Hi Karah,
A question that popped up in my head as I was reading your post was:
Does this horse trot or canter freely during turnout? In other words, you
know there's no physical "thing" holding him back from moving out, right?
If he DOES move out freely in the pasture, could your saddle fit be holding
him back?
Okay, if those two things have been ruled out: Where are you riding him?
I found myself wondering if maybe this horse wasn't just plain bored and
that is where his lack of motivation is stemming from?? Is he as
sluggish out on the trail as in an arena? How about when riding with
another horse? Does company pep him up at all, especially if you have
the other horse speed up in front? (Not that you want him to become buddy
dependent, but maybe a few rides with a buddy will help him get out of his
current "slump")
If you don't think he's ready for the wide open spaces yet and/or don't
have a buddy to ride with, maybe try adding something new to your arena
like barrels, cones, ground poles, a tarp to go over, other obstacles, etc.
and doing manuvers around and through them. If you can trailer him to a
friend's arena, that change of scenery might wake him up too.
One other thought. You said: "It takes so much squeezing, smooching,
slapping myself, and as a last
resort smacking with the rein to get him to move out and I don't know how to
change that."
I think if we get into the habit of asking, asking, asking, (read
nagging, nagging, nagging) -- like children and dogs husbands -- <smile>
our horses just tune us out. I think you have to ask once, demand if that
is ignored, and then make them have no doubt you mean business with your
request. (Caveat: This is assuming, of course, you know the horse
understands the cue and what you are asking for with it and there's no
physical reason the horse isn't complying with the request.)
For example, it sounds like you have quite a few steps to get up to
smaking with the rein to get him to move out. It also sounds like the rein
smack is what does the trick. Okay. So pick one cue to mean trot
(squeeze, verbal, whatever) apply it once nicely and softly, again more
forcefully, and if necessary, go right to the slap with the reins.
This may sound harsh, but think of when horses interact with each other.
There is the swish of the tail or a pinned ears ugly face, then, if that is
ignored, there's the bite, kick or mini chase. Horses don't tend to give
each other a lot of chances I've noticed. It's like they ask once, then
say "I MEAN IT!" to each other. : )
Okay, that's my brainstorming.
-- Renee M. in Michigan
