Hey,
My horse is the exact same way. Very sluggish and non interested in the arena. He always stops once we get going, and most of the time he wont even go.
Just try walking him around while you warm up, and as you do that, do something interesting rather than just a circle - set up a pattern of ground poles, or barrels, and take him over or around those at the walk. Get him to bend his body and such.
Then once he realizes you have something new to do for your ride that day, he should be more willing to cooperate and have a fun ride. Trot him over the poles, around barrels, even vertical poles could be set up and you could do a weaving pattern or something. Anything fun, new and interesting.
Also try riding in serpentines or spirals, figure 8s...change it up every time you ride. This will get your horse much more excited for his workout.
Hope this helps!!Anyone have any advice on how to get a lazy horse going?
Be sure to ride him before feeding. I recommend early morning workout followed by his grain. Alphlfa tends to make them run a little hot so only feed in small portions but you can try allowing this as a ';lunch'; time snack followed with you riding him in the afternoon around 3 pm. I never have had the need or desire to use a whip or crop on any of the horses I have trained or ridden. Try taking him out for short rides to area that he seems eager to go. Use his instinct for speed or lack of! There is usually a reason
Also work on building a stronger bond with your horse. Take into consideration of your horses age also. If he is over 13 then this may be reason for slowing down with only short bursts. Best wishes.
You do not mention how old or how fit or unfit he is. Having checked out all medical conditions, back, teeth, legs etc, check the tack.
Then the likelihood is that he is bored or heavy on his forehand.
Try checking your position - up right, deep in the saddle, straight line from ear, shoulder, hip and heel, and from the bit end of the rein through your forearm and out through your elbow.
Try giving a little squeeze of the rein just before you ask for a pace, sit down deep and drive him with your seat. Do lots of turns and circles, use trotting poles to encourage him to stretch down and look what he is doing, lots of upward and downward transitions. Keep him guessing. Also a schooling whip would help so you do not have to fiddle with the reins or take your hands off them which can give the horse confusing messages. And get some lunge lessons to improve your seat and balance. If the horse goes forward and you get left behind he is going to get the message that you are not secure and will slow down again.
Also feed a bit more heating feed if he is not overweight.
ride outside in the pasture if you can. its new and it keeps their minds going. PLUS its fun for you :] DO NOT feed alfalfa to get a horse going. that will cause so many problems.. i hate when people use that as a solution. my horse is 14.3 and 16 yrs old i ride her english and western and i feed her 1 flake of 60%grass 40% alfalfa in the morning with a small scoop of oats and then at night she gets a 1/2 flake of the same hay no matter what i do with her that day. She also goes out for 4-6 hrs a day. I ride her anywhere from 3-6 days a week and her feet never changes. She does her a supplement for her joints but that's it. Try new things with your horse.. maybe trail riding or just riding outside (i do this and its the same riding i would do inside but my mare LOVES it and is so happy she doesn't even realize its the same stuff. :) If you always ride western try english.. always mix things up.. they get bored too!
Hmm do you normally tap him on the back? Horses often get used to being smacked on the back, so they start to ignore the ridder, and start kicking out and bucking out of frustration of being smacked. However, if you tap him gentle on the front shoulder, he should go forward immediately, without the typcial bucking assoiated.
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