Wondering if you can help me out. My horse Meeko is a nine year old paint. I've had him for exactly one year tomorrow (very happy owner). I have on problem with him- he doesn't respond when I try to make him trot from the walk.
He just keeps walking, no matter what cues I give him. I use my seat, my leg, and now even a crop (which I hate). He'll go for a time, then go right back to the walk. He trots fine on the lounge with just a vocal cue.
He'll canter fine from the trot if I do it quick enough before he breaks back to the walk. It is very frusterating, and I am tired of fighting him whenever I want to ride.
What should I do to lighten him up?
Answers:
First off it sounds like something may be hurting him at the trot, but since it is only when you are riding him and not on the longe then you should check his tack. If it is his tack then keep in mind that the trot is a bouncy gait and it might not hurt him so much at the canter.
It could also be that since usually in a work out you would walk the trot and then canter so he just hasn't woken up yet and is taking a "Sunday morning stroll" and then by the time you canter an have been trotting for a while then he's already awake from the trotting. If this is the case then keep him at a brisk walk when you warm up-- don't let him just drag his feet!
It could also be that he has a back problem and once again, the trot is a bouncy gait so it may hurt him more than a canter. Are you sitting the trot or posting? Have him checked by a chiropractor.
Best wishes!
Use the crop, and/or possibly looser bit. When he starts to slow down, kick him. Try extra lunging too to keeping him trotting.
Transitions, transitions, and transitions. Do lots of walk trot transitions with short periods of the trot instead of doing a trot for as long as you can get. Ask him to walk PRIOR to him trying to break into the trot, then reward him for doing so.
Do the same thing with the canter transitions. Ask him to walk before he tries to break into it. Then reward him. Each time that you do this you can make him do the faster gait a little longer until he can do it for as long as you want him to. If he starts going backwards in this, go back a couple of steps and start over again with that step and gradually build back up. This shows him that you will give him the walking that he wants to do, but that he has to work with you in the process.
Your horse may be unhappy with the ring, try taking him out of the ring to ride him. He may perk up a little more. Try to vary what you are doing with him instead of just doing straight lines and circles, try figure 8s, serpetines, pole work, patterns, etc. Try riding with other horses and using the energy of the other horses to get him going. Once you find the key to him, he will want to keep working.
Also, make sure that nothing is wrong with him medically that would cause him to not want to do anything other than a walk. He may have tender feet or some other problem that is causing it. He may not be in good enough physical shape to trot for a long period of time, make sure that he is conditioned enough to do so. If he is breaking into the walk before you make turns or corners, he may be off balance and it may be hard for him to do them at a faster gait.
On a final note, he may realize that you are just going to let him keep walking. This goes for the horses that are smart and like not having to walk that much. If you do not like using the crop, you may not be using this artificial aid correctly. Ask the advice of a local trainer/instructor to assist you. There may be something that you are not noticing that you are doing. For horses that we have that are like this, we have a 1-2-3 rule. The first time we ask nicely with seat, weight, and legs, the second time we ask with more of these aids, the third time they receive a reminder on their rump (not their shoulder) with the whip/crop. If it goes past this 1-2-3 the horse is learning that they do not have to listen to you. It is more important to get them going before they think that you are just going to let them not respond. You can untrain a horse as quickly as you can train them. If you feel him start to slow, then ask him to keep going with your natural aids first and then the crop/whip if he does not listen. You need to use the crop/whip only as hard as what you need and only as many times as you need. Otherwise your horse will learn not to respond to it as well.
You have had the horse for a year, and there is a chance that when you got him he was the perfect horse for you. Riders do outgrow horses in more ways than just in size. They can outgrow them in riding ability. If a rider is of a higher ability than the horse, then the horse will often shut down, react by kicking out or balking, because they cannot do what the rider expects of them. It is like taking a 50 yard dash runner and asking them to run a marathon every day of their life. They will either step up and do it if they have the ability in them, or they will simply shut down. If that is what has happened, you would be better off to get you a horse that is of a more appropriate level for you. But, get the advice of a trainer/instructor ahead of time to make sure that this is really what has happened.
I hope this helps, good luck with your boy.
Either something is hurting him, or he can sense you don't like using the crop and know you won't keep doing it.
Keep doing it, and MEAN it. But get him checked out first.
Try bringing him out on the trails and canter around a bit, then see if he will trot out in the fields, not in the ring. also check his tack, as they might be hurting him
you should try to wear spears and kick him in the side gently when you want him to go faster!
I've trained a couple of quarter horses like that. To me it sounds like he is lazy. I would use spurs like Ricky G said! They can work wonders!!
I would use the same cues that you use when lunging and then reinforse with the crop. Then keep on hiting him if he goes back in a walk.
you have gotten some good answers already but it could be other things. If your tack is bothering him it will probably be obvious during all gaits and he'd buck to tell you. transitions are hard work, require more energy and some horses are not in enough shape to execute them smoothly. Meeko may be out of shape or may not be paying attention to you, using a crop or spurs is not bad or cruel, they are an extension of you aides if he does not listen to the led aid to trot, tap with a crop or gently push with the spur immediately after he refuses the leg aid. Try working him on a longe line to build muscles and coordination and get him in shape so transitions are easier. it sounds like he is out of shape and lazy, he is just not listening to you. A horse should pick up a walk, trot or canter from a standstill or from any other gait weather transitioning up or down (slower to faster or vice versa). Work him consistently every day for the same amount of time both directions and he will improve in strength and endurance.
its possible that he may have a back problem so you should check this out but I think he is just lazy. If you don't where spurs I would suggest getting some and working with them instead. I know how you feel about the crop I don't like to have to use one ether but some times it is necessary. keep working with him and make sure you praise him for good behavior and doing what you want. Good Luck
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