No reaction from squeexing/ crop, kicking

ooooo he sounds a stubborn fella.  The tranistion thing is good but if he isn't listening in the first place no wonder your cream crackered.   I personally would use spurs on him to be able to give a sharp precise jab to get the reaction.  I know not everyone likes them but i use them on Blaze as he can just switch off totally.  You dont need great big things but maybe try the ones with the ball on instead of an end.  You can give him a kick and if no reaction, can give a bigger one but then still take the leg pressure off once he does respond.            If he really is just dead to the aids and does as he pleases all the time he maybe a horse that you will have to accept is like it and will not change?

Re: No reaction from squeexing/ crop, kicking

Does he not respond to a whip atall? If Gally doesnt respond to a squeeze, then a kick, he gets a whack with the whip. Harsh but I only have to do it maybe 3 times a year and he knows. Id try spurs as  Nat said. Also maybe try using your leg further back, could be hes sort of dead in one area and just moving your legs forwards/backwards will wake him up a bit more. xx

Re: No reaction from squeexing/ crop, kicking

I wouldn't resort to spurs just yet as once you use them it is hard to go back and he is a youngster!  I have a mare who was stubborn like you describe and it was all down to the fact that she just didn't respect me.  From what you say your fella doesn't respect you both on the ground or on his back.  YOu need to address him from ground level first before you tackle whilst on him.

With my mare I went as a demo horse to a Kelly Marks event and what we did was as follows:

We put on a dually halter (you don't need to buy one you can use a normal headcollar with the lunge line threaded over the top of the nose and back to the part where you lead from so you can apply pressure as required.  Make sure you are wearing your hat gloves and boots etc and have the line ready to flick next to him.  Take your horse into an enclosed space and lead around, the moment he stops squeeze with the lunge line and ask him to move.  You must ensure that you do not move from the spot where you stopped and have your back to him.  If no response after a few attempts turn around looking dominant walk straight to the front of him and ask him to go back.  If he does not respond fllick him quite hard with the line, firmly say back and step into his space for a few steps, turn around immediately and walk off in the direction that you were travelling in and see if he follows.  If not repeat until he follows without any pressure.  Once you have mastered this you can walk to his side and push him round in a circle.  Under no certain terms does he step into your space!  You step into his!  You can enhance this at feed times or stepping into the field by stepping into his space and making him back off - you are the herd leader and he will respect you.  Once you have him moving away from you in circles you can build this up to lunging.  When lunging well you can start on the riding bit.

For the riding bit it is quite bizzare, but again it works.  If your horse responds and goes forward well jump off an praise him.  He will learn that if he moves you will get off him, which actually is what he wants.  Start in walk first and then move up into trot and then onto canter.  Just go up and down the school or field at first and don't worry about where you are going so long as it is forwards and reward when this happens.  The canter bit is a bit like doing gymkhana.  Once you are competent at all of these you can then change the reward for when you are in trot to a walk on a long rein and the same for canter.

It worked for my stubborn mare, perhaps it will work for you.  It is not a quick fix, but boy is it worth all the hard work in the end.  It took me all winter to master it from the ground to being ridden.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Re: No reaction from squeexing/ crop, kicking

Hello, he sounds like a very stubbon boy. The horse i ride is only 6 and is exactly the same, maybe not quite as bad, but the answer i find is praise praise praise!! As soon as i start schooling her i will do lots of transtitions from halt to walk and as soon as she moves forward praise her. As soon as you get him in a decent walk let him walk at his own pace and praise him, then again ask him to pick it up and then as soon as he does praise him then let him walk slower again. Also do lots of circles and serpentines etc.. to keep him interested. the same with trot if you ask for trot and he just stumbles into it then straight away ask again , really give him a growl and really exagerate your rise to encourage him to move quiker to keep in time with you, again as soon as he goes in to a nice forward trot let him go back down to a walk. hope it helps xx

Re: No reaction from squeexing/ crop, kicking

He is fine out on hacks and on the lunge etc, just abit nappy in the school, and plain stubborn i think! And i think im a quiet lazy rider so need to get into gear and not forget to speak whilst on board.

Im thinking its to do with respect and he swishes his tail and even leading in from the field sometimes can be a drag! disobedient monster! Hes usually a diamond in the summer, but seems to have the winter stroppy blues.

I feed him alfa a oil, build up cubes garlic  twice a day (as suggested by D&H last year and explained work load, temperment etc) and he gets ad lib haylage and 24/7 turnout. He is a very stressy little thing so i cant feed for energy or he'l go from being stubborn lazy to a giraffe who will spook at abit of sand in the sand school hehe.

Have a session again tomorrow so will see how it goes with the above suggestions

Thanks very much for all suggestions!