At 09:21:30 on 20.07.10, bazz94 wrote:
To get the horse going what I do is wait for the horse to make the mistake THEN correct. Don't constantly kick, kick, kick as this gets the horse 'dead to the leg'. This is because the horse realises no matter what speed it goes it will still get kick, kick, kick so it will decide to save its energy as horses like to do due to in the wild if they waste their energy on nothing rather than getting away from a predator they are more vulnerable. Of course start with nudge, nudge then kick, kick then a light tap if all of this doesn't work then get the horse to go off balance through doing a tight circle whilst at the same time giving the leg aids. Good luck!

At 00:35:33 on 23.07.10, Angelalain wrote:
No stirrups is often a problem at riding schools. Health and safety, what if you fall off? You might sue!!! No comment! As for the lazy problem. Its very difficult. School horses tend to be (how can I put this tactfully) lazy, insensitive lumps. Its sad but true, cos if they were sensitive , willing etc they'd be ruined in weeks, or turned into nervous wrecks! If you ever get a really good one someone will offer the earth for it as a 'first pony/horse' and the school will of course take the cash.All the suggestions you've been given are good, but whether you will get the chance to use them and make any difference to your mount remains to be seen. You may not get the chance to'do your own thing' if you are being taught in a class situation. Its terribly frustrating for you, is there somewhere you could try individual lessons, not class ones?Are you heading towards your own horse? Is there someone you can find to 'help out' and give you more experience? I worked in a riding school (many years ago) and any horse that was really any good never stayed long, they couldn't take the constant change of rider, real horsemanship is built on a relationship, which is hard when any improvement you make to a horse is undone by the next rider. Maybe I'm insulting riding schools in general, but those I've seen recently are not interested in a horse with even a spark of liveliness because they might prove 'dangerous'