advice needed on schooling

[carrimclaren]

Hi.
I've just started riding a friends horse while mine is out of action but i need a bit of advice on how to deal with his evasion tactics. The first time i schooled him he spent 10 minutes evading me but then relaxed and worked properly for the session. I felt rather chuffed as i know he can be a git. But the law of sod meant that last night it all went wrong :rolleyes: From the moment i got on he evaded any attempt at contact. I did what i did the other day and kept my hands quiet but used leg on him. I tried doing bending with him, circles, trotting poles etc. to keep his interest and get him having to use his brain. But no. He decided to go backwards, hop on the spot, throw his head round etc. I managed to get some nice work out of him going away from home on one rein but coming towards home it just went to pot. It took me 10 minutes to open the gate to get out of the school and 10 minutes to get him to close the gate on the way out. Was not impressed as you can imagine. Now i'll just clarify he has had teeth/back/saddle/feet all checked so i don't think it's a pain issue. He's quite nappy and his owner tends to let him have a long rein if he plays about so i think it's more testing of myself.

I suppose what i would appreciate is a little advice on how to deal with him when he does this. My mare used to do this but she merely evaded the bit but didn't do anything else with it. She'd still bend and move forward. He however ignores the leg, won't bend and jumps on the spot when he's having a moment.
It just left me feeling rather negative and a bit down about my own ability to ride and i'd rather go in there feeling positive and able to get around whatever he tests me with.

[nutkin]

definitely sounds like he is testing you.I think you may need to be quite strict with him when he does this.If he is refusing to go forwards don't be afraid to use the whip and insist that he does.He sounds like he is clever enough to know that this has frightened riders in the past and works as an evasion technique so this is why you must insist he does as you ask as soon as you ask or accept the consequences that come from being naughty.He is smart enough to realise that doing as you ask is easier than being naughty.Also as he sounds a little nappy make sure you always get off at different places within the school and never by the gate.This should help with getting him to work better in the school and stop thinking that the gate means end of work.

[carrimclaren]

Thanks for the advice, makes me feel a bit better :) You know what it's like when something goes wrong, all you do is blame yourself and get frustrated.

The owner has warned me that using a whip does not help as the horse tenses up and won't work for the rest of the session. Out of respect for the owner i didn't carry one as i thought it would be rude and probably not needed. I'm going to talk to the owner and see whether i would be okay to carry a schooling whip as long as i promise i'm not the sort to over use it. All i want to use it for is a tap when he ignores my leg. I have a feeling being the sort of drama queen he is he'll throw a complete wobbly if i even dare tap him.I think that's what he's done with his owner in the past. Ah well. Only way is up :D Not usual i thank my mare for teaching me some of the tricks and tantrums, but glad she did. At least he doesn't buck or run off like she used to.