Sherry 's Site

Here is a question I received from a gal from MI.

I recently purchased an 8yr old "Morgan gelding" that I was told was an experienced trail horse, no vices, etc. The seller only had a very cluttered pasture area so we rode him there among the other horses they had and he seemed to go fine. While loading him after purchase, my friend with me, later mentioned that the owners daughter told her they had only had him for 2months, after getting him from an auction. Anyway, I have found out from a friend who is an experienced rider, that he is rideable and plow reins, but very green. AS in started under saddle! He is very sweet and willing to please, stands well for grooming and mounting etc. One of the problems so far I have never come across is, if he does not want to go where I want him to go (under saddle) he walks backwards. He does this quickly and is very persistent. I have been making him circle, then I make him stand still, and then ask him again. I do not let him get his way on this, but he is stubborn! Any suggestions? Mona

The answer to 99% of all horse problems is to train the horse to go forward willingly, in a manner that is relaxed and under control. Some horses rear, buck, kick, shy, stand still when they are not willing to go forward. Your horse has chosen to back when he doesn't want to go forward. So the cure for all of the above problems starts with teaching the horse to go forward willingly, both mentally and physically.

First you have to get his attention, and I wouldn't recommend using force, fear or intimidation tactics or you may end up hurt. Second, ask yourself am I giving my horse mixed signals? Do I say go with my legs but whoa with my hands? Are you rewarding his forward motion with a loose rein or blocking it? The biggest discouragement of forward motion usually comes from a stiff rider with hands that constantly jerk the horse's mouth because they haven't developed an independent seat yet.

A rider who has an independent seat moves along with the motion of the horse's back , they don't need reins for balance, they don't grip with their legs, their feet just rest on the stirrups and their head is up looking where they are going, not at the horse's ears. When a rider has an unyielding seat, it assaults the horse's back and makes him reluctant to move forward willingly.

I like your idea of circles instead of straight lines. But I'm confused about why you would make him stand still, when you want forward motion. When you tell a horse to go forward, it is essential that you do not immediately tell him to slow down. I would ride a circle then turn it into a straight line for 20 feet, and then another circle followed by a 30 foot straight line. Gradually keep increasing the distance until he says, "Hey, we're going somewhere, me too!"

Another thing that I would do is focus on the hindquarters not the forehand or head. If you can loosen up the hindquarters, it is like revving up an engine. Move the hindquarters from side to side using an indirect rein and then turn it into a direct rein with a squeeze of your legs. Give a smooch and then spank your own chest as a warning that you are going to spank the horse. Start with a gentle spank, keep a steady rhythm until the horse takes any step forward. Immediately release your legs and the spank, then ride your horse like you are going somewhere.

Remember you are retraining your horse and this is always more work once a bad habit has been formed. You will need to go back to the foundation to fix this problem. I would recommend working the horse from the ground first to establish a good forward movement by tapping behind the drive line with a training stick (not a stingy whip) or the popper on the end of a lead. Most people underestimate the power of training your horse on the ground first. But I guarantee the responsiveness or lack thereof will transfer from the ground to the saddle.

Happy Trails,

sherry

"The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for." Louis L"mour