Your Horse Won't Do What You Ask - Now What?

[@hallyandhidalgo]

You’re one of the few trainers out there who can teach others about nuance and re-thinking traditional horsemanship. Keep doing this great work! The horse world needs you.

[@gailfreese3849]

That is a big girl behind you! She's a beauty.

[@mingram008]

You always explain these things so thoroughly. It makes perfect sense, but it’s about our and the horses minds coming to an agreement or just better understanding.

[@sampaisley4645]

Just discovered the channel. Great info. 40 years ago I was taking a school horse out for a session. The saddlebred was not interested in setting her head as we rode out to the ring. Instructor suggested I touch the horse between the ears. This sparked an immediate response of taking a step forward and rearing over backwards on top of me. I escaped with a torn hamstring and broken leg. Lesson learned. Don’t insist on immediate compliance. No I did not get back on nor did I ever ride the particular horse again. She eventually injured another rider and was no longer at that stable.

[@algypsy17]

Very interesting video, thank you ! What I would like to add is that the better you know a horse, the easier it makes the decision how to respond to resistance. I know my mare so well that I can perfectly tell what is just stubborn behavior, or does she hesitate because my order was not clear enough. You can also instantly tell if there is an absolutely unusual behavior and in this case first of all I try to make sure there is no pain ! On the other hand when you don't know a horse perfectly your advice to just keep even pressure and see if you get the right response is perfect, thanks again. I got the opportunity to work with a very green horse sometimes now. I start with extremely simply exercises to see how he responds and reassure him and also to avoid conflicts due to physical or mental resistance before asking for more.

[@Honestrespectfully]

Excellent excellent message. Pressure and release in so important. The only thing I thought is missing is how important the instant release is when your horse does the right thing! When your horse finally gives you what you want, you can also treat and/or click to further reinforce the correct behaviour beyond merely the release of pressure. Callie you really are an excellent trainer! Your videos are my go-to. Loved the fast-trot horse video - helped Jack an I immensely!

[@PBunyanOx]

You're a great instructor. Thanks for these videos.

[@amberlihartwellacting]

What a beautiful horse you have - you can see he is really happy that you are translating typical situations from his point of view - he even smiles! I love how logical your approach is - this situation can be really challenging I can think of lots of times years ago when my gelding was labelled stubborn by others while I was trying to work out what he was trying to tell me. Whether it was loading, going past a scary flapping bag or just stopping for "no reason" - its hard to know - is he just winding me up deliberately, playing or is there an actual problem I need to address? Its frustrating to say the least - if only they could talk! I could have done with your checklist then! This is when most people get the whip out though and then the confusion multiplies and communication breaks down

[@victorianorris7917]

Thank you for this video. I am a new rider and had an experience last week on a lesson horse that was giving resistance when I asked for the trot...several times. He did respond well with walking both before and after I asked for the trot, but each time I asked, he went just a few steps and returned to the walk. So it was a lot of starting and stopping. He responded well when I gave a little pressure on his shoulder with the crop to move to the outside of the arena, so I know some things went well. I wasn't with my usual instructor who knows the horse better, so I wasn't sure if it was a case of rider inexperience or 'grumpy' horse. I have another chance today to be mindful about this topic and try again either with the same horse or another one I have ridden.

[@dontbeadrone]

Great wisdom. Sounds like it would be equally applicable to handling children!

[@hahahaund]

Yes. As a kid-well, teenager-I approve.

[@feltedfeet9766]

Full of great content as always. I look at your videos and then go out for a ride to apply what I have learnt. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@jcarroccio7844]

Thank you for sharing this topic. When my horse started to resist going forward at the trot, my previous trainer told me to kick harder, this went on and on and my horse became more resistant. Needless to say after 3 months of getting a more and more resistant horse I left that barn. Had the vet come out and gave him hock injections, and have basically given him the winter off. I have gone back to ground work, lunging, and lateral work. The information you provided will help me on my journey. I plan on putting him back to consistent work within the week. I am working toward a more willing partner. Hoping the time off will have given him a new perspective on moving forward. Again, thanks for sharing, always valuable information.

[@algypsy17]

Yes you'll have to start it all over and over time you'll succeed in turning him into a light horse. "kicking harder" is exactly the kind of crabb you learn in old school riding schools and that's why usually lesson horse are so dull ... Sad ... Do as Callie says : even (very light !) pressure and wait wait wait ... as soon as there is the slightest response : release the pressure ! Be patient, it will work !

[@jcarroccio7844]

@@algypsy17 thanks for the support. doing everything I can to make a happy forward horse.

[@dalenascholl6268]

Very well said I really get a lot out of this explanation. It really helped me. Thank you

[@michelekanefsky7511]

Really great food for thought & great questions to ask ourselves as we work with our horses! Thank you for this topic!

[@loesvandenberg-los4427]

Ik heb heerlijk gelachen, met name om de bloopers !

[@leealexander3507]

It's most often my own emotional state or his that might cause my horse to fail to cooperate.

[@abbeyawesome1012]

Iv noticed this with my horse one day I was having bad haul libations and wasent feeling great and it effected not just my mental health but my horse

[@mjhequestrian1030]

My biggest problem lately, is my horse refuses to pick up the trot when I calmly ask him. Which can turn into a fight between us. I don't know if anyone would have any additional ideas for me to try? Thank you for making this video, I definitely will take these things with me in my head, So I can continue to use them. : )

[@emmatoman2286]

my horse does that oh my gosh! she is impossible to get going hahah

[@serafinatruth4029]

Same here.

[@annmariegentile-fileccia7]

I have the same issue!! 😢

[@tracychapman6679]

HI I LOVE YOUR VIDEO I HAVE A FELL PONY I STARTED FROM SRATCH BEING A RIDER JUST 3 YEAR AGO. Not until after purchase did i find out i basically had a green pony aswell (although he was 9) so you can imagine the journey we have had :-) I have trouble with getting impulsion in the school with him and esp this winter we have had a tough time as he gets too distracted and our yard is full at the moment so many riders in the school. if i do get him going with horses moving behind and in front of him as we pass he comes to a standstill i then have to try and get him going but hes very slow clearly he feel uncomfortable. i have to be very patient and repetative but its so difficult. we have similar issue hacking he does not like horse riding alongside him he is not nasty towards them just uncomfortable and he either weives if he know they are trying to pass him or he will shoot forward if someone does try to pass him. Thank you for the tips i watch a lot of your videos. On the plus side we have accomplish so many things. We solo hack now he is so much better on his own im very proud. This mentioned above is a big challenge we need to get through :-) Thank you

[@mackenziemasters6135]

Your videos are SO helpful. Thank you

[@claireveitch3637]

Thank u so much my mare is 7 and she’s quite green,every time we’ve been out a hack lately she has about turned and headed for home and no matter how much I try and turn her back she’s far too strong,the last time she did it I let her turn home but little did she know I was taking her into the school as I wasn’t reinforcing the “win she had got her way”, will def keep this in mind for next time it happens,x

[@algypsy17]

Maybe she'll get it : hack = relax, home = work ... ;-) Otherwise it might just be that she's anxious to leave buddies and "home" behind, so just leave the barn for 5 min and YOU decide to go back before she starts to turn. And then every time a bit longer and a bit further. Over time she should become more confident. Be patient and reassure her.

[@claireveitch3637]

Thank u,the makes sense the very 1st time she did it was because she was leaving her best buddy behind that she normally hacks out with (my best friends horse) she had never done it prior to that,thank u very much def makes sense and will def do what u have suggested,thanx again x

[@begrittyhorsemanship6206]

make the right thing easy, which is riding out on the trail. Make going back to the barn more work then she wants to do. Trot back and work around the barn, moving feet, then ride away and rest.

[@claireveitch3637]

Thank u will def do this,

[@begrittyhorsemanship6206]

Claire Veitch check some of our stuff out at Be Gritty.... same idea different approach.

[@wiggwigg12]

Im a bit late to the game, but Im here after a frustrating day with my horse. He's had some time off, about a month or so, without riding. Hes been taken out of the field, Ive done some liberty with him, some groundwork exercises, etc but I was worried about what turned out to be nothing wrong with one of his feet, so that's why he had so long off without being under saddle. I went to ride today, and he showed no resistance to being saddled, just seemed curious about it, took the bit without hassle. Went into the arena and wouldn't let me mount. Hes had that issue in the past so We worked through it quickly and once I got on, he became his version of a bucking bronco and started rapid trotting around the arena and popping up. I got off, checked the saddle placement, checked his girth and everything and nothing was wrong. It was on correctly and it wasn't pinching anywhere. I get back on and his popping up turned into bucking. I had to get off because Im still learning and didn't want him to throw me. I tried to make him lunge to exercise anyway but he refused to lunge, refused to go out on a circle and when I asked him to step away, he just stepped toward me. I ended of giving up after half an hour of him pivoting in a circle to prevent me from getting behind him to send him off. He was just seen by the chiropractor and the farrier. he's in good health. As soon as I got off he was his happy go lucky self. He just didn't want to work. He's got a lazy streak. How do I keep pressure equal and the same when he's acting out in a way that could potentially be dangerous? He wanted me off, but wasn't actually TRYING to buck me off. he was warning me that he was planning on escalating if I didnt give in. What would you recommend I try in such a circumstance?

[@bellagrace6748]

Love your videos they have taught me so much please make loads more!!!!! Xxxxx

[@christiewright2486]

awesome video. Needed right now as I am restarting my boy's training again and he's showing a lot of resistence and not understanding as the person I had riding him trained him totally different than what I had done and so now he's super confused. He's starting to remember but it's taking a bit.

[@rainbowranddy]

Have you ever ridden a Clydesdale? Was it hard to get on?

[@rainbowranddy]

Thanks flor the "like".

[@hellothere3270]

Know i'm not the right one, but I've ridden and jumped a 16.2hh Clydesdale. They're docile but slightly lazy, plus the fact they have smooth gaits. If you're riding a Clydesdale she'd probably use a mounting block.

[@jessicawalerstein2655]

i ride a horse and he is sooooooo lazy and when i did this he did awsome! KEEP IT UP

[@foxxgirl0715]

My horse doesn’t respond when I apply leg pressure

[@HorseLover1976]

My gelding has recently become very blase about almost everything. We are working on getting ready for our first western show in hand and in saddle. All of the sudden he doesn't want to trot with me on the ground and doesnt .....trying to find out his motivation again. I guess we are back to treats (he is very very food driven)

[@abbeyawesome1012]

I have really bad anxitey and suffer from ptsd I love riding my horse but last time my hose dident coraperate because I messed up I just had a off day which effected my horse

[@chloecameron3298]

I asked my horse to backup for a treat he usually listens really well but today he just walked away. He was grazing and I had no lead rope so I wasn’t sure if it was bad or he just didn’t understand since I kind of just showed up.

[@jaelhoward4621]

Great video!

[@trishpillsbury]

I have an Arabian who has a stubborn streak. At least that's how it appears. I can be leading him, walking down the trail either mounted or not, trying to load him in a trailer,etc. and he just stops. won't move forward at all. He doesn't respond well to any pressure, increased pressure(a crop) and I get frustrated. He wins of course because he is more stubborn than I am. He is 13, and is a bit green, not much has been done with him.

[@barrysaylor1396]

Great info!!!

[@everydayblue7798]

How do you help the horse that's walking backward to walk forward.. assuming they are an experienced horse but maybe had some time off and you are new to them? Also assuming the saddle is fine. How can you determine if there is a problem with discomfort or what to do about tension? Same in the field.. what kind of pressure would you release and how?

[@Nimeariel]

For me, I make sure that my hands are not pulling on the reins in any way to aid in the backing up. In fact, I might push them even more forward up their neck than normal, almost putting slack in the reins. Then, I make sure that I'm maybe sitting up taller than normal or maybe even slightly more forward. I'm also asking with my leg pressure for forward motion. Other than that, you pretty much have to just wait it out and then stop the leg pressure when they finally do take a step forward. You can try asking them to turn or move gently/slightly left or right as well, and maybe that will "trick" their brain into forward motion. If you have a crop or whip and know they can tolerate it without bolting forward, a light tap on their hind end can also help snap them out of the backward motion. It signals to them "hey, maybe I've reached the limit I can back up, since I can't see where I'm going anyway and it feels like maybe I hit a wall or something and I don't want to keep backing up if there's something there that can get me." I think that by releasing pressure in the field, she means like, if you're staring at or looking at the horse and/or maybe even calling their name until they look at you, you turn around or avert your gaze from the horse and stop shouting their name when they turn their attention to you. I also think that determining discomfort, you kind of have to know your horse. If you've never ridden the horse before, I would always assume that either A. They don't understand because they don't know what you're asking or B. They don't understand because you're not asking clearly enough or in a manner they don't know. If you've ridden the horse a ton of times, you kind of get to know their quirks and how they work and ride. If your usual aids aren't working, then you can probably assume discomfort or tension after you've ruled out whether or not you're asking correctly and clearly. That's what I would surmise.

[@begrittyhorsemanship6206]

make sure your cues are clear and consistent. Release your pressure when you get the response you want. Try not to add excuses or what you think the horse might be thinking or doing to the mix. Apply pressure , ignore unwanted behaviors , release pressure immediately when you get the response that you want.

[@toriannbrooks8298]

@@begrittyhorsemanship6206you're online program has helped me and my horse soo much with this exact issue!!! I just wasn't aware that I was asking and using pressure incorrectly.

[@KarinJohansson]

Very good, thanks

[@kellyheli1312]

My horse listen whenever I want to do waalk, when I ask for trot he goes backwarts und is very resistant. I had a vet and chiropracter look at him and the equipment. I dont know what to do...when I take lessons, he actually listens though

[@emmadavey2816]

my mare does the same thing! she says no and walks backwards and then rears when she doesn't like being pushed through it. In front of my coach she's an angel though. Did you find something that helped in your case?

[@aprendeyaplicalo9159]

Wow Thanks a lot.

[@marh122]

Can you look at the sound please ? I mean those sound distractions - Amazing video as always :)

[@monicadamm9912]

My horse has become increasingly stubborn under saddle and now she will try to bite my leg or foot whenever asked to trot.????

[@AndreeaGui124]

My horse responds very well in training , but he never wants to Leave the pasture . He let me cath him and put His halter but after that he won’t move much. I need another person to help me with him in order to get him our of the fild . Could you recomand what should I do?

[@donnareed8371]

I had a cracked rib and was unable to work with my horse for several weeks. When I felt better I tried doing ground work with him again and he didn't want to move. I got all kinds of frustrated with me and him. So I stopped the training and took a step back to regroup. Now I am using word commands and walking along side of him to get him going . Then we did a trot along side of him using word commands. Haven't gone much further because we just started.

[@EquiNerdVlog]

A Standardbred I'm working with has the bad habit of just randomly turning around and walking towards his stable whenever he's had enough of working, let that be in the arena or out on the trails. Whenever he's done this with his younger rider, she always dismounted and ended the session, which makes it very difficult to fix the problem now. I know that probably the only solution is to push through and stay on his back whenever he's acting up and not let him get what he wants. But this sometimes leads to dangerous battles and he's already managed to get me off once. I really want to help his owner but also avoid getting injured.. Any tips?

[@sadiestoltzfus9798]

My mare had been lunging for months and transitions on the line happened to be perfect. In the last two days she has started pulling back on the line and not moving forward. Just pulling away. I am getting upset because she knows exactly what I am asking her to do.

[@karenbartlett1307]

I had to put some medicine on a horse's sore and she consistently resisted. I don't remember what I did, but I had to give her the medicine. I think I sort of forced her. She avoided me after that except at feeding time.

[@bethstaiano387]

Hi Callie. I have been learning centered riding which is a totally new way of riding for me. My lesson horse, Splash, can be a bit lazy at times, and my coach doesn't want me to use a crop. I have to ask Splash for a trot with a light hug coming from my hips. If I change my breathing, Splash will see this as my asking her to walk. She will then proceed to slow down and start walking. I have to keep hugging Splash every few strides to keep Splash from walking. It can be a bit frustrating at times. I have ridden Splash for almost a year and am still working on trot. At the previous barn, I was cantering and jumping over cross rails. Any advice? BTW, Ellie is so adorable. I would love a horse like her. xo

[@begrittyhorsemanship6206]

If you are getting frustrated with your progress, sometimes you need to make a change. I'm all for getting a response from your horse from the softest touch but to be consistent you usually have to add more pressure..... which might mean using a crop to follow thru. Then when the horse knows you will follow thru consistently with the crop they will willingly move off of your leg. You also have to allow them to make the mistake of breaking gait and correct it for the to willingly continue to trot until you ask for another gait or speed. Good Luck!

[@marianferrer9261]

Hi I was wondering why the consumption of horsemeat is acceptable in France but taboo in England? why do you think this is?

[@serafinatruth4029]

My young colt does not want to trot when I ride him. He loves trotting and cantering when lungeing, but when I ride him he only wants to walk. He is 4 year old. I have only been riding him for 3 weeks. He has not been riden before. What shall I do?

[@emchanted13]

I got in a battle with a horse at my work after spending 30 minutes applying first aid to her and it is haunting me. I think she was feeling pretty touched out but she has rain scald, an eye infection and thrush in her hooves so it needed to be done. I went to move her back into her paddock, away from the grassy area we were standing in, she pulled and pulled against me, biting and kicking and head butting when I tried to lead her forward. I really didn't know what to do in that situation as I was truly only trying to help her and I hate having to pull on her face to force her to move. I ended up having to get someone else to come to lead her. We had just started building a bond and now today she tries to bite me whenever I go near her. :(

[@Conny226]

This horse behind you is huge

[@Ajb5591]

I had a trainer come to get rid of the pigroot in my horse, once she finished it my horse won't go in straight lines, won't pick up correct leads, fights the bit and refuses to move. I don't know what to do what to do with him. he's not lame or sore in the back and his saddle fits correctly. I get frustrated and lose my temper which makes it even harder.

[@katefrosty5775]

i am not saying this thinking is wrong by any means but with my filly who is very stubborn i ask her to do something like move forward on the lunge at a walk and she decides "no im not doing that." she knows what i want she has learned it she is just being stubborn. but i have found if i keep the pressure steady she either completely starts to ignore it altogether or she outright just explodes and usually throws a baby fit jumping forward, kicking out and trying to drag me. she gets corrected for her misbehavior but we just rinse and repeat. she is definitely hard headed. and it truly is her just being stubborn and defiant she is actually very smart but for whatever reason she will fight me for an hour just to take a few steps forward at a walk instead of her trying to drag me across the field and she never wins

[@Kelly_Ben]

I would honestly take a horse (and myself) back to square 1, literally reteach her to lunge and check my techniques.

[@Conny226]

My horse does not let me walk beside his shoulder for lunging him I point to go out and lean my head to the direction but I have no luck. I just free launching him and he is good and if I say whoa he stops and comes to me .

[@joanne0862]

I rode a horse yesterday and I asked for walk and trot with the leg and he didn’t want to trot on not sure why ,

[@DMETAROTINDONESIA]

The horse behind you is so huge. What kind of breed is it?

[@carolrichards1203]

How would you use this concept in response to a horse that had decided she doesn't want me to pit the bit in her mouth anymore? I have not hit her teeth with the bit or done anything else during the process to elicit this behavior.

[@dohavename6775]

Well maybe the bit hurts when it sits inside, then? Maybe bridle is too tight, maybe there's something with horse's teeth. Maybe else.

[@silkorsilkie]

Literally all the time with many horses they just don't do it. It's extremely frustrating! They sometimes don't even WALK. Three years people tried to teach me how to do it, I did what they said, and most of the tome NOTHING happened. I don't know why and I can't explain it, nor can those people. Horses are just bad. I think I will quit riding.

[@lisanarez6482]

Thank you for this video. I am looking more into doing Liberty with my horse. Giving him a voice/choice. In lunging him in the round pen, which we've done many times,..he has now started to turn his butt to me and kick. Not to hurt me. My dilemna. Is he showing me "disrespect" and I should put more pressure? Or take it as he just doesn't want to do this (today)? AND. as for exercise, should I continue pressure till he lunges? Thank you.

[@maddiesjourney3632]

Amazing!

[@gerrycoleman7290]

'Horse won't do what you ask'...........That is most often due to the person not established him or herself as the fair and trusted leader of the horse.

[@jademarion1261]

The sad part here is that the coach/trainer I have just tells everyone to use the whip and our legs. Pretty much all of the kids there use the whip WAY too hard. There is this small pony that can't walk, trot and canter as fast as all the other horses, obviously, and the coach very often put people way too big on the pony and then run after the pony with a whip to make it go faster. (Which they do to all the horses). The poor pony isn't ABLE to go faster than it can, but that's what people over at that horse riding school can't seem to see. I'm 100% certain that all the horses have red marks under their fur because of how hard people use their whip. There are many "bad behaved" horses over there that won't listen to what you're trying to tell them to do, and they get whipped, hit and kicked to make them jump, canter or walk. I just don't understand how that trainer can't seem to see what she's teaching kids to do to the horses. She also tells me to use the whip, but I really don't want to. I think there is a LOT of different and more healthy ways to teach a horse how to listen to you. The trainer has completely ruined most of the horses, they never listen apart from when they want to. Right now there is a camp over at the horse riding school, and there was this girl 2 days ago that said... "You have to whip and hit the horse to gain its respect, also to show who the boss is" Well... If that worked wouldn't the horses and the whole situation have been better? I love riding, but this is the only riding school they have in this city, and I hate being there. Could anyone maybe give me some advice on what I can do?

[@jademarion1261]

Also, all the horses look stressed and confused. People are always pushing and pushing them, and if they don't listen...the whip is right there to punish them. I mean...it's fine to use a whip if you know how to use it correctly and effectively, but the horses over there get whipped non stop and SO hard that they are getting "used" to it and won't move anyway, so people run after the horses to make them move, where they are at risk of getting kicked. They use all kinds of whips too. There is never release. If it is it's usually at the wrong time. They just whip and whip and whip and release unexpectedly. If they finally get the horse to jump after pretty much beating it up the trainer/coach says... "Good job!" without even realizing what the kid did to make it jump. I'm scared that any day now something really bad might happen because of what trainers and kids are doing over there. I can't try things that I found online about horse riding because my trainer will just shout... "Use your whip!", so I'm kinda stuck here. I can't do anything other than my trainer's "technique".

[@emilyrosewhiteley2282]

My problem I ask the horse to walk. She refuses

[@cheyenne6765]

I’m having a issue where I will lunge a horse and say “woah” and the horse keeps trotting/loping 😣 I get so frustrated at the horse please help

[@hellothere3270]

Instead of saying woah, surrender your entire body language. Drop your shoulders and let the whip drop lower to the ground. Also give more of the lunge line. Sometimes it'll feel the pressure drop and slow.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

Horse won't do what one asks likely because the horse does not view the person as a fair trusted leader.

[@getaceing8472]

Who ever is near the mic needs to learn about technology ffs but great video

[@chainsawbetty]

😂

[@S5.RACING]

I want to riding like old time traveling long juerny so what i do with my horse

[@rushellealexandra5243]

My new mare the issue I have is she wants to back up rather then walk forward

[@rushellealexandra5243]

once i got her over that then she would try to run my dad over and refuse to let ,me on her saddled . checked the fit everything short of ex rays .. as that was not feesable ... was sold as western english show horse and trail horse suposedly well broke, but question if she had back problems, but externally couldnt find nothing wrong , tried chirpopractor, massage lady, asked mulptiple farriers , one vet checked everything on oustide and seemed fine but never could figure it out so sold her as a broodmare ... reg with papers ... so hopefully i can talk new owners she went to into a contract to get the foal i want if i pay the breeding fee for the stud i want foal from? she let me bareback and my farrier rode her bareback fine ,but i had a hard time sitting her comfortably bareback because of her high withers. and couldnt find a bareback pad to fit her. but when saddled she was unpredictable .....

[@gerrycoleman7290]

Answer to the title of the video: Change yourself for the better and your horse will change for the better. The horse is a reflection of you.

[@LisaBOlson]

I'm trying to get my horse to move forward into the arena, and she starts backing up

[@catherinebrewer7950]

I can get my horse to walk but then when I ask for a trot or a canter they don’t do it

[@elliemccool4518]

My horse stoped eating grain help 😶

[@algypsy17]

Dentist and vet first !

[@Mckinzie13]

My horses name is bigboy

[@dariaharruff7025]

i dont have to learn horse stuff im not doing it im out i hate horseback riding

[@7thMack]

My lord what an adorable mammoth of a horse. I want to wrap my arms around her neck and bury my face in her coat.

[@dariaharruff7025]

i dont like horses im out

[@hangtuahjaya5761]

The most worst thing in all your video is always talking to much..

[@casil5391]

it’s an educational course ?? that’s the whole point

[@DARKhorses73]

Great video!