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Waking up the lethargic horse

A true horseman makes the nervous horse calm, the stiff horse flexible and wakes up the lethargic horse.
It's always the same horseman… but everything depends on how he approaches each horse.

A lethargic horse?

Of course some horses are less willing than others, but if impulsion is the horse's state of mind - the overbearing desire to carry himself forward…then any horse should be able to go forward… Here are some work paths:

1. Work on the lunge:

First free lunging, then with side reins (see: Notes on Side reins), obtain an immediate response to your voice and lunge whip commands, always working in a relaxed and calm manner. Needless to say, praise your horse profusely. 2. Work on foot Same thing: obtain that your horse reacts to your voice and your whip; he has to move easily in general, acquire mobility - especially in the haunches. Your workouts should be short. Be demanding and always quick and light in your actions.

3. Work under saddle:

Do not ever squeeze your legs.
Your legs should be lowered and soft. Use your heels or spur and just touch your horse lightly and swiftly. If needed, reinforce the touch with the whip on the haunches.
If your leg action is correct and the horse does not react, you must react instantly. Release your legs, spread them slightly away from the horse's sides, and then touch the horse with your legs in an "electric" manner while using the whip firmly on his butt. Make sure your fingers are open, or even your reins long (legs without hands). Let the horse thrust forward in a gallop, do not hold him back, and take the reins back softly. Calm him down and reward.
Start over several times in a row. You will see after a while that your horse reacts as soon as you move the whip away from his neck, and then as soon as you move the legs closer.
This is called a LEG LESSON. (Lecon de jambes).

Your horse will remember this lesson.
From there on, don't ever accept that your horse does not react to your legs. Be alert and relaxed, and keep your horse in balance and light.
Be "stingy" with your legs, use them little and "a propos". If you constantly use your legs, if they are heavy and if they are always stuck or glued to the horse… he will become deaf to the legs and lethargic.

Rather than having to wake your horse up, just don't let him fall asleep!

Vary your workouts with logically sequenced exercises. Work on different exercises in a different order.
Keep your workouts short. Once your horse is warmed up and relaxed, twenty minutes of sustained work, followed by a cool off period, are enough.
Keep your horse interested: do not ask more than he can give, and do not establish too much of a routine. Keep your horse interested with new things or new places…

Riding is an abundance of small details…
Energy, impulsion and the desire to go forward and to become mobile are precious, capital.

It's not a question of legs!

It's your job, with your general posture, your awareness and sensitivity, to never let your horse fall asleep or become bored… You must keep him interested, focused, relaxed, reactive and vibrant.

In short, your horse has to be happy to be your partner and cheerfully comply with your orders.

next themes

Posture-position / Walk / Trot / Canter / Shoulder-in / half-pass / Flying change of lead / Pirouette /

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