Naughty 4 yr old

[thatboythatgirl]

I backed and broke my 4 yrd ols 6 months ago and up until a week ago he was going really well bar he wont canter on the correct canter lead on the right rein, so we had a battle but he did it in the end but everytime ive rode him since soon as I put my leg on he plants himself then tries to rear so cant even get into trot without a someone being there with a lunge whip on the floor as he just ignores my legs and whip. He is exactly like he was when I first broke him (once we got past the rearing/leaping/bucking phase of having me on his back)

Well last night thought id hack him up the road by himself never been a problem before but last night wouldnt walk down the drive was bucking rearing and napping for home, when I eventually got him halfway up the lane (being chased by someone with a lunge whip) he just carried on like normal walked and trotted when asked. I want to send him away to get schooled but there is no space atm where I want to send him. So I dont know whether to carry on or throw him out until I can send him away to someone. Or just take it back to basics and start all over again with him, or whether hes just taking the pee and battle on

[fanfarefan]

My first thought is , have you had back , teeth, saddle,checked , has he got wolf teeth coming through,i know it could be naughtiness , but i would say he is trying to tell you that something hurts ,,,, even if everything is ok , i still wouldnt be too worried about your canter leads at the age of 4yrs

[boo09]

Put him back on long reins. Get him moving forward on your command and thinking forwards. But My first thing would be to hunt him! But no hunting at the min (bummer) My 4 year did exactly the same he use to stand at the drive end either on his back legs or kicking the brick wall hunting him made him enjoy going forward! We do most of our schooling on hacks and in big open fields away from home to not bore him. He was almost verging on being dangerous. He took to hunting and now i ride him onthe end of the buckle listening to my iPod!

[boo09]

Also if he is like mine he is trying to get the better of you! Get cross and really mean it! Assuming his back and teeth are ok

[lisadundee]

Check all obvious are ok and if so either a couple of good cracks on the arse while your on board but really mean it!!!! But if your not confident enough to do this and know that you can stay on board if he explodes then put him back on the long reins and battle it out on the long reins and don't ride him again until he is foot perfect on the long reins.

[catkin]

can't add much more than this very good advice. Teeth, back, back to basics and then discipline. Good luck

[marcosie]

I would certainly rule out all of the above call me nieve but I truly believe many horses don't just do this type of thing for the fun of it! Don't get me wrong I understand testing the water to see what they can and can't get away with but I'f I was you I'd feel happier to explore back teeth tack etc first! You never said if he's turned out etc I know quite a few yards near us have only just gone out After a extremely long winter! I would also be tempted to revert back to the long reins too! Good luck I hope you get sorted youngsters can be so frustrating! x

[LucyHebditch]

Providing all the obvious things have been checked.
Remember he is a baby, horses are natural herd animals and their reaction when young and inexperienced is to nap as they are not natural born leaders, it takes many months for them to except it. (excluding the odd few) I would definately have a lead horse in front out hacking, yes he has to learn to go on his own but maybe not quite so soon. Start hacking out behind someone, gradually moving beside and eventually in front over a few days, weeks, however long it takes. With regards to schooling I would agree, back on long reins and learn to go forward again, but really it's just a feel on when to apply and take off the pressure with napping. There's a fine line between a stroke down the neck and a crack with the whip, you need to feel it, it's different on every horse
Good luck

[LucyHebditch]

To add, do not turn away, horses come in how they go out. Turning away will solve nothing, if anything they come back stronger. That's why you always end on a good note as horses think about things more than you think

[HollyQueen]

what kind of battle did you have with your pony when he wouldnt canter on right leg? sounds like he lacks confidence. going back to basics and long reining is good good luck

[thatboythatgirl]

Hes hacked out before by himself fine, Giving him a crack with a whip makes him worse! He 17.1znd when he misbehaves its quite a handful

Long reined him last and it was betternthan when im on his back gonna take him upnthe road today witht the little pony today see how he is

[thatboythatgirl]

Well took him back to some basics to give him some confidence and hes back behaving have left cantering but took him up the field at the weekend for a canter in a big open space and he was as good as gold, He got a little excited and had a little buck at one point

[nici]

At 17.2 he's a big horse and will still have a lot of developing to do. I wouldn't be rushing things with him, particularly schooling in canter - he has a big frame to balance if cantering on a 20m circle in an average school. I wouldn't worry about schooling at this stage (well not in a school anyway). You need to build his strength and fitness as he develops. Lots of hacking out and riding in big open fields to get him thinking forwards, and help him develop canter in straight lines and big wide curves.