Motivating the Lazy Horse - Part 1

with Lana Kelderman

There isn’t enough talk about how difficult the lazy or ‘more woah than go’ type of horse can be. Yes, a slower going horse can be more relaxing to ride, but it is rarely the desired outcome in the competition arena. In this two-part series, we ask Quarter Horse Queen Lana Kelderman and Dressage Rider Justine Greer to share their tools for getting a little more go.

Lana, who from the age of six, has been training in multiple disciplines in a large performance barn, competing successfully as both a youth and open rider. Becoming a professional at the age of 18 was a natural progression for Lana, with continued success coaching, training and campaigning for respected breeders across the country. With all that knowledge under one’s belt, Lana shares a thing or two about getting that go.

To help your horse feel their best, schedule a regular work programme, considering a warm up, gradual increasing the intensity and frequency, followed by a cool down. Only when your horse is physically fit, can you achieve what you are asking in your training programme.

Here are a few training principles to consider:

WORK IN SETS

Vary your paces. Do not do the canter work all at once. If you are starting to build your horse’s cardiovascular fitness, break up the exercise into smaller segments, what I call “sets” of trot, conditioning canter work, broken up with brief periods of walk, that allows all the muscles to oxygenate and stretch. Horses can tolerate longer durations of exercise with short walk intervals.

HOT WALKER

The idea of the hot walker is to physically condition your horse. This may be used to warm up and cool down horses before and after exercise, or when riding isn’t possible. Unlike a simple turnout, the walker ensures movement. The main benefit being a guarantee of a steady rhythm and speed, unlike the short and potentially risky turnout explosions! Many walkers can regulate speed and direction. Many will also allow you to pre-program and time speeds. The walker also becomes useful during bad weather, in that you can still stick to your regular fitness schedule.

In the absence of a walker, hand walking is still a good option, as opposed to no scheduled exercise for the day.

LUNGING

Both young and older horses benefit from lunging when done correctly. Lunging is a great form of exercise, allowing the horse to be more motivated in the sense that they are responding to simple pressure and release with body movements and lunging equipment. Simple aids will help your horse understand what you are asking, and there is a reward for being more motivated and focused.

Just the same, physical fitness takes a long time to develop, and it involves a great deal of effort. If you make the effort, together with your horse, you will never feel such a sense of pride and satisfaction when you reach your end goal.

EDUCATION PROGRAM

Training horses is an open book, there are so many methods and programmes to suit different horse and rider combinations. At the centre of it all, horses are a flight animal, which means things can change in a second, and you need to have the foresight to recognise and react accordingly. Most horses learn from pressure and release, and with repetition will understand what you’re asking. Learn the timing and feel in the application of your aids. Good training occurs in the release phase. Here is where the horse is willing, motivated to respond by seeking a release.

Motivating the lazy horse has a lot to do with physical and mental preparation. Allow them to feel good and enjoy the exercise by ensuring you have carefully thought out your training session. Recognise when each session needs to end.

TIPS FOR EACH TRAINING SESSION

• Plan your session frequency and exercises
• Break paces and transitions into intervals
• Encourage energy
• Reward willing behaviour
• Know when to quit

CARE & MAINTENANCE

here is so much to learn about horse care. Each day we should be making the effort to learn more about how to give them the best of care. Without good health, it is near impossible for a horse to perform with motivation and energy. Here are some of the key factors to consider; nutrition, farrier care, veterinary care, joint care, dental care, specialised saddle fit, facility maintenance, arena surface maintenance, stabling and housing, social interaction with other horses and much much more. Become knowledgeable, and apply best practise, in an ever-evolving environment.

With the best of care and conditioning in place, it’s only now that ‘more leg’ will motivate your horse.