How to Make a Lazy Horse Go

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scottpurdum

[@Youhave_]

My horse Matias is SOOOOO lazy today at my horseback riding lesson I just could NOT get him to trot but this tutorial actually worked! So thanks for the help Scott!

[@Cattser]

Rode a lazy, unresponsive horse yesterday, gonna try this technique if i get him again next week! thanks

[@anajeane6079]

how’d it go? i want to try on my lazy boy as well

[@gerrycoleman7290]

It wasn't the horse. It was you.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@anajeane6079 Your horse isn't lazy. It is you that is the problem.

[@kinzes3415]

@@gerrycoleman7290 it can be both. Horses can get used it kicking that they don’t give a crap anymore and turn lazy. My vet even said.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@kinzes3415 Nope. It is the person that handles the horse the most.

[@RideWithMe14]

i often ride a little mare called ali who is SUPER stubborn.. my instructor will tell us to trot at F (for example) and then she won’t trot until something like c or h.. i can never tell if it’s me or her but i’ve asked some others who have ridden her before and it’s safe to say, it’s her 😂 poor thing just wants to relax lol but i’ll defo use this next lesson! thanks man

[@candykkhorsesngp925]

Really helpful video. My dressage coach told me a similar thing to this with my youngster who is notoriously lazy especially away from home or at competitions. She was very focused on getting an active walk and the best way is to use less leg in the walk

[@isamarenkaiser9896]

Scott! What a super cute, smart lesson horse! Same way I work with my Quarter Horse „Big Mac“ who is the perfect horse for lessons with kids (also disabled). He is really calm (lazy) with the kids, but now it is super easy to motivate him and he is very sensitive in riding with me, we also changed over to „academic art of riding“ (groundwork/riding), he is not stiff anymore loves working with me and is a super lessonshorse... just the riders have to learn not to be stiff and making pressure all the time...! Looking forward to more videos! All the best from Germany, Isa

[@mcythorseslol7401]

I have a lazy pinto and this really helped! I've also been doing lead changed and teaching him how to neckrein and he is being super responsive! Thanks for this!!

[@Shamus_faces]

Omg this worked in minutes! Like having a new pony for Christmas! Thank you 😊

[@mjhequestrian1030]

This helps a ton thanks!

[@fikriyeturan8898]

She

[@user-qz4fy2no4t]

Was struggling for the longest to get my horse to walk on when asked since he has been out of training for a while- this solved it instantly when I did it! Thanks.

[@allifearnow5965]

This was really helpful I have a 14 year old lazy mare and I was having trouble getting her to even take a step. I will try this thank you!

[@mellychu_]

Riding a lazy, stubborn horse today, defo gonna try this out!

[@usmanmajid7837]

I just got back from a lesson from a pretty unresponsive lesson horse, and the amount of times I need to squeeze gets very exhausting very quickly! We did introduce the whip as well, but the tips in this video were really interesting. It's so tempting to keep squeezing/kicking to get a response but they eventually they don't give a damn lol.

[@salmamedhat241]

I thought the problem was me 😂 the kept telling me i need i squeeze more But nothing seemed to work I was very disappointed

[@usmanmajid7837]

@Ryan It's interesting. Horses know who's on them, and if the rider isn't commanding then they'll decide then and there not to bother. I'm still trying to figure this out lol.

[@amishfarmer4504]

Sir please don't take this wrong But I love you! I am training a green colt and coudnt get a go in thr saddle. This short video and a quick trip to the tack store for spurs and a dressage whip was the key. Today we rode for real! Thank you so much!

[@ScottPurdum]

You're welcome

[@spartaeus]

If you make it fun for the horse, they usually start to enjoy going for rides with you. They feel your excitement. Especially if they get a food reward when they get to the place that you ride them or drive them to. I drive my horse about 8 miles away, where he gets a big scoop of sweet feed. And he knows when he gets back, he's getting another scoop of grain. They also seem to do better if they are your only horse. They will be your best friend, and not best buddies with another horse. The only time I would keep 2 horses is if they were both used as a team. And yes, snapping a whip to motivate them at times is an absolute necessity, especially when crossing a congested road where cars are traveling at 60 or 70 mph. That, can be a matter of life or death!

[@foxxgirl0715]

Horses are herd animals so I don’t always agree with keeping 1 horse but some horses don’t care so it’s all about the horse

[@WriterC714]

How is snapping the whip related to a cross walk

[@escapetherace1943]

@@foxxgirl0715 if you own 2-3 but only ride 1 he won't get jealous, right? Or will the others want to be ridden too? lol

[@LClan95]

Excellent advice

[@mahionthebooks]

I’m stuck with a lazy one this week, imma try bringing her up-- thanks for this! xo

[@anajeane6079]

how did it go?

[@rylandhvac5446]

Just purchased a 50' round pen for my rescued OTTB I'll be using to teach her to walk, trot and canter. We have an excellent relationship. I've taught her a lot already it's time to ride now. She ground ties, walks over the teetertotter, figures out to navigate over logs, goes thru a small pond I had dug. jumps a log, stands still until I tell her to come eat her oats, backs when I say back and point. left brain extrovert a very smart horse catches on quickly.

[@GreenTea-kx6ro]

Thank youuuuu I’m trying this soon my horse just colic so she has a few days off but I can only get her to canter so thank you so muck

[@Healing2024PowPow]

Goodness I so needed this! Thanks

[@kelangeliqueduclos1318]

Am trying this today ! Thanks Scott

[@jayden_lade]

How did it go?

[@kitarehu]

I have a 7 year old American paint Gelding , and I’m in a bit of a sticky situation with him , I have tried your method and it did work when I first Ed showed my horse , but unfortunately he doesn’t ALWAYS respond to your method , there will be days where he is absolutely awesome and listens to everything I tell him without having to add much pressure or use a whip , but then other days he will really need a lot of pressure or just the presence of a whip to get him moving forward , and on the rare occasion he will do perfectly for maybe 15 - 30 minutes before he starts showing signs (pinned ears especially) that he is ready to stop and does not wish to carry on riding around with me on him , and no matter how patient I can be or just use a whip (just to be clear I have NEVER smacked him too hard before , just so no one thinks I’m horrible to my horse) he has moments where he will unexpectedly burst straight into a fast canter of gallop and start bucking repeatedly until I have been thrown off , he then stops in his tracks and will eat or wait till I’m back on my feet to lead him back to the fence , now he has always had a reputation for bucking but most of the time it is just one single buck and he won’t do it for the rest of the day. I’m not too sure where to go next with him , please any pointers and advice would be really appreciated !! Thanks :)

[@sh1mmer]

so i'm a lesson rider and one of the horses i ride pretty often is super unresponsive. she'll walk, but simply refuses to trot and it's so annoying and tiring. i'll def try this when i ride her again!!:)

[@bshaw2221]

Same but I ride her so much I can get a little but then she zooms and has to stop before she hits the other horse

[@Trippy000]

I recently bought a dead sided TWH who went from being a big lick show horse to a lesson horse for little kids (Fell in love with him, it's a longg story with allot of history) and I'll try this out next time.

[@1827Beethoven]

What about if the horse doesn't respond to the whip at all?

[@ScottPurdum]

My advice would be to try some groundwork using the whip striving to create responsiveness to the stimulus of the whip and then get back on and try again.

[@1827Beethoven]

@@ScottPurdum Thanks, will try that.

[@esiuol360girl19]

@@1827Beethoven did it work?

[@officialtjrmusic]

Bro this helped so much😂 thank you

[@lilyx1893]

I am going to try this tomorrow !

[@alinortega7862]

Did it work????

[@mingram008]

Great video!

[@alkadial-ateeqi9146]

Thank you so much that really helped last week I was on my horse cash he was as lazy as heck would not even walk if I whiped him let's home that will work tommorow because it's 1Am rn so ga

[@timpex885]

Excuse me, can I get some help? Im riding on a horse who is not reacting to my squeeze, only to my whip. This means, if i dont get a whip, then he wont even trot, nor canter. Please answer! ( one of my coaches says, that if he is not reacting to my squeeze, I need to give in with the whip immediatly, cause other ways we just walking in cicles, I get tired, and its not going anywhere. So is it correct if he doesnt react to use whip immediatly?) PLS HELP!!!!

[@martinaincatasciato9764]

THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@AS_Equestrian]

This helps so much!

[@marylabarre9519]

What saddle are you riding in please

[@kathybudd1418]

thank you for the tips I will let you know how it works

[@ellikramer4012]

Gonna start working with my old boy so kids don’t complain thanks!

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

Lazy horses seem to normally have a personality change when I get on board. They know who they can mess around with and who they can't very quickly just like this horse. I bet if it was a learner on board there it would have taken a lot more asking and telling. I don't really approve of whips etc but you do use it sensibly the problem is, however, that the majority of people don't have your experience or your restraint.

[@LadyPinkie13]

I think it does have to do with "messing around" all the time. A more beginner rider might lose balance faster, a gentle horse will compensate for this by slowing down, so they regain balance. Also, the beginners might be more tense throughout their hip and seat in general, which will inhibit a horse going faster. If someone with more experience, like you, will get on and ride, they will naturally be quicker as your body does not slow them down. I can see this aswell with my own, she was very "lazy" in the beginning because I was a horrible rider, now that I am stronger and more balaced, she moves more forward. :)

[@KITN._.8]

I intentionally bought a slow horse because I’m looking to only ride for pleasure these days but quickly realized he has too much energy to just be all woah. Time to pick up training again.

[@derekedwards5561]

Hi Scott, So, I love horses and I grew up around them. Currently l live in NYC, Manhattan and I ride by taking posting lessons in NJ. NOT far from my home. The horse that is given to me to ride is very stubborn and it's hard to get the horse to canter. They seem not to want meet to ride another horse. I'm an experience rider. What can I do with that horse to ask him to trotting? Thank you!

[@dreamyunicornplayz3907]

My horse Midge is not lazy since he does have a good fast walk but whenever I want him to trot, he doesn’t trot for a few seconds but then canter (Idk how to get) which is kinda annoying. However, if he does trot, he just trots for a few seconds and stops, he also goes straight to the back of the horse line which made me have less time to do rising trot, is there any thing I could do about it?

[@hannahequestrian4470]

So helpful

[@ruthrackham2983]

helpful ! thanks.

[@totalanarchy6553]

Whenever I used a whip my horse kicks and bucks. When I first started using the whip he listened, but now he has gotten used to the whip and whenever I kick it does not effect anything. ( normally when he does go I don't even have to kick) Getting him to go takes everything and then after a few minutes of going he will stop and do the same thing. When I use the whip instead of going now, he kicks and bucks and the pressure things isn't so effective either. He also gets ground worked a little bit too. Anything else I should try?

[@justcharlie6038]

You've used it in unclear ways, now he is frustrated at the whip. Start from basic again. Round pen

[@Livi-rr8iu]

My old horse was a stubborn snot and bucked it test you and she was lazy like this and I did what he said not to do but I don’t anymore he has some good tips

[@phoebesmith5081]

I have a horse that on the ground and in saddle it takes ALOT of pressure and I mean ALOT to get him to lope and I'm almost at a loss on what to do.

[@ScottPurdum]

Is the horse generally a very lazy horse?

[@trippinonlizard54]

Wanna try this with Poncho tomorrow. He's a laid back pasture potato lesson horse who's sweet as can be but also stubborn like this horse because of being kid ridden so frequently

[@lorelaim1963]

This is great! Could you do one for a horse that wants to go at a lope but you want it to trot?

[@lexipalmieri7358]

Something that really helped my horse with halts/ half halts/ going down a gait (canter to trot, trot to walk, walk to halt) was LOTS of practice with upward transitions, but especially downward transitions. It made her way more responsive to my rein and body cues and eventually my vocal cues. Something else that may help is doing a circle every time she/ he tries to canter (or lope) when you want to trot. Start with a fair sized circle, and if that doesn’t help right away, have him/ her do smaller circles until you trot. This also goes for if he/ she is doing a trot that is too fast, just circle until you go at a better pace. Hope this helps :)

[@lorelaim1963]

@@lexipalmieri7358 thank you so much! I think that this is a great idea, and although I down own a horse, I know of one that does this, and she's the one that a ride whenever I stay at my grandmother's house. Once again, thank you.

[@houstonbrown3450]

How do you apply this to the longe line!!,my walker gets defensive on his right side ,when I want more go ,energy willing positive attitude,he kicks at me ,and rears up !!??

[@ScottPurdum]

You will first need to teach your horse to be more accepting of the whip and what it means. This can be done close to horse asking the horse to move forward off of the pressure of whip. Gently put rhythmic pulsating pressure on the hind end of the horse asking for forward and as soon as it's given relax and ask the horse to stop by applying steady pressure in the same spot. This way the horse starts to associate the whip as both a positive feeling and a motivator. Do this on both sides at a walk until the horse is responsive and without attitude then you will be ready to move to a faster gait. Give this a try and let me know how it goes!

[@houstonbrown3450]

My 4 yr old tennessee Walker does the same thing ,lucky to get a lap or 2 ,no euthaism

[@kyliehogue8016]

Advice for a horse that won't go into the canter? He walks and trots fine now, but I am having issues asking into the canter. He is a rescue and was physically abused. he is essentially numb to pressure

[@ScottPurdum]

Find an area that motivates him such as out in an open field or on the trail. Being a friend with another horse and have them try to canter together.

[@kyliehogue8016]

@@ScottPurdum We fox hunt on horse back. I took this horse hunting only once this year but it has already helped so much. Too bad the season has ended. It seems like the arena is the issue. Pain has been ruled out. It may be he doesn't respect me enough (working on that now). Thank you!

[@nickwoods3430]

Quick Question, If your horse has been hurt by the whip by another owner and you have built a good relationship with the horse, And you don't want them to think you'll do the same, What do you do?

[@joieellington399]

I know you commented this a while ago and I'm sure you've done improvements, but personally I would explain and show your horse what you will do with the whip. For example, desensitization with the whip is wonderful, such as letting it touch him all over his body and scratching him with it. If he were beat with it, you should first try to make him comfortable with it, then learn what it means and respect it. You might have to go back to the desensitization part a couple of times though.

[@mariannedippenaar8488]

Thamks

[@jeremygilreath224]

Nice tips but what is the bouncing in the saddle about??

[@ScottPurdum]

What do you mean bouncing on the saddle? If you're referring to me standing up then sitting down, that's called posting, and is good way to be softer on your horses back as certain horse's trot's can be very bouncy to sit to.

[@amyh4312]

What do you mean by "tell", how do you tell a horse to go faster? it wasn't very clear. What if you don't have a whip??

[@michealgarshak4982]

Hello Amy

[@victoriaarrese1327]

what if when i hit the horse with the whip he kicks?

[@Primrose.ponies]

Hmm it could just be that your horse isn't used to being bossed around, mare's especially like to kick out. Just make sure that when you use the whip as an aid, you use it after the horse refused to respond to your leg :) If you squeeze and they start speeding up then praise them and remove pressure, the only time you should have to use the whip is if they show no reaction or if the reaction isn't quick enough. Hope this helps!

[@victoriaarrese1327]

Quorra hey! Its been some time since i commented that, and my horse has improved a lot. I didn’t know the backstory of him and i learned that his previous owner didn’t rode him a lot so maybe that is why he used to do that. He still kicks but not as much as he used to and we have improved a lot!!

[@Primrose.ponies]

@@victoriaarrese1327 That's great to hear that you guys have improved! :D

[@aubreycasados2027]

I have a tip don't abuse your animals

[@Primrose.ponies]

@@aubreycasados2027 Using a whip really isn't abusive as long as you're using it correctly 🤗

[@kelangeliqueduclos1318]

Hey Scott I tried this method which worked a few times Now my gelding won't respond to the whip .... help !!

[@all.miight6939]

What if you dont have a whip?

[@phoeberuby2020]

My pony Annie likes to go quite crabby sometimes. Is there anything you would suggest for crabbiness?

[@ScottPurdum]

Can you be more specific when you say your horse get crabby? What does your horse do when crabby, why do they get crabby, are there certain circumstances that it happens more than others?

[@phoeberuby2020]

​@@ScottPurdum When she is in open fields and new places she is fine but when she is in the sand school she goes backwards almost and doesn't like to go forward. Once she has had a canter she is a lot better, but when I first get on she just don't move much. I'm not sure wether that helps explain it, it's quite hard to explain.

[@timothyorourke7116]

How you ask and tell

[@csaszarkatasara]

How can you hold your legs like this? I know the saddle fit for the rider matters. But how can you hold your ankles turn inside not turning outside like a broke ankle?😅

[@KirstineTermansen-ct5tq]

Bye a fit horse,♥️

[@0708rio]

My mare wouldn’t even try to stand up bc she’s so lazy and she was restin all day and night but we had a test thing to go to and do so I had to get a ew of the stronger folks at my stable help get her standing up and another one of my friends got his stallion and made her run into the trailer 😂

[@mihakabercic4457]

might be something wrong with her

[@magzz1779]

My horse is so lazy! but this helped so much shes not lazy anymore :D

[@Roses6858]

Are you able to do this with lazy siblings?

[@JTDblBRanch]

I can’t tell how you did the tell ? Are you kicking with your heel? I’ve rewinded this over and over and still can’t see it .

[@NafisaGarba1]

Thanks

[@Conny226]

How did you ask? I did not get it 😊did you squeeze your lower leg ?I am new in the horse world

[@karroten]

Poor buddy is bobbing his head a bit at the trot - no wonder he doesn’t wanna go forward.

[@dbergi7289]

😊

[@allisontucker9874]

I rode my Tennessee walking horse yesterday and I’m having difficulty on getting him to walk on, trot, jog, etc cause I have a horse competition this weekend

[@mihakabercic4457]

dont go if you cant do it just gonna get you fucked off

[@alwaysapony2728]

Great advice however I have a problem that this won’t fix, I have a 13 yr pony which was sold to us as a kind of fake background so no idea what true and what’s not. She has come so far and so much better ever since we got together but she is really lazy and doesn’t care about whip. My trainer wants me to try Spurs like her to make it better but I’m trying to make it work without…. Any advice?

[@mihakabercic4457]

nothing wrong with spurs, there the same as whips just tap them

[@oliverwashington850]

😎 What you do to ask/tell I sees nothing?

[@koolgenius]

what is ask and tell?

[@makaylathepeople]

Squeeze then kick

[@Ra-rg1vk]

I didn't get the Ask n Tell business.

[@makaylathepeople]

Squeeze then kick if they don't respond to squeezing

[@meow-qd1sl]

what if the horse doesnt even respond to a whip?

[@chethixson7225]

To make him go and then I kick and after I do a kissy sound to make him trot and he loves me and I sometimes cry when I miss him

[@i_ilove_rdr2.2023]

Umm ok?😂😭

[@abbyduvalt6438]

My horse will not move when I get on she will not stop picking and refuses to go at all I’ve tried groundwork and a crop all she will do with both is buck I have no idea what to do

[@ScottPurdum]

Have you tried checking for pain?

[@ForeverBrooklyn]

I know this video is quite old and you probably won’t see this, but I ride a 28 year old QH. Because he is so old I don’t force him to do things that he doesn’t want to do, but every now and then I get him into a lope. However, he is not very responsive. No matter what I do he doesn’t want to go any faster. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s lazy or his age. I wouldn’t mind some tips on how to get an old horse to speed up!

[@andrenel3585]

how do u ask them or tell them just squizing

[@Caraaaaxx]

Ask is a squeeze and tell is you give them a little tap to say that since you didnt do what I asked now I'm telling you to do it because you didnt do it the easy way, and they learn that they cant get away with it.

[@i_ilove_rdr2.2023]

@@Caraaaaxx What is Squizing and how that works

[@Caraaaaxx]

@@i_ilove_rdr2.2023 like push their belly with your legs, not kicking their belly but pushing your foot into it

[@MrDavidtkaplan]

What is the "tell"?

[@makaylathepeople]

Kicking or tapping

[@rushellealexandra5243]

My issue is my new mare wants to back up once on her but not go forward

[@shaheervlogz2922]

Same here Did you get a solution for that?

[@rushellealexandra5243]

No not yet

[@rushellealexandra5243]

She eventually started to do good bareback but was a nut undersaddle would stand to get on her and she would try taking off and knock people over trying to hold her for me , so idk what the deal was so I sold her.

[@charlieandme6287]

My Highland pony will not walk on I hope this will help

[@katieomeara4345]

I mostly agree with this advice. However, why wouldn’t you try a harder leg kick first after a gentle squeeze? I would only use the dressage whip after I gave a stronger kick if they didn’t respond. In the long term, I don't think resorting immediately to the whip after a squeeze will produce the best results. Horses easily get resentful of whips.

[@michealgarshak4982]

Hello Katie how are you doing and how is the weather over there with you

[@mataform]

cant see the tell

[@NafisaGarba1]

Ok

[@rushellealexandra5243]

Can't get my 10 yr old 14 hh rescue pony oliver to walk undersaddle he stomps his feet and tosses his head and dull to leg and rein cues

[@gerrycoleman7290]

The horse is not lazy. That label is blaming the horse. It is not the horse. It is the person.

[@KingsMom831]

Hey Gerry! 👋🏼😁I love seeing you in the comments of random horse videos!

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@KingsMom831 Thanks. I hope you are well.

[@KingsMom831]

@@gerrycoleman7290 you too my friend 😊

[@bshaw2221]

Wouldn’t mines lazy she’s speedy after you get her in trot canter or jump don’t know gallop yet anyway for her I won’t I will soon grow out

[@chethixson7225]

Well I don’t have a horse I take lessons at my aunts and I’m on jake witch he is a lazy horse. And I do this ck ck

[@makaylathepeople]

Maybe u should

[@nicholayoung3117]

Last Saturday I rode a horse who is so very unresponsive she can walk but will trot for half a second and stop and she can’t be hit with a whip otherwise she’ll try and chuck you off

[@Phoenix.Raven14]

I’m trying this tomorrow the horse I ride is very lazy

[@ibrahimdigil7673]

Please send me one horse please

[@makaylathepeople]

... Girl u gotta buy a horse no one is sending u a fucking horse

[@5128goldenrod]

Did not see the “tell” action at all, hidden first time, not super necessary after that. A wave? A tap on the rear? Hitting the saddle? ….making noise? Just a touch?

[@yerebiz9545]

My horse is lazy af, i actually did something stuuupid, i tied a carrot on a stick like in the movies and it worked until he realized he wasnt going to get it🤣

[@evajones8368]

Omg 😂🤣🤣

[@Anonymouse13]

Sorry, whats the difference between your ask and tell. The ask is a squeeze, the tell is... Another squeeze???

[@AddiePug]

did you watch the video?

[@grugeskulled3464]

Giddy up mean good. All you have to say it giddy up.

[@makaylathepeople]

Not all horses are the same, and its also get up not giddy up💀💀

[@jessjones8592]

I have to ask , then tell and tell and tell and tell and tell... Lol using a small crop... Very lazy boy... Maybe I'm not tapping him hard enough...

[@thehorseplays4491]

You serious?When i used a whip in a lazy horse the horse buck me off

[@ScottPurdum]

Time to work on that stable seat then😉

[@thehorseplays4491]

@@ScottPurdum Im working on it and im trying to make the horse go.She doesnt even walk 💀

[@arribaficationwineho32]

Lazy is a bad definition.

[@moji6625]

That’s so cruel to whip horses 🤔 equal right for horses ✊🏼

[@Primrose.ponies]

Not necessarily :) A light tap with the whip is better than a hundred kicks isn't it?

[@moji6625]

Quorra I’m not serious😂 I’m making fun of those rights people

[@Primrose.ponies]

@@moji6625 oh okay, sorry for the misunderstanding 😅

[@gerrycoleman7290]

Stop labeling horses. 'How to make a LAZY horse go.' It is not the horse. It is the human. The blame always falls on the human.