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boon
Posts: 2
| Hi, long time lurker but first time poster.
I have a 5 year old gelding that I've started slow and easy. I've had him since he was 2 and done all of his training to date. He's got a decent foundation - WTC in both directions, stops, backs, side passes, lunges, and okay groundwork. He's been hauled all over God's creation, trail rides, games, and team pens on a regular basis.
He's totally laid back and I've rewarded and encouraged that behavior. I want to make an all around horse out of him more than a strictly a barrel horse, so I have not asked for much speed or tried to push him too much. With that said, we're ready to turn the heat up and I'm struggling to get a hustle out of him to teach him speed NOW. I'm working on teaching rolllbacks to him and while he has the idea to use his ass end turning into the fence, he has absolutely no hustle coming up of the turn to really move forward. I can kick and spur the heck out of him and he'll just plod along at his own pace. Same goes for kicking it into second gear running after a cow - he'll chase it at his own speed, I'll ask for more, and then he'll decide to kick it up a notch a few moments later. He absolutely has speed and hustle when he wants to, mostly in the rare moment he decides to be naughty and take off before I ask him to, so it's not like he doesn't have the type of speed I'm wanting. It's more so that I've rewarded whoa and easy so much on him that he doesn't know much else exists. He's not a dead head, but also definitely has the laid back personality.
Before anyone suggests spurs, I regularly ride him in them and yes, they are aggressive. I can get after him with a crop as well and he WILL respond to that, but I do not want to condition him into that permanently as a signal to go. I can use that as a temporary fix, but I'm more looking for exercises or drills to build some hustle into his feet and motivate him to work harder. I feel like I'm stuck between not wanting to get after him too hard for not understanding that I want speed/more effort out of him, but also fighting against his "I'm lazy and this is awesome" way of thinking. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| Find a big arena or a large field and breeze him. Had the same problem with my mare and I had to actually "teach" her to run becuase she didn't know how to undersaddle! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| You need to amp up your throttle :) Ed Wright is really good at this!! I like my horses to have a Ferrari-like throttle – when I ask for go – we’ve already left!
Put some excitement in your pants & mean business; he needs to understand it’s a speed event. From a standstill, lightly ask for speed – if you get nothing, over & under a little to get him to GO – doesn’t matter what direction or where – just forward movement. Repeat a few times until he understands what you mean when you ask for speed. You can try YouTube to see if there are any videos of someone at an Ed clinic doing this.
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
 
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I did a round of B-12 injections on my man Per the vets directions and took him to the track to breeze him a few times every week. He learned really quick what I meant when I sat forward and pushed the reins up on his neck. Good for you for starting him slow and rewarding good behavior!
Also, Welcome to BHW |
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| Some good advice is given in this short YouTube video...I have a feeling that I'm going to be dealing with the same issue with my laid back gelding....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TU1-5NLM6W8
Good luck and God Bless!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | Give them a reason to hustle! Work cattle! My gelding was so amazing lazy until I put him in front of a cow, totally different horse. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | This will do it for most horses....
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Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | komet. - 2015-11-25 2:01 PM This will do it for most horses....
Gosh Komet you always seem to have all the answers |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
Location: Texas | Breeze him. I had the same problem with my all- around, still do sometimes (that's when I use a crop on him). He is just like your horse not a dead head but laid back. Breeze him every time you ride for 2-3 week's then bring it back to every other day or once- twice a week. You want to let him know that running is OK just not all the time. He might get a little got headed and that's where your drills work wonders. Hope this helps!! |
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Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | IRunOnFaith - 2015-11-25 2:06 PM
komet. - 2015-11-25 2:01 PM This will do it for most horses....
Gosh Komet you always seem to have all the answers
I try to inject humor when I can.... But as most people here know, I'm not limited to that. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
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