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Horse Problem - Horse Won't Go - Horse refuses to go/balks after being mounted

 

 

 

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QUESTION: Dear Sylvia, I've been reading your web site and have especially enjoyed your Q&A section as I think your advice/training tips are excellent. I would appreciate some advice from you regarding my gelding. He is 12 years old, I've had him for 3 years, and he is a very well trained horse. The problem I am having with him lately is that once I've mounted, he refuses to move forward more often than not. At first I had a friend grab his lead rope to pull him forward and that worked, but the second time he wouldn't budge. Yesterday a friend bumped his rear end from behind and he moved forward. Other times I've tried being patient and have let him stand there calmly and then he moved forward. As I said he came to me very well trained and in the past I believe he was a show horse. I've worked a lot with him in the round pen and he's excellent. It almost seems that once I've worked through one problem he comes up with something else just to "test" me.

I've had to work with him on saddling and cinching, taking baby steps, etc. and now he is fine. Then I had to work with him to stand still while I mount and now he does just fine with this. As I said above, his latest trick is refusing to move forward once I've mounted. I've tried turning his head to make him circle and even this doesn't work. It's as if he's just being stubborn and trying to be "boss." Please help with any suggestions or advice. I simply adore him and once he gets going he is wonderful to ride. Many thanks.

REPLY: Hi. You're on the right track there bending his head to get him going when he locks up like that, but you need to add in: bump the inside hind quarter to get him moving his hind end. Not forward at first, but in a circle. All forward impulsion in horses comes from the hind quarters, not the front quarters. The hind quarters are the "engine" of a horse (but a "rear wheel drive" engine -- think of it like a motorboat with the motor in the back). The front feet just keep up with the back feet. So...he's stalled his engine there. Bump the inside hind quarter with your stirrup there, starting small at first and building up to more assertive bumps (but release your leg off him the second he complies!), while drawing in the inside rein (putting lots of slack in the outside rein so you don't confuse the horse) and the horse WILL move. But he'll move in a circle. But that's all right, just keep circling him. If you need to, circle him on both sides.

At some point there, open up the "window," slack reins, point your hands forward to show him that the release of pressure there comes if he "goes forward." Horses don't like to circle, it's not really fun for them, and is "more work." So, in essence, you are making the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard, so that he'll make the right choice there (right choice being: go forward). He refuses to go forward, he's going to have to do circles (more work!) as you bump his inside hind quarter. He goes forward, he gets the instant release of pressure (all slack in the reins, feet off the horse and strokes on the neck, "good boy!")

Also, make sure you are looking (with your eyes) where you want to go, not down at the horse or his head. Horses pick up on our focal point very well. And if you're looking down at their head at the same time you are asking for them to go forward, they figure you don't know where you want to go, so they balk at those times.

Now...that said...I would definitely want to first rule out saddle fit/back pain. Often a horse refusing like that is due to saddle/back pain (or even mouth pain sometimes--make sure his teeth have been checked, and floated at least once a year if needed). Please read my link on my site about checking for proper saddle fit/back pain here:

Also...I have another link in my Q&A section that you might want to read over, regarding "horse won't go":

 -- in case you need to borrow any ideas from there as well.

Hope this helps and let me know how it goes.

Back to Horse Problems Q&A, Click Here:

 
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