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Behind my leg :P

3K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  athm 
#1 ·
Okay, since you guys realy misinterperated what I was trying to say, I'll just narrow it down to one of my biggest promlems, He;s always behind my leg, and and when I put more leg on him to get a bigger stride, he automatically thinks CANTER!

he was a western pleasure horse, so he has the slow poke trot.

And when he ignores me, and I TAP-not smack-tap. him with the whip/crop, he bucks.

I've put up with it long enough to know that he's just being a jerk.
I know he's young. and Im giving him the B.O.T.D

but c'mon. he knows what I want. he just wont give it to me unless I take a crop to his back end.

How do I break him of this?
 
#2 ·
first off your horse just seems green......not a retard. wow, (sorry, but that word drives me the most insane. I have a cousin who seriously is retarded so that word really gets to me.)

No horse is retarded.
I seriously don't think your horse stands in the corner anticipating for your coming and thinking of what to do next to you.

Don't hit your horse with a crop, your horse every time he bucks is most likely saying ouch mom, why are you doing that?

Your horse also seems very bored of circles and patterns and wants to have fun, try to be more creative with what you do with him. (he sounds just like this pony I had.....no matter how much leg pressure you had....

Be sure to keep going in circles in that corner until he starts to behave.....and if he starts leg yielding stop him and put him back on track....it takes alot of patience.
 
#3 ·
I agree with the other poster, your horse is green. He's 6, so he's at that 'teenager stage' where he will test you every chance he gets.
When you are approaching the corner he bulges at, keep your eyes up and where you want to go, keep your shoulders square and dont bulge yourself. Just think, he's not gonna do it this time, if he tries, put your crop on his shoulder, dont hit him with it, just put it there, if he ignores it, give him a tap to say 'listen to it'.
It is very important to make sure you are sitting up, and have clear intent on what you want him to do. If you think it, your horse will do it.
 
#4 ·
I'm not sure I understand what your question is...I may have missed part of the conversation :?

BUT...from what I understand, you are looking for ways to increase your horse's length of stride. You'll need to use your seat, legs and hands in conjunction with one another. Throw away that crop!

I'll assume you're riding in a huntseat saddle. When you ask for the trot, don't start posting right away. In fact, don't post until your horse gives you the length of stride you are asking for. Use your seat to encourage his forward, your legs will be bumping lightly at his sides in rhythm with his trot and your hands will be holding him in the bridle so that he doesn't burst forward into a canter. You want to focus on the bump, bump, bump with your legs and the push, push, push from your seat. Don't get mad or frustrated with him. You are very likely asking him to do something that he does not have much experience with. When you feel the bigger stride, start posting and stop the bumping with your legs. You can even let your hands release a little bit of pressure from the reins.
 
#6 ·
Post the trot and use your rythm to speed him UP! Sit less and post up/forward more pronouned. As soon as he does speed up, scratch his withers and say "good boy" and relax your posting. Rinse and repeat until he gets it. Keep your legs well under you and squeeze with your leg (bumping might be startling him). And keep your leg on him at all times (lightly), so when you do ask him for more, it's not such a surprise. Keep your toes in and squeeze with your lower leg.

Also, try some voice cues, like clucking.

Sit UP, shoulder's back, BREATHE, soft back and hips, LOOK UP, soft hands, and think FOWARD!

You also might look at your saddle fit & placement. I know my mare doesn't like to trot out if I don't have her in her favorite saddle and pad combination, lol. When I ask for more trot, she'll try to canter, or throw her head up, or both! lol Make sure the saddle tree is behind the horse's shoulder blade (under the front d-ring on an English saddle). Make sure it's sitting even on his back (not too high or low on one end). Put it on without a pad and check underneath for air pockets or tight spots. You should feel even pressure front to back.

My mare seemed to improve when I bought a ThinLine pad. It's a thin peice of dense open cell foam that eliminates pressure points, absorbs shock, and distributes weight very well. I use the standard black pad, not the Ultra thin or cotton or sheepskin pads. One nice thing, they have a 30-day guarantee, so if you don't like it you can send it back. My mare really seems to like it, and the saddle stays put better (she prefers a loose girth), so for us it was worth the money.

You might think about some Dressage lessons too. Dressage (classical anyway) is all about FORWARD! A fresh perspective might be just the ticket to help you two get over this "hump" in your training.

ETA: I rode a horse once who also bucked everytime you cropped him. No, it wasn't pain, he was just a brat! lol I don't know if you want to try what we did (my trainer supervised and instructed me), but everytime he bucked, he got whacked hard and kicked. Toward the end of the lesson, we were in a bucking-kicking-smacking match, but it finally ended with him giving up. He never bucked at the crop again 8).

That said, a crop is not necessary to make a horse go forward. Your leg and seat can do the job just fine ;).
 
#7 ·
wow! thanks I've never thought of checking the saddle fit, because he is so cold backed anyway this may be whats effecting him.
(other than just being a little brat :roll: lolol)

Would putting a gel pad under my saddle help at all?

my trainer has suggested it, but it was kind of lost in the wind, as most things are lol

but i'll def. try it :) because it sounds like your mare does the EXACT same thing mine does.

thank you so much!
 
#8 ·
athm said:
wow! thanks I've never thought of checking the saddle fit, because he is so cold backed anyway this may be whats effecting him.
(other than just being a little brat :roll: lolol)

Would putting a gel pad under my saddle help at all?

my trainer has suggested it, but it was kind of lost in the wind, as most things are lol

but i'll def. try it :) because it sounds like your mare does the EXACT same thing mine does.

thank you so much!
A gel pad is heavy, will trap heat, and will bottom out under pressure points. I have used them before with little to no success. If your saddle is too snug, then adding a gel pad will actually make the issue worse.

Instead, I would try a ThinLine pad. They are thinner and lighter than gel, won't alter your saddle fit, and it will actually eliminate pressure points (or very nearly so, depending on how bad they are). Plus, if it doesn't work, you can send it back for a refund (within 30-days). I would get the Contour pad. http://aretesaddlery.com/tack/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=65 I just about a second from this store (for my daughter's new saddle). If you use the coupon XMAS, you get 10% off! :D

Use the ThinLine over your normal square or fleece pad.

Good luck and I hope this works for you!!
 
#10 ·
I swear by the Supracor pads ( www.surpracor.com ). They make them english, western, etc. They also make hoof pads, medical supplies, household goods, etc. They are very expensive, but so good that I didn't realize that I was riding a way too narrow saddle on my stallion until someone actually pointed it out to me, because there were no sores and no apparent pain (I got a new saddle anyway :) ). It is a honeycomb design, and is also very light and pretty thin. I have had mine for close to 10 years and the actual pad is still in good shape (although the cover that holds it is in need of replacement). They make pads without covers that can simply be hosed off to stay clean - talk about awesome! That will be my next pad...you can put whatever show blanket you want over it. It actually sounds similar to the thin line pad described above - I will have to check out the site :)
 
#11 ·
Okay, I checked out the site for the thin line - they are quite different :)

Sorry, I also forgot to mention the supracor pads are quite expensive - but last forever and in my opinion are well worth it.

I use a western, and the girl who leases my gelding bought a cute little english one last year. We never see uneven sweat spots or sore spots (even after 25 mile competitive trail rides) - and sweat under the saddle is actually minimal because of how it allows air to circulate.

I actually can't believe I have not seen this pad for sale in catalogues anywhere.
 
#13 ·
It can mean that the saddle is too narrow and pinching in that area so much that it restricts that area and keeps it from sweating. Feel that area firmly all over after a good ride and pay attention for pinned ears, twitching, flinching, etc. These may be signs of a sore area and a badly fitting saddle. Are these areas on either shoulder?? That could mean too narrow a tree. Does he buck, pin ears, or act weird in certain riding situations, Turning, pace changes, hill climbing/descending, at a certain gate?? This could be a sign of pain that could be caused from the saddle.
 
#14 ·
Well, he does act up after a while of riding,

In the beginning, he'll hardly give me any trouble, and Is willing to do what I ask (most of the time) but if I walk him to give him a break from being a good pony, he'll think he's done and Wont want
to do A THING

I think that is just from him being six. and not wanting to go forward, because when he tries to slow down at the trot and is ignoring my leg, I smack him a little with the crop and he bucks.

But because he is so cold backed, I wouldnt rule anything out.

i'll try that today and see if he's sore or anyhting. thanks for the tip though!
 
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