I have been riding an Appy pony for 3 weeks. He has some annoying habits that I would like to correct if I can figure out how. I'm hoping some of you have some ideas.

Compared to last year, he is greatly improved. He has been schooled in Dressage for over a year. Last year, he used to stop every few feet to turn his head to nudge my boots.

This year I've noticed that he will take a notion to stop in the middle of something we are doing. Then he won't budge, no matter how much I squeeze him. He did that today. When my trainer went to help another student mount, and she wasn't there flicking him with her Dressage whip--he just stopped to look at the new horse. ACK!

I'm hoping that some of you have some ideas on how to perhaps anticipate this behavior, and also to correct it.

I run out of leg power pretty quickly with Fibromyalgia. Seems like he waits for that. I do use alternating leg, and foot pressure, but a lot of times I run out of steam. But, he still will stop and stand. Very annoying!

Since it seems he knows and understands your requests but is choosing to be stubborn/lazy I'd recommend you carrying the dressage whip (or any crop for that matter) to reinforce your leg with a stern pop when necessary.  It seems your trainer is aware of this problem if she feels the need to use a dressage whip to keep him going while you are riding, so if it's physically possible it seems it would be wise for you to carry it so you can correct him without hurting/wearing yourself out when your trainer isn't around.

Thanks, that's what I thought too. He sure is a pigheaded little cuss when he suddenly stops. I have been given the go ahead to purchase a Dressage whip just for this problem, and the one I am likely to run into with the Draft-Palomino pony that I'll try out in my next lesson.

Here's a link to a discussion awhile back on this:

http://forum.equisearch.com/forums/p/5034/5034.aspx#5034

Maybe it will help.  It kind of sounds similar.

echo the previous poster... carry the dressage whip yourself and make it quite clear to him that you are not going to stand for this sort of behaviour.

Sounds as if he currently has the measure of you... if he waited till the instuctor moved away that tells me that he's really only respecting her and not focused on you at all. You need to get his attention back on you and a couple of sharp reminders about manners from your dressage whip should do the trick.

 He sounds like a cheeky little devil IMHO who needs a bit of a firm hand :) :)

I've ridden (and still have) horses that do this to me. No matter how strong we are, the horse is always stronger and we're going to be worn out much more quickly than they. So you're not alone! Reading you're post made me think of a Steffen Peters clinic I watched a while ago and he says the most important part of the horse that we need to train is his mind. He can feel your leg 100% and he needs to learn that that means "go". So yeah, the advice others have given is great and stick with that. That should fix it.

Good luck! 

 I agree with the other posters. I had a horse that was lazy/obnoxious/inattentive. I used a dressage whip. I would ask once with my leg, if no response then a light tap with the dressage with. If no response after that one hard tap and she got the message and was good afterward. One of her tricks was to try walking sideways out of the ring (no gate) and as soon as I felt her going sideways one good tap with the dressage whip was all she needed. She wouldn't try again.

 

Edit: P.S. I don't use a whip at all with my current horse. He is very responsive to the slightest anything (I'm now spoiled). It can be irritating having a nonresponsive horse but they can be trained pretty easily if you are consistent and not afraid to ask nicely, ask again, then TELL. 

KCS:

Here's a link to a discussion awhile back on this:

http://forum.equisearch.com/forums/p/5034/5034.aspx#5034

Maybe it will help.  It kind of sounds similar.

That sure does remind me of how he acts. The past two lessons, I've had to be the rider who was training spotters. Well, as you can imagine, I had a heck of a time keeping his mind on his business. He kept wanting to follow the spotter, and I kept correcting him. With all my correcting, it was wearing me out.

JennyBristol:

echo the previous poster... carry the dressage whip yourself and make it quite clear to him that you are not going to stand for this sort of behaviour.

Sounds as if he currently has the measure of you... if he waited till the instuctor moved away that tells me that he's really only respecting her and not focused on you at all. You need to get his attention back on you and a couple of sharp reminders about manners from your dressage whip should do the trick.

 He sounds like a cheeky little devil IMHO who needs a bit of a firm hand :) :)

It was completly vexxing to me that he was ignoring me. The same problem with distractions, for him any way...stopping to stare at other stuff. Just plain old stopping and refusing to move. Or looking at a spotter we were training. So I'm glad I can get the whip, so I can get him under control. He is a cheekly little devil. He was a lot worse in 2007 than now.

percheronrider:

This year I've noticed that he will take a notion to stop in the middle of something we are doing. Then he won't budge, no matter how much I squeeze him. He did that today. When my trainer went to help another student mount, and she wasn't there flicking him with her Dressage whip--he just stopped to look at the new horse. ACK!

Chloe (my pony) used to do that. We called it the "lets whip me so more" game because she's stand there and and not move. Wouldn't listen to your leg or crop, and would buck like a brat. I was like she liked being smacked on the butt.

Grace and Lila:

percheronrider:

This year I've noticed that he will take a notion to stop in the middle of something we are doing. Then he won't budge, no matter how much I squeeze him. He did that today. When my trainer went to help another student mount, and she wasn't there flicking him with her Dressage whip--he just stopped to look at the new horse. ACK!

Chloe (my pony) used to do that. We called it the "lets whip me so more" game because she's stand there and and not move. Wouldn't listen to your leg or crop, and would buck like a brat. I was like she liked being smacked on the butt.

Is that Chloe in your sig picture? She is real cute!

percheronrider:

Is that Chloe in your sig picture? She is real cute!

No, Thats Lila, but thanks. This is Chloe! She has gotten over her stilly game and is a really good pony. I bet that your horse will get better if you use a whip.

This is what my pony mickey does but he is only young so if he is young he is just playing around.

 

Sounds like you're riding a lesson horse?   Pretty typical if that's the case.  Duller horses are safer to ride and tolerate more, but they can lock up and be stubborn.  It's a trade-off.  I love a great sensitive horse, but then you have to make sure they're not spooky and all over the place.  I guess you have to take the good with the bad.  And I'm with everyone else - this horse is definately in need of some dressage whip therapy!  just make sure you are black and white - don't nag with little taps from the whip or she'll begin to ignore that as well.  Ask with your leg - once, if she doesn't respond, then give a light tap with the whip, if she still doesn't respond, then she needs a good whack with it to get her attention.  If you do it right, she'll stop doing this behaviour really quick.

how about trying a mild set of spurs?? i've noticed when i carry a crop of some sort; i tend to lean on it too much as a crutch.. the spurs free up my hands and are only used as a neccessity for times like yours.