How to get a lazy Quarter Horse to lope?
I’m going to be in a schooling horse show next month. I’m choosing to a quarter horse to ride it the western show. He is can be lazy and hard to lope. I do not want to depend on a crop a lot, I’m trying to use my more leg. Any advice for me?
Thanks I need to practice before the show.
Are stable owner does not allow us to use spers.
When you are asking, really push him with your outside leg. Kick or sqeeze!!! That will also help him get the correct lead. Also suggest with you body position that you are about to ask for the canter, and he should pick up. Its okay to carry a crop with you, but as you said, you shouldnt depend on it. Go ahead, give him a little tap with your crop while you are asking and I doubt he wont give it to you.
When you are asking, really push him with your outside leg. Kick or sqeeze!!! That will also help him get the correct lead. Also suggest with you body position that you are about to ask for the canter, and he should pick up. Its okay to carry a crop with you, but as you said, you shouldnt depend on it. Go ahead, give him a little tap with your crop while you are asking and I doubt he wont give it to you.
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8 years riding.
I really like ball spurs they aren’t harsh at all and it gives you the extra pressure you need to get them to lope. Here is what they look like for western:http://www.smithbrothers.com/product.asp?pn=X3-25533
They look like this but they are longer on the shank spot so that you don’t have to move your leg to much.
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smithbrothers.com
I would use a crop at first just to make sure " If you dont want to go you’ll have a tap" Ofcourse you said you dont want to depend on it but still they are useful and if you use it a few times he would know " Oh i’m not going to mess around anymore"
Or try spurs.
But kick harder and start pushing with your legs. Be firm and strong about it. Horses like strong people.
Tack him up one day and like push where your leg would be when riding. It will make him more used to you pushing or kicking there.
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Firstly do not kick.A well schooled horse should respond to a squeeze. When you are riding try to have as little contact with your leg as possible.Only when you want him to change transitions or to be more forward then squeeze with your leg.If he doesn’t respond back your leg aids up with a crop.If he does respond release your leg.Sometimes lazy horses can get a little dead to the leg,meaning they are so used to feeling the riders leg they just chose to ignore it.Hope this helps!
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You said you can’t use spurs, but what about bumpers? They are similar to a spur, but they don’t have a rowel, just a knob.
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you could use a crop, tap him behind your leg, that well get him to listen to your leg more
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use your reins as a whip and either swing them in a circle or whip them until they start going and dont stop
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Remember kick or squeeze with your outside leg to get the horse on the correct lead. From the sound of it, I think this is a schooling horse. With schooling horses they know how to get out of doing things.
For practice I’d use a crop, you need to show this horse that you mean business. If you squeeze for a lope or kick and the horse doesn’t respond then tap with crop. The horse is thinking, "Oh they’re asking me to do this but I don’t want too, so I’ll just ingore them." But with the crop a simple tap should prove to the horse that your serious. Don’t rely on the crop
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