Laziness and napping!

[Drummers mum]

I need a bit of advice on the best way to deal with this!

Basicaly, when I am schooling or jumping, Drummer speeds up when heading for home and slows down as he goes away! He won't canter at all going away from home (although our canter is a bit hit and miss anyway!)

This all means that we can only jump in one direction and all the lightness that I am trying to achieve goes out the window when he naps for home and I have to haul him round to turn him!

Sometimes he goes so slow, he feels so resistant and just won't move forwards. Its like I need to wind him up like a clockwork toy! Eeeek its so frustrating but I real think he has no respect for me in the saddle sometimes!

He is so naughty, yesterday I was doing transitions and back up and he was doing beautifully, even got halt to trot, then stopped asked for another back up and he just refused, he new what I was asking, he just stood there! :(

I love my pony to bits but yesterday I could have quite happily strung him up! :o :D

[horsemad]

Hmm, it sounds like Drummer has very definite ideas of what he wants to do! My horse is a bit like that - she is a dream to ride when she wants to co-operate....but if she isn't in the mood, well, forget it :rolleyes: I've tried all sorts of different tactics to try to motivate her, but I think I've come to the conclusion that if Cindy really doesn't want to comply, theres very little I can do about it. Frustrating though :)

[Drummers mum]

Interestingly I got my 13 year old friend to ride him today and he was better for her than for me!!!! :rolleyes:

The trouble is Drummer is like it allll the time at the moment! He is wearing me out! :(

[rache]

hmmm hard one. i would not let him get away with it otherwise he will be like it with you all the time, if the 13 yr old got on did she mean business and tell him to get on with it and not ask!?

[Drummers mum]

I don't know, she is better at using her legs and she is super little rider, much better than me. There is also the fact that she is lighter!!!!!

[rache]

hmmm why dont you get her to ride him when you cant and start him getting used to the way she does it (ie no napping and listening) and he might catch on. do you use your legs and take a schooling whip when riding him?

[Drummers mum]

I always take a whip and I'm careful not to nag nag nag so he doesn't become dead to the leg. I've already booked Caragh to ride Thursday, lol! :o

I think some of my troubles started when he put his pelvis out because when I brought him back to work I was sooo worried he would do it again (it all started when we started to get canter circles!!) and I still am a bit! I think I was a bit soft on him.

I also don't think my saddle does me any favours (trekker treeless) my position is a bit shot 'cos I find it too wide and sometimes I know I block his movement. Funny though because Caragh thought it was easier because she could feel him!

Edit to say I'm testing the Fhoenix over bank holiday!! :D Chloe is coming up on the Saturday and she might be able to help or maybe the change in saddle will!!?? I can hope! :rolleyes: