Teaching a 3 year old to go forward

[carrie17491]

I am in the process of backing a 3 year old and have come to a bit of a brick wall. She's a bit reluctant to go forward off my leg, but fine to be led and on the lunge. She's been long reined and was willing to go forward when I used to ask this of her. But now she is reacting to my voice I.e when I say "walk on" as she would when lunging and long reining.

So my question is, how can I get her to go forward from my squeeze? Do I incorporate the voice commands when asking? As I say she's fine when long reining and lunging but it's a different story when you get on

Thanks

[sarahp]

Use voice and leg at the same time - she probably doesn't yet know the meaning of the leg! And she may be a bit tentative as her balance will have changed with you on top, if you see what I mean, and she needs to get used to how it feels to move with a rider on top.

[carrie17491]

That is my thinking to sarahp. Would you suggest keepin her on the lead rein so to speak, just until she is sure on her feet?

I feel so sorry for her! She's got so much to think about the poor thing haha! She is taking it all in her stride though, she a superstar!

[GinaGeo]

Ah bless her. When you were long reining were you using the reins as legs? And giving a "leg aid" with them along with the voice aid? Mine found that very beneficial!

if you were but she's struggling to make the connection, then continue asking with your voice and leg at the same time until she makes the link.

[carrie17491]

Jan 13, 2012 10:18:48 GMT GinaGeo said:

Ah bless her. When you were long reining were you using the reins as legs? And giving a "leg aid" with them along with the voice aid? Mine found that very beneficial!.

I was and she reacted to this fine. I think she's a bit overwhelmed by it all. As with all young horses persistency and continuity seems to be the key with her so I will continue to ask with my voice and leg and hopefully she will make the link in time.

I think I'm better to have someone by her side though for a while yet

[sarahp]

As to the lead rein - I don't think I can advise from here, so to speak, it all depends on you, the pony and your facilities. I had one who was fine with a body on top until she was asked to move a step, and then put in the most enormous buck at moving with the body on top! If she is basically laid back and understands rein and voice aids, and you are working say in a sand school where she is used to being lunged/long reined, then I'd most likely go solo - it sounds as if she's OK with you on top, just getting used to the whole thing. But if spooky and worried, and all you have to work in is a large field - stick to the lead rein! Only you can make that decision.

[carrie17491]

Sometimes she just plants herself though and then won't go forward which is why I have someone there just in case! She's very laid back and we do have a good sand school where she is worked.

I think it's more of a confidence issue. She isn't spooky, just a bit unsure as to why she can hear me but not see me!

[junetimp]

You think you have problems, my yearling planted herself when I was trying to lead her and nothing would move her. I didn’t want to used a whip or a stick, I did try turning her in a circle – No luck. Then I read somewhere annoy her !. So I did - frequently and gently flicked her on the should with the end of the lead rope.
Guess what - she soon walked on. Yes it did annoy her and she wasn’t standing there whilst that was going on.
What will happen when I try to ride her I do not know.

[snowflake]

Yes incorparate the two. I would have someone leading her, just until she has got through it all & understands it. Keep practicing the voice commands in hand, even just when leading to & from the field so they feel like second natures to her. She'll soon get used to it, remember praise when she moves forward after you using your voice & leg aids. Rub her neck & reassure her. She sounds like a superstar,good luck!

[iluvmyponies]

Hacking, hacking, hacking!

[carrie17491]

Thank you snow flake she just stops, takes a look around as if to say "so wheres mum?"

I would hack out, but she needs to be able to walk on haha! As soon as we have mastered that, that's all we will do!

Thanks guys, I will keep you posted as I'm back on tomorrow x

[GinaGeo]

Do you ever had anyone by her head when long reining or within eyesite? When I was starting my three year old my instructor gave me some long lining lessons and so did my older pony lol! Anyway, she said to make sure anyone walking with you was walking at least three steps behind the long reiner. That way the pony's going infront and doesn't have a "lead".

Do you long line her out hacking too? That did my youngster the world of good, both alone and in company and when in company he went first or last. It really does getting them thinking forwards that way .

[jensam]

We always get a reliable horse/pony to give our youngsters a lead on their first few rides hacking. Then when they are happy hacking we will start getting them to lead for part of the ride untill eventually they will do the whole ride in the lead. Then we will start hacking and schooling them alone. This seems to work well for all of ours:)

[Deleted]

My mare wouldn't move an inch when I backed her, even when someone was leading her. I ltook her into a field and sat there till she moved then stood her then asked with a squeeze and voice. Took a while but we cracked it that very day

[jensam]

Forgot to say this is obviously we only do this after we have long reined on hacks and lunged etc etc. I still use all the same voice commands mounted as I did when doing the ground work.

[iluvmyponies]

Ponies are more willing to go forward out hacking. I had a pony that wouldn't move no matter what you did, I got on her out on a hack & we ended up going for a 5 minute hack. In my opinion, hacking is the best idea.

[carrie17491]

Thanks everyone. Hacking seems to be the best bet. We do have an older confident horse to hack with.
I only long line out hacking, I don't really have room to do it on the yard!

[elmere]

Ive always been taught not to lead them as they have to learn to go forwards on their own, she is only a baby so just give her time, even if its a few steps more its still progress and make sure she is heavily praised when she does so. I would carry a stick and it will get her listening a little more rather than looking around. Also treat her whilst you're sat on on her when shes a good girl with a few pony nuts, fill your pockets up with them before you get on.

[carrie17491]

Thanks Elmere x

[carrie17491]

You were right!

I hacked out today, she was so responsive and forward going! She loved it thanks guys!! Xx

[Deleted]

Jan 15, 2012 18:42:26 GMT carrie17491 said:

You were right!

I hacked out today, she was so responsive and forward going! She loved it thanks guys!! Xx

[Kaseyleigh]

i have one in for schooling at the moment which is the same i use a tap of the whip on his shoulder at the same time as my leg and say trot on so he twigs that when i put my leg on he knows i wont him to go forward and with doing that i know just use my leg do walk to trot transitions using the technique and then after a few days doing this then try it without and see the difference.