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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Horse not responsive in the arena

29 replies

ifyoulikealotofchocolateonyour · 01/11/2025 21:41

My new horse is so lovely. He's only 7. A connie. I rode him for the first time after getting him a week ago. I was a bit worried he would be a bit nervous as he's been slightly unsettled this week (understandably) but when I asked for trot nothing happened. I tried a few pony club kicks but nothing so we just worked in walk. He was the same for my instructor a few days ago. When I tried him his owner rode him in spurs and we (my instructor and I) also found he needed spurs to respond in the school. All this is probably better than the other end of the spectrum ie he's not overly bonkers or liable to run off with me. However I don't want to ride him in spurs and so I need to find a way to make him more responsive to the leg.

My questions are why do you think he's like this in the school at only 7? Is it just because he's used to spurs or something else? And secondly do you have any tips for me to make him more responsive. I don't want to be whacking him and kicking him.

OP posts:
Sillysoggyspaniel · 04/11/2025 16:56

maxelly · 04/11/2025 15:35

I think to be honest while back to basics is a good approach, if you're not sure what you are doing with it you are going to need professional help - not necessarily forever or even for a long time, but if (as it sounds) there's a fundamental gap in his understanding and he needs to be re-trained to fill that gap, that sounds a job for a professional rather than muddling through on your own and with MN advise (no insult to you and your ability, I have been exactly the same of effectively needing to restart a pony that has been badly broken in). What does your instructor think, I know you say they can't get him to trot without spurs too but haven't they offered some thoughts on what to do about it, or is their suggestion just that you ride in spurs? If they aren't the right person to re-correct his schooling and teach you how to maintain and continue that you may need to approach someone different with more experience with young/green horses, maybe even look at sending him away for 6-8 weeks intensive reschooling by a pro?

I agree with this. Your instructor should have ideas on how to help him understand other than just using spurs, and if they don't they might not be the right match. A couple of weeks reshooling with a sympathetic professional will be a great investment.

TalulahJP · 05/11/2025 08:43

Im not an expert but you could start seeing what he knows yourself by going into the school carrying a long schooling whip and asking him to walk on as you lead him (from next to his shoulder so youre not dragging him the way we normally might, so he knows this is different).

Say ‘walk on’ loudly, click tongue once and if he then doesn’t step forward within a second, gently flick the end of the whip towards his bum (you dont turn to do this you just use the hand furthest away from him to flick the long whip behind your back towards his bum.

The theory being ‘if I don’t listen to instruction I get a flick’.

Start gentle til he gets the hang of it. Walk for say one minute round the school. Practice Whoah command to stop. Pat him for being good each time so he knows he’s doing what you want.

Then Walk On and tongue click again, and if he doesn't walk, one gentle whip again. Repeat multiple times. This is work not fun. Change direction across the school occasionally. You lead him from the inside. So when you change direction you swap hands over. You could stop to do this. Practice whoah command then.

You shouldn’t be dragging him forward at any time. He has to listen to your voice and do what you say and do (ss Youll do the same walk or trot beside him) when you tell him, or he gets a sting wirh the whip. Just one. Start gentle but you can make it a proper sting if he is taking the piss and that will sharpen him up that you have expectations that he pays attention and obeys voice commands. .

Once hes got the hang of it move on to trot and jog beside him. The command being Trot On, click, one whip if he doesn’t. Continue as before. Go from walk to trot and back, practicing a stop now and again. Remember to praise him.

A tongue click only used to go faster and same with the whip. No tongue click or whip if he takes a while to slow down. Whoooooah in a low deep voice. A high pitched is used on going faster commands. Easy to differentiate if he doesn’t recognise the words.

The reason I’m saying do this from the ground is because we don’t know if he understands commands at all so it’s the best way to teach him if he’s forgotten them and you can see how he moves with no saddle or rider.

You can do the exact same thing on a lunge or riding him ie Ask for what you want, click tongue if it involves going faster, whip once behind the leg with a long whip (long schooling whip so you don’t remove your hand from the rein - but dont jab him in the mouth) etc.

Once you know he knows the commands on the ground he needs to obey them when ridden. He will then start to notice that when you say trot on you squeeze both legs and will soon associate that with squeeze-means-faster and will obey that so you don’t always need the voice command in the distant future once Hes Got It and is behaving!

Dont work him too long or he will get bored. Handful of pony nuts and a good pat at the end if the session for trying.

TalulahJP · 05/11/2025 08:46

Oh and if you don’t think you can do that or you have the money for an instructor to do it then go for that rather than arse it up!

Gremlinsateit · 05/11/2025 09:54

I have to disagree re using a schooling whip while leading, whether a flick or a sting.

If you find you must use a whip, eg while lunging, then if you make contact at all it should be at most an extension of your index finger to tap him to help him understand what to do, and if you use a schooling whip while leading it will be too easy to send confusing signals.

Maxelly’s advice re asking your instructor for a plan is good - as always! :)

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