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Post by bustersgirl on Oct 14, 2013 14:12:14 GMT
I have a stunning 5 year old Connemara Gelding and we are in the middle of our first novice season together. We have one problem – he just does not want to work. He is a lazy boy who I have to use a lot of leg on. We are at that stage where it looks awful in parts (which I know is not unusual with a youngster) We are trying lots of different things like variation etc and he loves to jump but if I want to mould him into a successful workers pony he has to be good on the flat so im trying to get miles on the clock by getting him out there. Because it is not going overly well I am getting more and more nervous in the ring and getting comments off the judges like ‘hes stunning but….’ I am working so hard with him and im determined that it will come in the end if I keep trying but he seems to work much better out of the ring when im more relaxed. Even on the lap of honour on Sunday the judge said ‘now why couldn’t you canter like that…’ Can anyone recommend anything to keep my nerves at bay so I can relax more in the ring and give him the best possible chance of going well? Thankyou x
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motown
Junior Member
Posts: 97
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Post by motown on Oct 14, 2013 14:29:41 GMT
Have the same prob! Welcome to the Connie club!How old is he? Mine is going to be turning 7 next year and is just starting to do the hard work! I get it all the time wow he's what a Connie should be but he needs to go forward! I'm nearly dead by the time were pulled in! I've had to learn not to put the leg on as the more you do the more he expects you to do It for him! He has short sharp kicks and slap on his whip then left no squeezing not niggling. I'm getting to the point I only have to move legs or whip hand and he's ready to go! Some days he's goes back a few paces but I just ride him and have fun for twenty mins then ask for proper work and he's then ready where as if I ask him straight away you just argue and struggle to get the work. There v v special ponies.Got to think outside the box with these boys! There middle name is stubborn. It's so frustrating but it's coming now and I wouldn't change him other then him being lazy he's prefect in every other way! Good luck
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Post by soxsina on Oct 14, 2013 14:58:40 GMT
I totally sympathise with you - they are lazy little monkeys who pretend they are exhausted but put a pack of hounds in front of them and they are leaping and bucking! In my experience, you are going to have to stop being nice to him and get after him - not pretty and the goody goody brigade won't like it. I would get a big long stick and a pair of spurs and shake him out of his comfy little bubble - when you say go forward or up a pace, you mean it and if there is no response he needs a sharp smack or a boot in the ribs. Leave his front end alone to begin with and just get him responding - he won't like it and may well get a bit upset (you have to be forceful, he's had it too nice for too long) but when he does go forwards, make sure you reward him with a pat. Once he is going off your leg, you can then work on the front end. The same principle should apply when schooling and hacking - he will not improve overnight as you need to keep reinforcing the message. I imagine he will also be lazy behind and you will need to work hard on leg yield and shoulder in to get him driving through and using himself.
When schooling at home don't do it forever and keep him guessing with lots of transitions (continuing to discipline when not good enough and rewarding when he does respond well) and changes of direction. You will need to work on your gallop in the show as well. Other good things to try are going to the beach, hunting or a bit of hunter trialing - anything to get him going forward by himself. Above all - keep the message the same - never accept a bad transition and do not nag, a sharp reminder is far better than loads of nagging! Good luck!
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Oct 14, 2013 15:08:22 GMT
Seconded to the do not nag, it just makes them dead to the leg. I was taught that to get them off the leg properly first ask gently, if no response PC kick, if still no response schooling whip applied behind your leg. They should accept the leg being there in the correct position, but should go to the lightest aid from it.
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Post by bustersgirl on Oct 14, 2013 16:13:41 GMT
Thankyou everyone all this is fab. I am really working on him and your right - when were out with the hounds he drags me round!! I school for short sharp bursts then give him a rest. He flies round a course of jumps like a stag in a lovely rythm but put him in a flat class and he makes me look like a fool! I am scared of getting after him incase i get comments. The more tired i get the worse my position becomes, he pulls me forward so i tilt and then my legs go further back then my stirrups end up near my heel and before you know it were on the wrong canter lead. And because i know all this is going to happen i get so nervous then he goes worse coz he knows im nervous. Its like a horrible circle. Im going to north west champs on saturday doing the novice and im not filled with excitement. I know he just needs mileage and it will come. Should i just not care that people are watching and get after him? Ps its so much better than it used to be - 12 months ago he couldnt canter large so its slowly coming.
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Post by lolalou on Oct 14, 2013 20:18:06 GMT
When we bought my daughters Connemara as five year old he also was lazy and took lots of leg to get him to perform, but had a fab temperament and was great to have around. 18 months on and following similar advise to above, plus lots of hard work with a good instructor he is a completely different pony - we also added tiger oats which worked wonders, energy without fizziness or weight gain.
I also think riding club helped to keep the work varied and enjoyable to both pony and rider.
Good luck
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Post by bustersgirl on Oct 15, 2013 6:43:12 GMT
Thankyou!! He's the most amazing boy I wouldnt change him for the world. He's so gorgeous I just wish he'd show himself off! Hes on rolled oats and has been for 2 months. Would u recommend tiger oats over rolled? I don't know anything about tiger oats. He's a good doer and it's took me a while to get the feed balance right so he stays good weight and doesn't turn into a fatty x
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Post by tabbycat on Oct 15, 2013 9:02:25 GMT
Gosh i find it hard to believe what I am reading here - 1 connemara ponies are NOT all the same the blood ponies will always be hotter and sharper and some will naturally be lazier you will not change that !!!! 2- they are late to mature some will only come into their own when they get to 9/10 . If you want a good connie it takes time and effort to build a relationship with them . 3- to too much to soon and they will refuse to co operate you will sour them and they will just become more and more difficult they are intelligent animals and you will not succeed if you try to bully them into submission .
If he doesn't like being on the flat you will struggle to change that some just don't enjoy it the occasional flat class maybe the way to go , in my experience they love xc it gets them going forward, do some dressage it keeps them thinking . Most connies hate flat showing they find it boring don't be fooled by what you see in the showring why do you think they make the most wonderful pony club eventers . If your nerves are getting the better of you take a break lots and lots of hacking he is only a baby . People buy irish connies bring them over here with a few weeks work sell them on and the punters that buy them cannot make head nor tail of them if you want a quick fix don't buy a connemara treat him properly and he will be a friend for life .
ps don't over feed him he will mature slowly you will get problems if you give him too much food at this stage personally I wouldn't feed oats at all just a good balancer.
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Post by bustersgirl on Oct 15, 2013 9:30:43 GMT
Thanks for the advice tabbycat. I've had him since he was 2 and we have a fantastic relationship. I'm fully aware he won't mature until 8 or 9 and my aim is to do workers with him as he loves to jump but he is a lazy pony. I will never sell him I love him too much and he is so reliable and fun but I want to do a little flat showing to practice for the workers and I'm doing all the work and he's doing none. He's on Alfaa and a lo cal balancer and I'm adding a cup of oats to try and make things easier for him . I want to make sure I'm doing the everything to get the best out of him as hel be totally wasted otherwise. I have only done a couple of flat classes and no workers yet. I think he's going to be one of those ponies that I can only show a handful of times a year.
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Oct 15, 2013 9:55:22 GMT
School on hacks instead of in an arena? More fun for both of you!
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Post by highlandmad on Oct 15, 2013 20:19:52 GMT
I have the same problem with my 4yr old highland. ive had to face the fact that she doesnt enjoy the show ring or being worked in the school (mainly just the canter work) but can go for hours on a hack and on a open field.
My aim now is to do short bursts schooling and aim for the show ring again as maybe a 6yr old
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Post by showingforfun on Oct 15, 2013 20:31:37 GMT
Agree with tabbycat- get some lessons of a dressage instructor.
My daughters section C was very lazy but with a good instructor he Is much more responsive. Lots of lateral work will get his back end engaged and give him the impulsion to go forward without having to nag with your legs thus making the picture look better.
Which novice class are you in on Saturday as my daughter is in the over 18's novice on a section C?
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Post by bustersgirl on Oct 15, 2013 20:35:20 GMT
I'm doing the novice m and m senior so same class! Il look out for her. Il be the one on the dapple grey conny looking green haha. Does anyone know if I can take him in his flash in the novice class or is it not correct? X
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Post by manunited on Nov 7, 2013 20:54:23 GMT
Remember connies usually mature later so don't panic or rush him. Plenty of variety will keep him intrested, a few days hunting is the best way to get a conny sharpened up for your workers. Check to make sure he is not lacking in iron, Red Cell did the job on our conny. Be sure not to nag him he will end up laboring around with his ears back! They are a fantastic breed and its a better complaint than if he was bolting with you!
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Post by lisaturpitt on Nov 7, 2013 21:24:36 GMT
I have a Connemara Stud in Brittany France. I love the way Parelli train ridden horses to go forward, it is just so clear and fair. it works for mine. Good Luck!
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Oriana
Junior Member
Posts: 94
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Post by Oriana on Nov 8, 2013 19:51:23 GMT
I ride my Connie in spurs at home and if he ignores my leg I use the spur quite sharply. Mine improved very quickly after a few times riding in them but he is 7. Yours is only 5 and they do mature late. I think discipline is most important too getting them to react first time. If he's not sharp off your leg in walk don't trot. Good luck.
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Post by welshiegirl on Nov 9, 2013 10:24:59 GMT
Welcome to the lazy native club- read my thread about my c, it was very helpful! In the end she did variation (as you are doing) jumping, hacking and schooling once a week if that. Try take him to the gallops as this worked wonders. We also gave baileys no6, rolled oats, red cell and before the show vitiman B. horsegossip.proboards.com/thread/159510/laziest-pony-world-argh xx |
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