[runningwiththewind]

I have a calm laid back gelding that I hadn't been working with for about 1 and a half years since I had another horse I was working with so he just sat. Well I sold that horse and now the gelding is going to be my primary trail riding, barrel, pole, cutting, and roping horse. ( he has speed) So I lunge him and he does fine until I ask him to pick it up a gait. I will first wave the whip behind him and if he doesn't respond to that and clucking I will snap or crack it behind him. He usually does a faster walk. So then I will make light contact with his hindquarters increasing the intensity. But instead of complying he goes a little slower, swings his hindquarters towards me like he will kick, and puts his head up or down a little bit. So in response to this I keep him going so he can't kick but still doesn't go faster. Also when it is really windy or he will act up and as I ask him to rot alongside me e will put his head down a little but it is kind of stopping. A few times there were some really odd sounds, dogs, and tarps and plastic bags around us that I guess scared him so he took a few steps of canter then trotted then stopped a few feet from me and waited for me. I don't really view this as major but I know I need to better desensitize him. Otherwise he is a perfect angel.

 

[CJ82Sky]

could it be pain related? if not, he may have had a bad issue with the whip in the past. try doing basic desensitizing with the whip to start and see how he replies, then go back to longing. my QH baby (had since he foaled!) does that where he just decides he knows i won't hurt him, and the whip is not scary! when that happens i hold the lash in my hand and use the whip like a giant long crop and make the circle smaller and tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap on his butt til he stops bucking and kicking out and i annoy him enough that he gives in and listens and moves forward. he's a smart stubborn lil ******! but it works.

annoyance! tap tap tap away! good luck (rule out pain first)

 

[hemms]

OP your horse is giving you 'tude, testing your leadership and conviction. You have hardly asked anything of him yet and resistance, evasion and confrontation are the name of his game.

A horse turns it's rear in my direction at all, and my demon comes out. We correct this NOW. Put on your hardass mommy pants and demand his respect.

I suspect once you gain respect on the lunge, you will have it elsewhere, too.

Be safe and good luck!
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[tinyliny]

This horse has speed? how? if he won't loosen up and go forward on the lunge, how's he gonna do that under saddle?

Try using a flag or a plastic bag tied to a dressage whip for your aid to drive him forward. the instant he swings his butt toward you, fall apart! get so crazy with the whip that he jumps out of his skin! Once.
Then, the next time he starts to even think about swining that way, you rustle the bag and give him a stern "[email protected]! Ah!" and send him forward.

When you do the first "fall apart" (this means swing the whip/flag/bag back and forth rapidly, or against the ground such that you create a commotion), make no mistake, he'll fall apart, too. So, be ready. He'll jump, maybe buck or rear or whatever and there'll be a big pull on the line. Pay no mind. Don't STOP becuase he gets upset. That is the WORST time to stop. keep the prime directive formost in your mind; GO FORWARD NOW!

 

[Thunderspark]

I agree with both above, he's testing you and seeing if he has to listen to you or not.....I would do the same, ask, tell, move! Once he gets going remove the pressure and if he stops, ask by pointing, clucking, spanking behind him and then if he still is flippin' you the bird get after him!

 

[Army wife]

I don't think your horse needs to be desensitized. I think he is TOO desensitized. Sounds to me like he doesn't take you serious at all. Try just using a rope to lunge him. Cluck, twirl rope, run at his hip and smack him with a rope, or throw the end of your rope at him. Could be the same basically with a whip. Voice command/cluck, THEN lift whip hand, then smack the snot out of him. That way, he will start to take you more serious and you "should" eventually just get him to lunge by voice command.

 

[Cherie]

He needs to be 'sensitized' and not 'desensitized'. He has no respect and is telling you to 'kiss his ****'.

Just HIT him with the whip. He won't break. Do you think another horse that told him to MOVE would just use empty threats?

This is how horses get really spoiled and it does not take long. They only have to win a few of these battles and they will not put out any effort for you. Not only that, pretty soon HIS threats will no longer be empty and he WILL try to kick your head off. He'll back up into you and refuse to do anything and will start kicking seriously at you. Quit nagging at him and don't ask him to do something that you do not intend to make happen.

If you really think he is going to make a barrel horse or any speed related performance horse, you better teach him right now to move when you say move or he won't be willing or able to catch a milk cow.

 

[runningwiththewind]

Thanks I will try this. also forgot his last owner was very aggressive with the whip. The last owner was my old "friend". She would crack him in the face, should, legs, and flank while throwing stones at his hindquarters and face whenever she got bored or was longing him. I will do what you guys said. Right now its seven degrees and snowing heavy. I hate winter

 

[WSArabians]

If I just sat around for a year, you would REALLY have to convince me to get off my lazy a$$ and run around a round pen for you.

Good advice here, just be very consistent.

 

[runningwiththewind]

Just went out and was lunging him and he did better. I him used to the whip to the point where I could swirl it fast an inch from his head and hindquarters. He only slightly swung his hindquarters once, so I tapped him and made him do fast circles, trotting, and making him put his nose back to his hindquarters and spin. After that he went into a trot nicely.