Will horse leg yield? I use that on babies - disengage their hind end sometimes encourages them (since by doing that they are moving) to continue to move.
[QUOTE=EqTrainer;6278071]
While I am not discounting JackieBlues years of experience, I would not be quick to jump on a potential lameness issue in this horse at this time. Tension/stiffness can create that NQR look. Anytime a horses energy is going backwards, they can look like this. I would work him on the longe correctly, using that medium to change his balance, and get on him ONLY to teach him the aids. This could take a month of seemingly boring work but in the end, payoff big. Then you will know if your horse is NQR or not.[/QUOTE]
What exercises should I be doing on the lunge? How can I work him correctly do you think without going to artificial aids (like side reins)?
[QUOTE=Jealoushe;6278759]
What exercises should I be doing on the lunge? How can I work him correctly do you think without going to artificial aids (like side reins)?[/QUOTE]
Jealoushe, once I learned to lunge correctly itās really made a big difference for me and my horses. Iām sure you know it should never be to wear them out or any of those old fashioned reasons (like to āget the bucks outā) - in fact itās exactly opposite. Youāre lunging the horse with the purpose of getting them to focus, pay attention, and use their bodies correctly. These sessions donāt need to be long but they must be productive, otherwise itās just reinforcing bad habits. The horse should know that itās time to work and concentrate on the lunge and take it seriously. You should also have a plan when you lunge, just as you would with your lesson.
There are some good books - I personally like this one:
http://www.horsekeeping.com/horse_books/101_Longeing_Exercises.htm
And my new favorite:
http://www.amazon.com/Cavalletti-Revised-Edition-Schooling-Ground/dp/0851317553
Just wanted to pop back in and give an update on William. Itās been over a year since I posted for advice and our issue of not moving has been long resolved.
Here is a clip of William at his second hunter show showing in the cross rail division. Taking things slow with him, but he is coming along nicely.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnPk8iq7QB0&feature=share&list=UUQtEpUjT-j8bqDEUio6z9ww
He did a dressage show this weekend, just walk/trot but came away with three seconds and his high score was %68 for the day.
Wanted to say thanks for the advice last year. 
Very nice job! You look good together and Iām happy to hear the great update!
I wanted to give another update of William - almost two years after I started this thread.
We just completed our second horse trials where we finished 2nd. He was 1st in his first one So glad I never gave up on this boy. It is nerves and stress that causes his napiness, not painā¦and I have finally sorted how to deal with it, resulting in much success.
http://fillysbestfriend.blogspot.ca/2014/06/ottawa-horse-trials-recap-pics-galore.html
This is all very interesting. My mare was putting up a bit of a stink like this. Sheās never bucked but at the beginning of her ride will not want to go forward and will kick out just one leg a little. I had her teeth done, gave her a year off due to her getting hurt, and am looking for a better fitting saddle. Iāve never had to use a whip or spurs or anything to get her moving again though, so sheās definitely not a severe case. Considering Iām JUST bringing her back into work, Iām very reluctant to ride until Iāve found a better saddle for her.
I love happy endings! Thanks for sharing.
I love updates!! I wasnāt around for the original post but it was a fun read as Iām bringing along a greenie now.
Grats to you both!
Nevermind, didnāt catch that it was an old post. Congrats OP, heās very cute - I love reheads!
I am finding this thread very interesting, as I just bought a fairly young horse (draft cross that just turned 5) who is planting his feet and not responding when given leg. I have only had him 2 months, and the previous own said he has had 60 days under saddle (ācowboy brokeā) and extensive longing, ground driving, ground work etc. Of course he does not have the past experiences that the OPās horse has had, but I find it funny that he wonāt move. He is forward on the longe, etc. I decided to play it safe and send him to a reputable trainer to be ārestartedā under saddle correctly.
I have found the responses helpful. Thanks, and best of luck, Jealoushe!
What everyone else said, heās either a brat, of heās in pain. Just because he came off a vacation doesnāt mean he didnāt twerk something in the field.
Something that I find is drastically undervalued is chiropracting. Now, you have to have a good one, ask around and find the right one because some of them are expensive and useless. But based on what you are saying, the chiropractor would be my first stop. They are cheaper that radio-graphs/scans, and some donāt charge is they donāt find anything wrong. If they canāt help, at least you tried the more cost effective option. You could spend hundreds/thousands of dollars right off the bat, or see if the $100 dollar option works before you cart him all over the place and spend a lot of time and money. If you want the name of the guy I use, send me a message and I will give you his contact info, heās wonderful and has made a huge difference in some of my projects that were āun-trainableā or āevergreensā.
Just got to the end of this thread and saw the happy ending. Congrats!!!
thanks for the update instead of disappearing into the ether.
I believe that horses do not lieā¦You found the key and sorted him.
i think this is a really tough one to fathom and you will NOT do it without throwing some money around.
my last horse was OTTB. came to me having thrown a lot of riders by running backwards whilst bucking then spinning hard right and going vertical, then backwards and bucking, rinse and repeat until rider is gone.
he would cow kick at the leg, balk, stop and then start the backward bucking. He was 4yo when i got him and i competed him succesfully to inter 1, schooled him to GP but he was eliminated as often as he scored 65%+.
i cant tell you how many people said he simply must be in pain and criticized me for keeping goingā¦
in those years i had every leg scanned and re scanned, legs, back,neck x rayād twice. did 2 round of 2 different painkillers, nerve blocked everything incl legs back and neck, EPSM tested, lyme tested, hormone tested, tried chiro, mctimony, accupuncture, time off, more work, 4 different ulcer supps and 2 different medications, fibre feed, oil, EPSM diet, more cereals,less cereals. BOT and magnetic products. ive probably forgotten a few things!
you name it we tried it and we found NOTHING. not a sprain,strain, chip, rough joint,not a dime.
when we retired him to the field he started to corner people and my vet is convinced he just wasnāt right in the mind.
i would ask you-is it worth it? retire him and find a horse that wants to go, i cant tell you how refreshing it is to get on my 4yo and have him want to YEAH LETS GO MUM, every single day.
edited to add-well done i now see this is an old post after replying (i will leave the original reply so as not to be confusing!) but great job and im glad it worked out
[QUOTE=Jealoushe;6265145]
Once I mount, he wonāt go forward. He is trained to go off the leg, he knows what leg on means, he knows how to move sideways away from my leg. I usually sit and wait a few minutes, or try and turn him on a circle. I have not used a whip as I worry he will either bolt or buck as he is quite sensitive. When I finally do get him moving he threatens to buck, kicks out, etc then stops and wonāt move again.
I can usually get him going but it takes me anywhere from 20- 30 minutes to get the ball rolling. In the first few minutes when he is moving he tries everything to not do work. Buck, kick out, bolt, stop. Once we DO get going, he goes along quite nicely!.. I have tried several different saddles, all with the same behavior. He is absolutely an angel on the lunge, and very good when we do get moving so I am not thinking it is pain related. He was (not anymore) a bit tense when saddled and would sometimes hop after asking to walk forward.
I have ridden some very difficult horses in my life but I have never experienced a horse quite like this. The more consistently I work him the better it gets, but if we take even one day off we start all over again. Anyone with similar experience?
Advice?[/QUOTE]
My now 8yo mare did this EXACTLY when she turned 4yo! She had been lightly started at the end of her 3yo year, done a few Materiale classes, hunter paced, etc. and then let out for the winter for vacation. We started back with ārefresherā ground work spring of the 4yo year (that was lovely), but the moment I sat on her she parked all four feed and refused to move! She did everythtg you mentionābucked, kicked out, kicked my feet, squealed, threaten to pop up in front, you name it. I had the vet out, took her for accupuncture and chiro visits, the dentist and saddle fitters came, and no one found one iota of soreness. We even tried putting her on the lunge with a rider up, and if she was just being led to the field or arena, that was fine, but as soon as the person on the lunge moved to the middle of the circle, we got the middle hoof.
I finally just put on all my crash gear, a neck strap, and running martingale to keep her head from breaking my nose, and used the whip (behind the leg, of course). Sheād kick out at the first tap, then spin with the next one, and then maybe buck a bit at the third and fourth, but THEN sheād take a step forward (for which she was praised and released). We built from there to multiple steps, then trotting, etc., but each progression would revert to feet planted and the 3-5 whip pops. I also started carrying 2 whips so I could quickly respond to the correct disobedient leg.
I hate to say it, but nearly the entire 4yo year was that way. It would get better with consistent work, but anytime something new was introduced it triggered a āfull stopā. When she came back into work at 5yo after that winter vacation, she had āgrown outā of itāmostly (and yes, all the previous workups were done to ensure no paināshe even had a full lameness and repro examination at the state vet school to ensure we werenāt missing something in the weeds).
Sheās now 8yo and doing the I-1, but this is still one of her preferred avoidances when something new and hard is introduced (maybe once per week or less often). However, now she usually goes back to work after only one or two pops with the whip. So my two cents is that if you are confident physical issues have been ruled out and all the underlying basics have been taught, Iām guessing itās a baby/teenage tantrum where heās trying to figure out his boundaries (and yours). Good luck!!
