"you might have experienced riding a lazy horse" *horse she's on literally falling asleep*

The fastest I've seen my horse run... is from catching him in the pasture

lazy horses - cute from the ground, frustrating under the saddle :P

Yesterday I walked into the barn for my lesson and my favorite horse was in he stall with a bow!!! My parents bought her!!

Lol! the part when she's trying to get him to trot...been there SO many times!

Wow, I wish you would have been my teacher during all my frustrating years of riding lessons! The only thing my teacher ever told me was to "kick / push / whip harder". Of course it never worked and I was exhausted and disappointed after every riding lesson. I always thought I was simply too weak for riding.

Shoutout to the cat in 0:09 lol he was like “oh crap! I gotta get out of this shot!”

I love that she addresses that a tight leg or seat can inhibit the horse from moving forward. An open and relaxed leg allows him to go forward, otherwise it's like shutting the door in his face. Everyone knows that feeling when you ask for more and they bunch up into themselves, like they're going backward at the same time. Then suddenly, It's the horse's fault.

Who spotted the cat

this is like Christmas. I cant wait to try this tomorrow

All my school horses tried to kill me, now I like “lazy” horses 😂

Thanks for acknowledging those of us who take lessons on school horses but also go to the internet to learn more :) This was very helpful and educational, although it probably won't be super useful for me at the moment as lesson horses are also ridden by other people of different skill levels, who may let them get away with things ;)

That was fantastic! I feel like I just had a year's worth of lessons in 15 minutes. I realize that I've been doing just about everything I shouldn't to get my mare to move out. She will be so glad you made this video, lol. Thank you!

Am I the only one who noticed the barn cat at the start? :P

tomorrow I have a lesson at this barn and most of the horses can be quite lazy, so I hope watching this video will help getting them started on a trot!

me: rides a forward horse also me: hmm yes i will watch this

When I got an ex-racehorse I expected him to be pretty energetic.... nope

So many of us ride lesson horses with these common problems. This video was wonderful. Thank you.

That was beautiful , this is what real partnership looks like. No violence, no hard whipping. The horse understands, the horse know how to do right and is not frustrated and confused. Thank you

where my lazy horses and riders!?

I own a 5 year old, off the track thoroughbred (Bones Baxter) A great great grandson of secretariat..uncle to American pharoh. He had an injury during a race. His owners had a surgery done and then he was able to race again. although they couldn't get him to run fast enough anymore. so, he was sent to a rescue ranch were i found my best friend Baxter. Hes new to my kind of riding..i do jumping and dressage. those things are completely different from racing. He's very confused during my riding lessons, although he has improved remarkably.I love him alot! i would never sell him, he's my best friend. I need a horse that will listen so i keep training him because hes got great blood lines, hes sweet, good with other horses, decent with kids, and hes gorgeous. thanks for the helpful tips i hope this will work, because my trainer will just yell "KICK!" if he doesn't respond. personally im sick of my trainer..but i want to show her i can be someone with this horse. thank you so much!

This helped me so much with a lesson horse I ride he is so slow and I tried this and my trainer told me I was the only one to keep him in the trot and the same speed. This helped me become a better rider. 😃

This is super helpful advice for me. I have a former school horse and constant pressure doesn't work at all for him. I just started riding with a dressage whip and you explained really well how to use it effectively. Thanks a ton for this video!!! I wish more trainers would work this way!

Find out first that the horse is healthy, is there a problem, horses in riding schools can end up with mental problems, riding in schools or outdoor sand areas all their lives, in what we called in Ireland a ducks March one after the other,the horse gets fed up. Any time I ever thought I had a lazy horse I increased the oats to the diet, and the problem was solved, give him some variety in his work, ad he will began to look forward to his exercise. But horses in Riding schools, especially a very quiet horse, is usually used more often maybe 4 to 5 hours in a day especially in the summer time. So you could understand that at the end of the day the horse is tired and fed up. This is usually the problem with riding school horses. Give him a half bucket of oats, and he won't be lazy. I remember years ago riding a big grey horse that I was in love with. He was bouncing out of his skin, I remember the owner saying to a friend you know that horse is not getting a bit of corn, and he is always dancing, I don't know where he gets the energy, The friend answered Ned you need to cut his feed down. and he shook his head. I used to say in the mornings Ned go up and put the tea pot on and I will finish the stable and be up after you. As soon as I got my friend away I slipped the horse a big bucket of corn and he didn't know. This went on for a long time, and he never knew about the corn. I will tell you the truth I bought the horse, I loved him, and won many jumping competions on him. I did tell my friend in the end I had been giving the horse an extra bucket of corn, when h was away making the tea. I won't tell you what he said to me I got called a few names. But we never fell out. Hope you enjoyed this little snipped of information from a dealers yard in Ireland. God Bless all you lovers of horses out there . Greetings from Northern Ireland.

Great lesson, especially the tip on properly using the whip. I've never had a trainer actually tell me how to use a whip, just to hold it and smack him with it. Which I hate to do so usually just make a smacking sound by swatting my own leg. Notice how the horse still pops up into the trot. Tricky thing for a beginning rider like myself is avoiding being jerked back in the seat with that little pop and accidentally pulling back on the reins. I think the clashing aids do the most to spoil a school horse. Notice how gentle her hands are in this lesson. This is just really tricky for riders who are learning. Looking forward to trying this out, though better for someone like me to just ride a horse who isn't a struggle so I can learn a good balanced seat first! I love this trainer. Please keep posting your videos!!!!

Thank you so much for this lesson Callie. I tried your techniques with my loan horse yesterday as I was finding that I was having to use constant leg on her. The results were astounding! I only had to use the whip a couple of times and she became so much more responsive. I hardly used my legs at all again on a two hour ride and even then with the gentlest of pressure. This technique made the ride so much more pleasurable for my horse and me. Thank you so much 😊🥰

THUMBS UP FOR THE KITTY

this was the best video on lazy horses I've seen so far! very infomative

Thanks for this video! I've been working with a horse like this for about a year and he's come a really long way. Agree with all your tips and would add - when I really focus on relaxing my leg (almost to the point of floppiness) but giving a tiiiiiiiny little encouragement with the leg each time I post, it really started to get an effect. I stopped trying to have a perfect still leg and things really got better and easier for me and the horse.

I loved the cat:) I recently started leasing a 13 yr. old QH who is a retired reigning/cow horse. I was told he was "lazy". I came upon this video and the advice made sense. I used the "2 second" technique with my horse, and it began working immediately. By the end of our first ride using this technique, Buddy was jogging for several laps at a time, instead of only several feet! He is non-responsive. I am now more aware of how not only my body language affects the horse, but everyone else who's ridden him as well. The more anyone nags a horse, the more deaf to requests it'll get. Although I suspect he might still be a little lazy, ha, ha:) I'm so glad I found your site!

This was perfectly explained - so clear and concise. I have a lazy TB who, just as you described, will often transition down when I take my leg off. My previous coach said I simply had 'weak legs' and wouldn't allow me to use my dressage whip to back up my leg & seat. Needless to say, the problem only got worse. I have recently switched coaches and she allows me to ride with the whip. In our first lesson, after seeing how much more he respects me just HOLDING the whip, she said we should definitely ride with it from now on until he gets the idea. Now, I had basically the right idea about asking with the leg first, then using the whip as a back up. However I DID NOT use the 'tap tap tap' as you said to. This makes a lot of sense to me and I can't wait to put it into practice! I will also be using less leg now as I think I've been too firm and constant with it. THANK YOU!

Super clear and consistent! Besides, I love the way you truly consider the Horse in everything you do with them! Last but not least, beautiful smooth transitions to watch! Inspiring! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your knowledge!

I am so grateful for this video! It helped me so much. Thank you!

0:41 omg that cat is soo cute ! just sittng there and watching you awww

Thank you so much for posting this video, my horse responded so well. I didn't have a stick but used my legs using the release instead of keeping them on him to keep him going and he relaxed at first he just stopped but then he just got it. I was so pleased! Love your videos from the UK 🇬🇧

As always, a great video! I love that you included learning theory and the difference between tapping with a whip and swatting with the whip. Keep up the great work!

I loved this video. I'm only riding for 1 1/2 years and I found it hard so far to really get a response from some of our school horses. Now, I am a big fan of "less is more" and it has always been key to me when trying to work with one horse or the other. However there is one pony in particular that has naturally a bit more weight on it and by further inquiry I found out about its rather infamous lazy attitude. When I watched your video though I realized that I was already on a good way of trying to change that. I've been reducing leg-pressure for some time now and actually get better results from our time together. On top of that I liked that little tip with the crop as a subtle reinforcement of the ankle's work. Thank you for making this video.

Thank you so much, I've needed this video for such a long time now. The horse in my profile picture (one of the lesson horses at my barn named Cali) gives me such a hard time getting and keeping her going. By the end of my lessons I always feel exhausted and extremely disappointed in myself. But thanks to your video, hopefully I'll be able to keep her going and form a better bond with her

I'd like to say thank You for creating such a helpful video. Despite my previous knowledge of the pressure and release technique, I rarely used it. But this video showed me the importance of it. Today I had a lovely lesson on a 'lazy horse', where he was literally bolting towards the jumps like never before. I was really proud of my self since the previous time I rode him, I couldn't even get a slow canter around the hall, talk about a jumping course. I've got to admit, I still need a lot of work on my trot and canter transitions but it is a start. One more time, I want to say big thanks and I'm really looking forward to your next videos.

My parents brought me a horse as a project horse to work on yesterday and i need to bring her back into work- this will be so helpful thanks!

This has helped so much thank you!!!!

Her: "it may be your own horse that is lazy or slow" Me: "Yup!"

I love watching your videos.They cover so may different areas and are so informative and educational.

I just wanted to say I tried this today and it worked amazingly! Thank you 😊

Wow, youve opened my eyes. Thankyou so so much. My quarter horse has a lovely bouncy walk but there are certain areas on my usual trail ride track where he just wants to dawdle. Im applying constant pressure to keep his pace going. Ill certainly be trying this, this is gold :)

that horse was doing the menaquinone challenge for like 2 whole minutes lol

Excellent info! Thanks much!

This is an excellent little video Callie. You're very good at articulating the basic principles & techniques that often get misconstrued, or just missed, often to the detriment of the horse. It's good to hear such clear & logical instructiion with useful demonstration. Thankyou for sharing. And Kudos to you. 🐴🐎🙏

this really helps. I'm going to try this in my next lesson. I just kept kicking harder and it took forever for a response.

I have just been paying attention to the cat

My riding instructor is more mental than physical and this video helps so much. Squeezing for certain time intervals rather than kicking or using heels is what I'm working for. We have horses like this in the barn as wel

This was so helpful. The schoolie I'm leasing for the summer has a reputation as a "lazy" horse. The owner of the barn told me I would almost certainly have to carry a crop to get her to trot. I'm not super savvy with the training whip, so I tapped my hand on my leg with rhythm to add pressure, similar to what you demonstrated in the video. Worked like a charm. The horse was trotting with the leg aid and one kiss (no tapping) by the end of the session and almost went into a trot after my first cue alone, which is just moving the reins and my weight forward. She was also sustaining it until I asked for the walk, which was also an issue. It was so nice to have some guidance to help out with this. Thank you so much for the video.

I made it by myself thanks to woodprix.

Theres a kitty in the background aha

Thank you!!! I ride an extremely lazy horse and it so frustrating so I'm hoping what I learned from you will help!!

I’m ready to try this today, thanks!

I swear one time i rode a lazy horse i started sobbing cause i was kicking her and she was just chilling there and the trainer was shouting and telling me to kick harder (im a spaghetti like literally my legs arent strong) amd she took my whip away and i was lik- I NEED THAT

I somehow ws able to make all horse go slow, even the usually fast ones lmao no idea how I ended up in the advanced class till this day

Love this. I use my seat and legs too much and this has really explained more than anyone how to stop it. Thank you 🙏🏼

Thank you so much! Found your amazing video yesterday after a very disappointing session on my mare in the sand school, so deflating! Anyway, tried your technique today with the stick tapping & release & she did walk in the directions I was asking for, tried it on several times not to but we succeeded. Lots of repetitive practice now, hope the weather holds so we can practice daily! Again a BIG THANKS

I love how your tack is a Western bridle and an English saddle :'D

I always loved the kind of lazy horses. I dont know but it always seemed to work out for me ^-^

I have noted down everything demonstrated. I have a really "lazy" (unresponsive) riding school horse but I don't want to give up on her for a more responsive horse because she is a great teaching horse. I will try all these tips, especially stopping the seat "scooting" because I gave myself a pain in the back! I have learned a lot in 15 minutes!

Tried this today on the laziest horse in my centre. Worked like magic - amazing tips :) thanks for posting!!

yeah its called nagging, nag nag nag nag....lay off the leg pressure people. 3 cues: squeeze (if that doesn't work), cluck if that doesn't work quickly spank then release your leg. Let your horse commit to the mistake of breaking gait and repeat.

you helped me so much with my horse montana. she lays down on me!

My horse is a rescue and don't know much about his background. I determined that he was not responsive to the cues from the saddle. I have done ground work with him for about 4 months and now am in the saddle and since watching this video I have been using the whip to get forward motion and I no longer have to kick hard to get him to move. We are still working on it, but getting a much better ride. Thank you so much Callie for all your advice. I have benefited so much from watching your videos.

From your videos I learn more than in an hour riding lesson! I love your videos and they helped me a lot - thank you 😊

We definitely have this issue at the barn I volunteer at. Problem is, it's a therapuetic riding program, so the horses not only do the same patterns and movements over and over (booooring!) and have a multitude of leader types, but they have to decide when to listen to aides and when the child is just a squiggle worm. Any tips for the ground leader to get a horse motivated forward other than using a crop or swinging the lead?

WHERES THE CAT? I must be blind😭

This was incredibly useful information. I noticed a lot of my own mistakes here and the understanding if negative reinforcement was great. Thank you!

I think you gave a great presentation. I don’t actively ride now but could have used this advice with the accompanying explanation of the training aspect of it years ago. Great job.

i know what this is like the horse that i ride her name is Flicka. she is a 14 year old quarter horse who in every type of move (W/T/C/J) i have to push her more with every stride of her canter. I love her she loves me. we bond a lot. Reply and tell me about your horse or just the horse you ride if they are or are not lazy! :-)

can you do a how to stop bouncing when riding bareback vid

You are so good at what you do. Thank you

This was made 6 years ago, but thank you if you see this. Soon I’m going to be riding a lesson horse named Fig. She never wants to work and hopefully your tips will help me ride her. I do a group lessons which is 1 hour, so she used to getting kicked all the time to catch up with the others. She gets fed up and pretends she needs to remove waste from her body. But she is just getting kicked continuously with all of her riders so she does this. They whip her hard thinking it will make her go forward. Really, it makes her kick out. They kick her hard thinking it will make her go forward. Really, it makes her stop and get annoyed. I will try your tips to see if it works. Thank you.

I ride a Connemara and he can be very lazy. Are you tapping your leg or the horse with the whip? And if it's the horse, where are you tapping?

I just rode the laziest barn horse at a local stable yesterday and, after 10 minutes, just gave up and took it back to the barn. It was a beautiful day, and I just didn't have the patience for this animal. Afterward, I hopped on my "iron horse" and enjoyed the rest of my day.

I'm glad you talk about the horse being unresponsive to the rider because of the rider, rather than "being stubborn" or "hard work". So many people just blame the horse.

Wow, thank you so much!!!!!!! it works, today my instructor told me to ride this horse and I was disappointed because she was so slow and not willing, I tried your swaying technique where u push your body to make the horse go faster and it worked like a charm!! even she said that my riding looks a lot better, Thank tyou so much!!

im not hating but does she know how to do diagonals in the trot

The horse school in the back ground looks fake for some reason

Thank you so much for this!! Tried this out on the lazy horse I take lessons on, and it worked wonders!!!

OMG thank you soo much! This was very helpful for me. I cant wait to try this!

Is it me, or is the stirrup short?

I literly have a 3 year old who hates to go forward 😂

Thanks for the lesson. A m going to try it

Thanks! This really helps! My horse is very lazy when it comes to trotting... but now I know how to keep him going!

Shouldn't you first encourage the rider to rule out any potential pain-related issues that could be causing the horse to be mistaken as a "lazy" horse? For instance, your horse appears to have a funny walk behind (possibly short on the right hind) but it almost looks like it's related to the hip and not the foot. I hope I'm way off base though.

what's wrong with his hind legs ?? looks like it's super stiff ?

Wonderful video! Thank you sooo much

Looking forward to trying these techniques. Thank you!!

when i use the whip my horse just stops

One main reason horses get lazy is from keeping them in stalks all the time. Keep them in a pasture, which keeps them active, less colic, less depression, and less hoof problems among other reasons. I know why horses are kept in stalls.., it's because of LAZY riders who don't know how to catch their horse in a pasture. Such rider needs to learn how to be herd leader when they enter that pasture, and understand horse body language and herd dynamics. So please, turnout horses to pasture and turn stalls into storage areas. ;)

Thanks for these videos

This was very helpful. Makes so much sense when its broken down in steps for you.

Calling a horse 'a lazy horse' implies that it is the horse's fault. It is not. I is due to the actions of the person that works with the horse the most. It is never the horse's fault. Stop blaming the horse.

NOT REALLY A FORWARD WALK

Thank you for making this video! I can't wait to try these techniques on my pony, he is lovely and we do well together, but he has gotten less and less responsive over time due my tension and misunderstanding dressage principles. Now I will have a strategy and some tools to improve him on my own! I can't afford lessons, but I look forward to learning lots from all your videos. Thank you so much for providing all this excellent content and info!

Geat video, regarding the use f the whip.Thankyou.