[harhaijaka]

So yesterday I tacked up the new gelding who is "green broke" and are going to take him out on a trail with other horses.He is great while i mount and get situated then the head tossing begins then backing up. I get off and start walking him just so he can see what the other horses are doing so we get out on the ride and i get back on. When I get back on he is fine no head tossing but he WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD!! he will back he turns to either side really nice too. So it dawns on me he is not educated at all. I call up the previous owners and they then say they only ever tacked him and sat on him bc they didnt know what to do from there. Great i did ride him home starting out being ponied by another horse then on my own but he was just following. How do you teach a youngster to nove forward and not backward? I have worked with young horses before and even trained my mare this fall to ride and now my daughter rides her but he is a big boy and i am confused about teaching him what i want. Any suggestions????

 

[riccil0ve]

Does he know a cue to go from the ground? Or does he just follow you on the lead rope? Try teaching him a vocal cue to move forward in hand or while lunging. Then when you get on, apply the vocal cue to the leg cue, using a header if you need to. He needs to associate your go cue with going, so don't ask fifty million times. Ask and go. =]

 

[kiwigirl]

I would forget about riding with other horses and go back to the training arena. You have started another young horse so obviously you have quite abit of riding experience, you must have voice and leg cues that you use. When I was teaching my girl to walk forward I would push her gently with one of my legs and make kissing noises at the same time. As soon as she took a step forward I stopped what I was doing and gave her a big rub and lots of praise. It didn't take long for her to just move off to the kissing sound. The reason I used just one leg rather than pushing with both is because I had already taught her to yield to pressure from the ground and it was easy to start moving her foot sideways. Also I barely touched the reins while she was learning to go forwards.

 

[Allison Finch]

You see...I never get on a horse until I have lunged and ground driven them at least a couple of times. That way, at least I know they will understand voice command. If I get caught on a greenie like yours, all you can do is switch to "patient mode". You must gently nag him forward. When he finally takes a step forward, you stop and mightily praise him. Then you do it again. You must be very patient and simply ask him to go forward again, and again, and again. He will, eventually go forward where he learns to like the praise.

Just try not to get caught again.

 

[Marecare]

If as you get on the horse is resisting by backing up,then practice backing up!
Soon the horse will tire of backing up and look for another way to avoid the task at hand.
Sorry,but this is what training is all about sometimes.
Circles also help in some cases.

Locking on to other horses can get the horse moving and help them get the idea to move out in the beginning and it is important to keep the feet moving.

I usually slap my leg or wiggle the split reins toward their rear end a bit to get some forward movement,but if that is not enough,then you might consider what others have suggested and stay a little closer to home until you have some of the basics worked out.

 

[smrobs]

I always make sure there is at least some inkling of a cue for forward motion instilled in the horse before I ever get on; whether it be a word cue, smooching, or clucking. When I actually get into the saddle, I use that cue in conjunction with leg pressure and each time I have to ask and they don't respond, I increase the pressure. If the horse continues to refuse to move, I will bend their neck to one side and give them a firm pop on the rump with a bridle rein on the other. However, that is kindof a more reckless way to do it and could very well result in either a bolt or a buck. If you have someone who could urge from the ground while you ride in a roundpen, that would work best.

 

[harhaijaka]

thanks this is some good advice from everyone I will give it a try when ever the horrid rain stops

 

[kiwigirl]

The mare that I have now is the first horse I have broken in and trained myself. Looking back, teaching her to move forward from her back was the hardest thing to do. I remember encouraging her with noises and leg pressure but being nervous as I had to use more pressure in case I went too far and pushed her into a buck or bolt as smrobs said. I had worked with her on the ground and was able to move her front and rear ends nicely, she was going backwards and forwards nicely on the ground to. I think it took me about three sessions over three days to get Phoenix walking nicely around the yard we were working in. It probably could have been done faster but I was in no hurry and was possibly over cautious. Compared to getting a nice fluid walk forward, backwards and sideways were easy.

 

[kevinshorses]

Just sit tight on the horse. It will eventually move forward. You can wiggle your legs a little and move around so that the horse maybe is a little uncomfortable untill he moves then sit still. It may take a little longer but if your not real experienced it may be the best way to go.

 

[EveningShadows]

Personally I wouldn't have taken him out anywhere before a ride or two at home to see what he knows...to me, that's dangerous for you, the horse, and everyone else that was riding with you that day.

Alot of good advise on here already so not going to add too much...but if you have access to a trainer, I'd get them to do a session or two to help you get started with him.