Trouble getting pony forward?

The best way to get a horse to move forward that is planted, is to get him to move his feet. If you pull on a horse or the horse doesn't want to go forward, it is hard to make them. It is not so hard to make them go left or right first to get their feet moving. While on him or on the ground it doesn't matter, when the pony stops pull him left or right to get his feet to move, while pulling use your legs and voice to teach him those are the cues to move your feet. When the pony moves a step release, and then start over again. It should soon learn that when he moves you stop pulling on him or kicking him. The nice thing about this is that you don't need a lot of strength to pull the pony left or right, that anyone should be able to do this.

i used to have this problem with my pony. heres what i learned works.

give him a squeeze with your heel and if doesnt respond immediately, smack him hard with the crop behind your saddle, and really use it so he thinks "oh i dont want her to do that again" only pop him once after each time you squeeze and make sure you are squeezing and giving him the proper aid first! he may jump forward a little so be ready. if he moves into the trot (if you were at a walk), tell him good boy then bring him back to the walk and give a chance again, squeeze with your legs and praise him big time if he responds. if not, pop again [hard]. always come back to the walk and give him another chance if you have to use the crop. never use the crop as just a little tap beind the saddle every time he feels lazy or he wont care about your leg and he'll wait for the crop tap, so you want it to be uncomfortable for him when he doesnt respond to your leg. thats what i did with my pony and i rarely ever use the crop on her now.

i know it sounds a little harsh i guess but you have to think about how tough a horse's skin is. and always praise him for responding.

i hope this helps, good luck!

A good way that i've learned to get a horse forward is to squeeze with your legs gently the first time, then if there's no response, get steadily stronger with every nudge. If you get no response, don't get frustrated and FOLLOW every nudge with a tap of the crop. The biggest thing to keep in mind is to NOT GET ANGRY. You are just letting him know that you mean it. Have a "come with me, let's do it together" instead of a "you do it!" attitude. Again do the soft, harder, harder, harder, harder....as long as you need it backing it up with the crop. Don't beat him senseless of course but just make sure he gives an appropriate response for the aids you give.

Hope this helps! (it did with my horse) before i learned this i would kick and squeeze and try everything and sometimes end my ride in tears of frustration because i couldn't get my horse to move! but if you just keep the positive attitude and be consistent you will work through it. :)

Good Luck!

You've let your horse have his way too many times. If your horse won't move forward after kicking him or trying the crop on him for a few minutes, you need to continue to urge him to move forward until he does. You can try using rounded spurs on him if all else fails.

I once rode a horse who would refuse to go into a canter. I'd kick and kick and kick and she wouldn't go, she'd just trot along. It took me kicking her in the sides (no spurs) for about 5 - 10 minutes until she figured out I was the boss. After that she did what I asked of her.

Your horse is testing you - don't give in no matter how tiring it may be.

Also make sure you check and see if something is hurting him - the saddle, his feet, bit in mouth, etc.

EDIT: Be very careful when you first introduce spurs to your horse. If you kick to hard at first he may bolt. Lightly introduce them and hold on.

Best of luck.

Maybe she isn't getting what you are asking her to do. You should squeeze her sides with your heels not boot her as that is where her ribs are. It could be the bit , it might be pinching or causing her discomfort so try a different 1. Have you had a saddle fitter to check her saddle fits properly? She may be on the wrong diet for what is required of her, get some advice from your vet. Do you give her an hour's rest before you ride to let her digest any food? Maybe you could get lessons from someone else? it might help if you get another point of view on your riding and her response. A horse my friend rides they use a little jump to help him get his stride and lead on the correct leg as he is green and it helps him . Sounds like the jump helps her too. It might be you need to build up her fitness too? And turnout is a must.

I wouldn't use spurs, i tend to think they are used by people who don't know how to ride properly so resort to them. You need the basic transition work. Using your leg if it doesnt work use your stick once, if that doesnt work then a short sharp dig in the ribs with your heel. When he's walking out as he should then he's praised, and lots of praise, totally over the top and when he's not doing it you use your leg, if he doesnt listen one smack with the stick if he doesnt listen sharp dig in the ribs. Nothing wrong with using your voice and growling at him at the same time. You want to be doing walk to trot to walk to trot over and over and over. Then obviously the same with trot to canter and just mix it all up to keep him thinking about it. Just needs to be 3 strides of trot, nothing long, the idea is he does what you say when you say. Oh and you want to deflate slowly back to the slower stride so it keeps him moving forward. You should probably be doing this at all times, not just when he's acting up so he's getting it in to his head that he can't do what he wants.That may or may not work, it seems like your guy is set in his ways but i'd try it at least.

If you don't like the idea of spurs, perhaps you should try having some one with a lunge whip on the ground. When he doesn't respond from leg, have the person with the whip encourage him to go forward.

My trainer teaches young riders and her ponies will get lazy. She always has a lunge whip in the ring so if the pony needs encouragement she uses it and that seems to work well.

Start with simple spurs, little 1/2" inch ones will probably do it. Also, if you don't use a snaffle, try weaning him onto one. Get more and more simple with the bit. I use an elevator bit on my horse but recently moved the reins up so it's almost a snaffle but not quite. He now goes much more forward willingly.

Spurs...and use them!!