come in, i swung the lead rope at his bum and turned him in a tight circle when he still refused, i circled him again, he eventually got the idea and came in, after two times at this he now doesnt even attempt to stand still.
the thing with riding has ended sort of too, i went up early one day when i knew i had ages and just made him stand there till he got a bit bored and took a tiny step, i kicked him on and he stopped again then stepped, after about 2 hours he got the idea that i wasnt giving up and that was that i won!!!