horse will not move

[joe21]

I have been taking lessons for a little while, and have just started working in some extra practice sessions on my own (in the ring). I am riding western, just for fun (i.e. no plans to compete).

Ran into a problem recently, and was hoping for some advice.

While practicing in the ring for a short while, everything was fine. Riding my usual school horse, he was listening to me. Then, he just seemed to decide that riding time was over. Any forward motion I could get would result in a walk to the mounting block in the center of the ring - almost as if he was asking me to get off.

The only two "outside" factors that I can think of are a) it did start to rain heavily. The wind and rain were making the tent-like indoor ring structure quite noisy. b) another horse/rider entered the ring and started doing some work.

I squeezed, clucked, encouraged - all he would do back up a few steps (I had no pressure on the reins). Once or twice he managed to go into "trail mode" and follow that other horse in a walk halfway around the ring. Basically, he would NOT move anymore and was unresponsive to my directions.

Any ideas on what I might have been doing wrong, or suggestions for getting him to move?

[teapot]

sounds like a typical riding school horse that will not move unless there is a bum to follow in front. So you're not doing anything wrong in that sense. Sounds like he's got away with it on many occasions and knows exactly what to do.

In order to get him working on his own, what you need to do is (i've ridden one just like it that WILL NOT go lead file). If you ride in a group lesson situation, try and go lead file occasionally or do a 20m circle away from the ride so that he is not constantly relying on another horse. It will take time and patience especially if he's been doing it for a while

[Bucephalus]

Ah yes, that sounds very familiar. At least the horse was going for you in the first place. I know a couple of riding school horses that will do nothing unless all their four-legged mates are also doing it and they have an instructor calling to them! It's very frustrating.
If you get to tack up the lead in the horse before the lesson, that sometimes helps convince the horse you're a real rider, not someone who's going to just sit there. The occassional lesson on a good schoolmaster, either at your riding school or at a more upmarket one, can really show you how much your riding is coming along

[piftisha]

A lot of school horses are like that - they're usually school horses because they're dead safe and bombproof, and as a consequence are quity lazy and subborn.

Usually with school horses I ride with a stick - with a short stick, the drill is ask twice with your legs (make sure you're squeezing up not in, kind of wrinkling their sides with your heels), and if there is no response, give them a tap with the stick on their shoulder.

They usually figure it out as soon as you let them know you're in charge!

[joe21]

Thanks for the tips. Nice to know that it isn't me. The horse I was riding, although a school horse, is usually very willing. I will try the stick idea next time (just want to check that one with my instructor first).

[horsemad]

Originally Posted by piftisha

A lot of school horses are like that - they're usually school horses because they're dead safe and bombproof, and as a consequence are quity lazy and subborn.

And not only riding school horses My Cindy has become very much like this recently - I start off getting her going quite nicely and then after a short time, she just decides she's had enough and stops There is absolutely no point trying to insist she trots round the school or whatever when she is like this, because she just will not comply. Then I get cross with her and then get cross with myself for losing my temper with my precious darling!

So what I usually do with her when she decides she's had enough, is let her have a rest for a few minutes (just to give her the benefit of the doubt in case she is genuinely tired - although I suspect this is not the case most of the time!). I then do a very short, focussed session with her to try to get her attention - about 6 strides of walk, then halt, then 6 strides of walk again, few strides of trot, back to halt, walk, change rein etc etc. After a couple of minutes of this, I let her have another rest, then go again for a few minutes. This can sometimes work in getting her going again...although not always, I have to admit!