Hello, I have been leasing a 17 year old Azteca (1/2 QU, 1/2 Andalusian) who I have considered seriously buying. However, he has several issues that I am not sure of how to help him through. The positives is that he has the best ground manners and has been an excellent confidence builder. I would not mind helping him through these issues if I thought that he might get better. My trainer had brought him from his original owner. He had some bad training and arrived with an inverted (U-neck). His topline was undeveloped. Through lunging and some in-hand work he is beginning to develop a topline so he'll looking much better. My trainer had not worked with him until recently and had been using him as a school horse. However, most of her students were fearful of him because of his forwardness (he trots rather than walks, canters rather than trots). He never takes off on you,but can be stubborn and take over. He is, however, not a dominant gelding in the field and extremely docile otherwise. I'd seriously consider buying him if I could have a plan to retrain him for the following issues:
In general, it is very difficult to keep him round and on the bit when under saddle. He'll move with his nose stuck in the air. As a result he's hollow backed and stiff.
1. He's 17 years old and always wants to go. I'm not sure if that is just his personality or a matter of poor training where he was "rushed."
2.. He begins to ignore my signals when he decides the training should stop. He even ignores my stop signal (which he's rather good about generally).
3. He'll decide to rush on the lunge line and ignore my commands to walk
4. I'll know he's anxious because he'll chew/bite on the bit
5. It is very rare that he is playing with the bit indicating relaxation
6. Most of the issues of jaw tension and ignoring my signals occur under saddle, or when he is asked to do something he doesn't want to do (ie. something simply like continue to walk).
7. He'll give me his all and be wonderful until he designates a time when the training should end....at that point he completely ignores me.
8. Even in the field, he was very difficult to get his trust. It has been with much patience that he responds (without food) to my voice cues. Even so, he rarely comes quickly
He is extremely sensitive under saddle and would make an incredible mount if I could just help him work through this....Your help would be immense
Thank you
In general, it is very difficult to keep him round and on the bit when under saddle. He'll move with his nose stuck in the air. As a result he's hollow backed and stiff.
1. He's 17 years old and always wants to go. I'm not sure if that is just his personality or a matter of poor training where he was "rushed."
2.. He begins to ignore my signals when he decides the training should stop. He even ignores my stop signal (which he's rather good about generally).
3. He'll decide to rush on the lunge line and ignore my commands to walk
4. I'll know he's anxious because he'll chew/bite on the bit
5. It is very rare that he is playing with the bit indicating relaxation
6. Most of the issues of jaw tension and ignoring my signals occur under saddle, or when he is asked to do something he doesn't want to do (ie. something simply like continue to walk).
7. He'll give me his all and be wonderful until he designates a time when the training should end....at that point he completely ignores me.
8. Even in the field, he was very difficult to get his trust. It has been with much patience that he responds (without food) to my voice cues. Even so, he rarely comes quickly
He is extremely sensitive under saddle and would make an incredible mount if I could just help him work through this....Your help would be immense
Thank you
