Joined
·
158 Posts
So I have been itching to get out and ride now that the weather is nice. I have been lounging my appy gelding all winter a few times a week and he use to be fine with it, He'd walk and trot but wouldn't move into a canter. But with the snowy ground and tricky footing I hadn't bothered with it, just mainly did walk and trot. Well he use to also be fine to ride too, but still I didn't bother with a canter at first but then once in a great while I would ask him to canter and I got nothing.
Well now, as in the past week or so, I have noticed a change. During Lounging he doesn't even break past a amble walk! No matter how hard I encourage him, he does nothing. It use to be that with the lounge whip I just had to raise it and he moved faster, now not even a crack moves him. Then while riding now, he doesn't move and when I say he doesn't move I mean I mount up and he doesn't even take a step. I try turning him and all he does is swing his head to my toe and stay there, not moving a foot!
Then if by some miracle I manage to get him moving, which takes about 20 mins, he stops randomly and then doesn't move again. It's very frustrating! I use a hackamore on him because he would have a fit with the bit. He wouldn't open his mouth, he'd hold his head high in the air and then if I did trick him into taking the bit, he would ignore the bit. However, I'm not sure the hackamore is cutting it either and I might try the bit again. With the hackamore he lowers his head and puts his nose right into the bridle when tacking up so he seems to enjoy it more.
What do you guys think? I've tried brainstorming it, had his teeth checked and they are good. Also he plays in the pasture with the 2 minis with no problems. When I untack him and take the halter off he trots away happy as a clam. So no physical reasons for him not to move because he is fine in the pasture.
Well now, as in the past week or so, I have noticed a change. During Lounging he doesn't even break past a amble walk! No matter how hard I encourage him, he does nothing. It use to be that with the lounge whip I just had to raise it and he moved faster, now not even a crack moves him. Then while riding now, he doesn't move and when I say he doesn't move I mean I mount up and he doesn't even take a step. I try turning him and all he does is swing his head to my toe and stay there, not moving a foot!
Then if by some miracle I manage to get him moving, which takes about 20 mins, he stops randomly and then doesn't move again. It's very frustrating! I use a hackamore on him because he would have a fit with the bit. He wouldn't open his mouth, he'd hold his head high in the air and then if I did trick him into taking the bit, he would ignore the bit. However, I'm not sure the hackamore is cutting it either and I might try the bit again. With the hackamore he lowers his head and puts his nose right into the bridle when tacking up so he seems to enjoy it more.
What do you guys think? I've tried brainstorming it, had his teeth checked and they are good. Also he plays in the pasture with the 2 minis with no problems. When I untack him and take the halter off he trots away happy as a clam. So no physical reasons for him not to move because he is fine in the pasture.