Lazy Pony - whips have no effect!

[hApPiNeSs]

happy has always been lazy and now i have decided to do something about it (go me!! lol)

so the other day i used a light squeeze and she walked forward slower than a slug. so i used my leg again but she ignored it. so i gave her a smack just behind my leg and she just threw her head up like she was saying "what was that for?"

i have tryed this again and again and have now accompanied the tapping with a little nudge with my heels and sometimes a stern kick if need be. she is beginning to understand now but is still very lazy. am i doing this right? when i use the short whip my reins go long so it doesnt really work so do you think i should use a schooling whip?

[notpoodle]

a long schooling whip is always good, that way you can annoy her without having to fiddle about with the reins :D

you could also try doing some fast-ish hacks involving something like a galopp across a common/some kind of open space - maybe not for the faint at heart, but it usually 'inspires' lazy ponies ... said she who is too chicken still to take angel onto the big field at the bottom of the yard.

angel can be a bit lazy too, it depends on what kind of day she is having :) sometimes she's quite lazy, other times i get the impression all she wants to do is run. when she's being lazy/not responsive i usually make her do lots of walkt-trot-walk transitions, which usually wakes her up :)

julia
x

[Tangle]

Using a crop is nearly always better than kicking harder :). I was always taught to make sure that (assuming the pony goes forward, as asked) you're not going to jab them in the mouth - make sure you've a fairly loose rein and you're holding onto something else, just in case she really get's the idea and you get a nice (if unexpected) trot or canter :p. She's not being bad - she's going forward as asked - the last thing you want to do is make that uncomfortable for her :)

[notpoodle]

who said anything about jabbing them in the mouth?! *confused*

julia
x

[KarinUS]

Tangle was just saying that she should keep the reins loose just in case the pony responded to the crop a bit more vigorously than expected. If she hops forwards and gets caught in the mouth it would be unfair since she did move forward as she was asked. Does that make sense?

On a different note: Please be sure that there isn't a good reason for Happy to avoid mving forward. What does your isntructor say.

[bevb]

Have you had her back,teeth saddle etc checked. I know some horses are just naturally lazy but they can also behave this way if it is uncomfortable for them to go up a gear.
Just thought it worth a mention

Bev

[notpoodle]

ah! sorry i just got confused there :)

julia
x

[galadriel]

If she throws her head up in shock when you use the whip, and doesn't move forward, then she does not know why you are using the whip. If she does not understand why you are using the whip, then are you are doing--from her point of view--is random punishment.

If what you're doing isn't working, more of the same won't help. I'd recommend getting off and working hard on voice commands. Get her really cheerful about moving forward JUST from your voice; teach her voice commands that mean "go forward" and "more energy." Teach her to move forward when you press on her sides where your legs would be. Show her what you want her to do. Teach her what you want her to do. Right now she doesn't know what you want.

[shandy84]

I totally agree Galadriel in all theory you shouldn't need a whip to motivate a horse, my girl works off the voice and because of this is always listening and is very responsive, lungeing and longreining as well as clicker training (as far as I can tell - haven't done it yet reading up on it before I try as I don't want to make mistakes) are brill for establishing voice commands

[hApPiNeSs]

i used a schooling whip yesterday and brushed her with it and she flew forward! she was so much better and i used my leg aids with clicking and she understood! i dont hit her hard!!!!! i wouldnt hit her really hard i know shes learning! :eek: and just tap her really. you can hardly hear it hit her :eek: :(

[shandy84]

Wel i had a lesson today and was told to use a schooling whip and it diod manke a difference so good for you, just use it in moderation :)

[hApPiNeSs]

i only use it as a last resort. please dont think im a whip-happy horse thrasher! :eek:

[Tangle]

Thanks Karin - that's exactly what I meant. I obviously need to work on clarity of expression :rolleyes::(

Happiness - the fact you posted the question to get more ideas demonstrates you care far more than a "whip-happy horse thrasher" :)

[notpoodle]

just to say, i'm not whip-happy either! i just wanted to say that a schooling whip is bettern than a short one, because with a short one you always risk jabbing the horse in the mouth at the same time, which obviously is not a good idea.

i use a long whip on my pony, but i don't 'beat' her with it, i just use it for tickle/motivation purposes at times.

julia
x

[Em 1]

Notpoodle, one thing about short whips, you should always put the reins in one hand to use a short whip precisely because you will jab the horse in the mouth if you don't. The only time you might keep the reins is if you need to place the whip across a shoulder to stop falling in. Sorry if I've misunderstood what you mean!;)

[notpoodle]

i know, but if you're not used to having the reins in one hand, you might still cause some jabbing :) (i know i would!)

julia
x

[Em 1]

Thought I'd probably misunderstood. Certainly it's difficult to balance at first - letting go of the reins feels like taking your life in your hands.....!!!!