Hey everyone!
I have had my horse for going on four years, and I love him more than anything. He isn't stubborn with anything EXCEPT lead changes. *sigh* We have been working on these forever, and he just doesn't want to do them. He will changes his lead, but most of the time he kicks out and then changes. If you get lucky, he will change smoothly and happily, but it's usually hit or miss.
Some backround information-
He got checked out by the vet a while back and he had a sore spot, but that has been fixed. My first trainer taught him in a way I wouldn't agree with which was by hitting him and drilling him. My new trainer has been helping me build up muscle and bending etc. But he still wants to be difficult. We are probably going to bring him to the chiropractor soon, but we don't think that is the problem. Please answer this question in terms of him being stubborn, not sore. He has improved with flying changes, but he just won't get it through his head.
Yesterday, in my lesson, he kicked and kicked and kicked. He started out fabulous, with only a few kicks here and there, but as we continued through out the lesson it got worse. It was sort of funny because when I hit him for kicking out, he kicked again so I pulled him in a circle (he was totally ignoring me). I then proceded to relax and pick up the canter again. When going across for the lead (heres the funny part) he lifted his butt in the air as if to kick, and then tucked hs butt and changed, almost like a five year old about to be spanked trying to cover his butt. That right there sort of gave it away that he was being stubborn, not sore.
*Ahem* after all that information my question is: Do you have any tips on how to fix this problem, and should I punish him with my crop when he kicks out. I personally don't like hitting him, but I think it's pretty neccessary when he kicks out.
Thanks
I have had my horse for going on four years, and I love him more than anything. He isn't stubborn with anything EXCEPT lead changes. *sigh* We have been working on these forever, and he just doesn't want to do them. He will changes his lead, but most of the time he kicks out and then changes. If you get lucky, he will change smoothly and happily, but it's usually hit or miss.
Some backround information-
He got checked out by the vet a while back and he had a sore spot, but that has been fixed. My first trainer taught him in a way I wouldn't agree with which was by hitting him and drilling him. My new trainer has been helping me build up muscle and bending etc. But he still wants to be difficult. We are probably going to bring him to the chiropractor soon, but we don't think that is the problem. Please answer this question in terms of him being stubborn, not sore. He has improved with flying changes, but he just won't get it through his head.
Yesterday, in my lesson, he kicked and kicked and kicked. He started out fabulous, with only a few kicks here and there, but as we continued through out the lesson it got worse. It was sort of funny because when I hit him for kicking out, he kicked again so I pulled him in a circle (he was totally ignoring me). I then proceded to relax and pick up the canter again. When going across for the lead (heres the funny part) he lifted his butt in the air as if to kick, and then tucked hs butt and changed, almost like a five year old about to be spanked trying to cover his butt. That right there sort of gave it away that he was being stubborn, not sore.
*Ahem* after all that information my question is: Do you have any tips on how to fix this problem, and should I punish him with my crop when he kicks out. I personally don't like hitting him, but I think it's pretty neccessary when he kicks out.
Thanks