How can i make my horse trot?

[Horse100]

:( Hi peeps! I need some advice,urgently. Ok i ride this horse called Bonnie but i just can't get her to trot. I try squeezing with my legs and kicking but she just won't go! Please can some one give me some advice. Thanks, Luv Horse100!

[Lovecat]

Is Bonnie a riding school horse? How old is she and how long have you been riding her? If she's been properly schooled and still isn't responding to you, a tickle with a schooling whip ONLY to reinforce your leg aid (ie in the same place as your leg and at the same time as you squeeze) should wake her up to the fact that when you ask her to go, she should go.

Good luck,

Cathy

[Horse100]

Thanks for your tips! I'll try them out next time i ride Bonnie (tomorrow).

Horse100:D

[Showjumper03]

Humm......Can others get her to trot on? Remember to ask, tell, DEMAND! Ask: a gentle squeze Tell: a lite kick a bigger on if needed Demand: A firm yet gentle kick behind the girth or use of a crop if nessecary!
I hope it helps:D :D

[Horse100]

Thanks for your tips!!! :D

[Torny]

One more thing,

Just give her a check over to make sure she isn't in any discomfort, e'g Badly fitted saddle or bridle, areas of tenseness, injuries etc....

If she feels uncomfortable then thats why she may not be moving ;)

Also, as asked previously, how does she go for other riders?

[anuvb]

Make sure your not holding back on her either. There is no point asking with your legs if your hands are blocking her from moving forward.

Take up an gentle contact with the reins just so that you can feel a little bit of weight in your hands and then ask with the legs. If you lean back naturally as a rider, then try leaning forward a fraction (not too much), lightening the seat and asking with your legs at the same time. Don't kick - most horses just ignore it after a while, it's much better to squeeze and then ask with the crop just behind your leg at the heel. If you ride with a short crop, then swap it for a long schooling crop. To use a short crop means that you have to move your hand to use it behind your leg. Doing this pulls back on her mouth. A long crop should allow you to tickle her side with the crop without you having to change your hand position, and thus prevent you from pulling back on her mouth.

[Horse100]

Thanks Torny and anuvb.

P.S One of my friends also says that she has problems getting Bonnie to move, so i'm probably not the only one with this problem. :D

Horse100

[Alex]

I agree with all the advice the others have suggested.

Just one more thing... has she been a lesson horse for a long time? We have an old boy at our yard who's 24 now, but has been a school horse for way too long (our yard purchased him as a horse just for hacks, so he's retired from schooling) but Showy's sides have become almost 'numb' to the usual "riding school taught kick aid" now. I think he's had years and years of kids thumping him in the belly trying to get him to go, that he just doesn't respond to that kind of thing anymore. If you kick, he just ignores you and stops, or if you're lucky, you'll get a slow walk from him.

We find that he does, however, respond to gentler (and more correct) aids. If we just give him a real slight squeeze, he'll happily trot on. If you kick him though, he just digs his heels in and doesn't move.

[Horse100]

Hi

Thanks 4 replying.

Yes, Bonnie has been a lesson horse for about 14 years i think. I'll try squeezing really lightly next time i ride.

Thanks again!

Horse100 :D

[Silver1]

Don't forget to tell us how it goes! :D

[Jay.o]

I have ridden bonnie only a couple of times. Shes was the lead rein pony/horse when I was there with her.
Out on hacks shes usually good, quite but responsive as she likes to follow on from the others. Or when she was on the lead rein, she was also good.
So I am guessing that the problem is in the paddock/field when you ride her?? I never rode her for a lesson, only a couple of time for a hack.
I suggest that you follow others' advice here. But I would use a bliming hard squeeze rather than kick her, no ones likes to be kicked. If I remeber correctly, she is a rather wide cobby type, so alot of work on your part to get your legs round her ;)
Good luck and let us know how it does go...:D

[Horse100]

Hi peeps

Bonnie was alot more responsive this lesson. I found that the best way of getting her to trot was to give her real hard squeeze (boy do my legs hurt!:D )

Thanx for all your advice, it's been great!

Horse100