Hi Nancy,
-what is your horse's breed and age?
-Is there anything he loves to do and does it with more energy than you describe here?
-Are you sure his heart and lungs are checked by a vet and OK?
-Did you try the "Giddy-up rope", as described in Monty's "from my hands to yours"?
-Is your horse in the right discipline or do you think he'd be better of doing something else?
So many questions, don't be overwhelmed by them!
You didn't tell us about the things that work fine, this could be an indication of where to start and change anything. He probably didn't choose his "job", maybe you can find what would be his ideal one. Some horses are pushed so hard and often, that they shut off.
They don't receive the message anymore, that's being send to them with the cues we give.
If this is the case, you'd have to stop pushing and come to a new type of signal.
Here the Giddy-up rope could help.
Remember that you need his cooperation and you cannot force your horse.

A Morgan - 8 yrs, I have had him for 4 years, he was sold as a "2" for temperment and that is very accurate. All is good as far as health, he is a strong horse and really does best on trail. Everyone is always amazed at how far uphill he can travel with very little loss of air, or need to stop and rest. So he does have the capacity. We do every discipline I can think of because that is a trait of the Morgan, all around. He drives (but is too slow, can't get the extended trot without a good whack). Trail work, even the most difficult of terrain, Drill Team, English, eventing, Dressage, ACTHA, camping and we start mounted shooting next week. So to do a different discipline, at this point my goal is to do it all, he is willing and good minded, just such a slow poke. Should I just give up and let him have his way and slog around? I had a trainer that told me to sell him and get a different horse, that he had no "try". (That trainer quit on me) He does a great Western Pleasure jog, but I am looking to also get an English extended trot. I hope it is not too much to ask and I just have to give up and let him "have his way" because this is just the type of horse he is. So my question boils down to: how do I get more energy with out resorting to a whack to get it? I will look into the Giddy up rope Thanks for your input, I am off to my Dressage lesson!

To get more energy into your horse you need to find something HE wants to do.
From what you write I gather that you look for a allround-talent your horse might not posess. But he might have talents, that you haven't noticed yet.
Before you try the giddy-up rope, please let someone make a video, so you can see if you give him time to respond to your cue, before the next one comes. Often this is what takes away motivation in a horse. Strip down your ridingstyle to the basics, stop using leg-aids and then bring in the giddy-up rope to aks your horse for forward-movement. As soon as he reacts, stop swinging the rope. This way he'll understand what you ask of him.
From there you can build up a new relationship with only signals, no constant cues.
Good luck!

Hi Miriam and Nancy

I have just started leasing a lovely Arab who everyone described to me as the pokiest, laziest arab they had every seen. yet, when I let him run loose in the arena,he is full of life. I am very new at this, but I noticed right away that when the kids rode him that they kicked and knocked about on him and he just laid his ears back and refused to move. I have only ridden him twice so far, and if I use my legs I get the same unhappy response from him. But, if I close my eyes, relax, think about forward movement and encourage him with my voice, he goes!! He also turns if I pulse my right or left hip forward, but don't apply the leg.

I have another question though. Teighan is very sensitive on his either side of his spine about ten inches out from his croup. There are about 6 inches of muscle there where he flinches if I massage them. Any thoughts on that? The owner does not kn what this is or seem concerned about it. I first picked it up because he flinched when I brushed him there. How should I proceed?

Cheers
Rainy

Hi Rainy,
Lucky Teighan to have found you! Your visualization of forward movement is all he needs and it seems to me he's one of those sensitive horses that shut down, when overstimulated.
He goes "into pressure".
If you could have a chiropractor look at his back, you would do him another great favor! The owner should agree on this, but showing his reaction might convince him/her that it could be worth it.
Did you do Join-up with him? To establish trust I think it will serve both of you well.
You seem to have an intuitive connection to this horse, let him have full profit of it!
Let us know how things develop.
Miriam

Hi Miriam

Thanks. Yes, I will mention the chiropractor to his owner. He came up lame the other day, too. No bobbing of the head, but he took a long, long stride with his left fore and then a short choppy one with his right fore. He was very grateful to have his shoulders massaged after that, so I think that the problem is in there. I have some good stretches for that for him. He yawned and yawned when I was finished with him, so I think I figured that one out correctly.

I did try join up with Teighan, and I have to say it was quite comical. I watched the join up video over and over and memorized all the steps. I found a time when I could go to the barn by myself and realize my true mastery of equus. I repeated the join up steps out loud all the way out to the barn. I brought Teighan in to the arena and tried to point him in the four directions in the right order and he proceeded to spin circles around me. He seemed to be saying, "I was born from the four winds of the desert. Let me go!!!"

I finally had him set up to release at 2 oclock and I snapped my line and eyes at him. Hurray! He set off. ...in the wrong direction... Then, I managed to turn him and send him in the right direction. I was working the eyes, concentrating on the 45 degree body thing, and Teighan drew a smaller circle and even dropped his head... I was getting closer...so close...

And then I tripped on a cone and fell flat on my face!!

Teighan trotted right over to where I was and looked at me with the most priceless expression on his face. I swear he was saying, "You're kidding me, right? You can't stand up on two legs, and YOU want to lead ME?

I killed my knee on the cone but I had to laugh at myself.

I will try it again with Teighan. I have to admit, I was scared when I worked with him the first time. I am sooo new to all of this. But, I am going to ask someone to hang with me next time I do it. ( and move the cones!!)

Thanks for your feedback. It is so fun to share my experiences and to have expert backup!!
cheers
Rainy

Hi Rainy!
To put things right, I'm in the middle of my Introductory course, due for exam and Afvanced Course in April, so no expert but learning, learning ,learning also from your questions!
Remember that there is no wrong direction when sending off your horse, only that Monty found out after many years, that most horses find going off to the right more natural. Before realising this, he'd let the horses choose which direction to take. So don't worry about this.
What did the cones do in your roundpen? Why don't you ask someone to bring a videocamera and make a little video of your next Join-up with Teighan? It really helps to watch yourself and see what went well and what could be improved. Excitement is natural when we try new things, fear should not be part of it. Your horse would sense your fear and synchronize with you. Try to be realistic about your skills, take small steps and grow with them towards your goal. Have fun!

Hey
Thanks for the feedback.
Good luck with those courses. That sounds soooo exciting.

I am a counsellor by training, and eventually, I would like to work with horses in a therapeutice fashion. but first lots of rudimentary learning!!

Cheers
Rainy

Hi Nancy (and everyone!),
I, too, have a Morgan and usually I have the exact opposite trouble..she is so fast, she laps the other horses in just about any situation at her relaxed (but very Morgan!) trot. She can be 'lazy' in that she'd rather not do endless circles, bending, etc and once I figured that out and we stopped trying to do competitive Dressage she was happier and went forward willingly again.
I love the versatility of the Morgan, but to me (this is just my opinion) it's like having a child that is in music, dance, soccer,theatre,gymnastics...sure they *can* do it all, but *should* they?
Argo (my mare) and I have been together for twelve years now. I was her first owner, after her breeder. I am her second trainer (she was 'started'..and I use that term loosely..by an abusive trainer who happened to 'train' western.) After I got Argo, it took me a full six months of patient training to get her stop visibly shaking whenever she saw *anything* related to western. Saddles, somebody in a cowboy hat, anything western would cause her to shake and moan.
Long story short, she now loves to go western and we are planning on competing in Freestyle Reining this year. I ride her "with no iron" meaning no shoes, no bit. I use a Dr Cook's Bitless Bridle, because she was never, ever happy in a bit no matter what I did or what bit I tried. A leftover of her 'starting' I assume.
So what can we do? Anything! I just can't compete in Dressage or any class that requires the use of a bit. For us this means we go in Halter, Showmanship, Freestyle Reining and Jumping..that should keep us out of trouble, eh? :D
Now back to my lazy problem with her..she used to love to jump. I could barely slow her down over the courses, although she always listened to me. But a couple of days ago since I'm signed up for a jumping clinic in March I dragged out a practise jump to pop her over a few times and for about three jumps she went over fine, then just started slowing down to the jump and stopped in front of it.
I'm wondering what I could have started doing to cause her to slow instead of go over. But yeah I understand the slogging about issue (and like you, Nancy, my saddle fits well, there are no pain issues).
I'm a certified trainer, but her sudden unwillingness to go over even the smallest crossrail has me stumped. Poles she loves to 'jump' over! Set em up any higher and she seems overfaced, but that can't be it, can it? Maybe we just need more practice..
At any rate, Miriam is very right. You have to find what your horse loves, and then you two will just fly! I never ever thought I would be learning Reining. I mean, I was a dyed in the wool Dressage Queen for years. But Argo doesn't like Dressage, and I love Argo and don't want to force her to do anything she truly dislikes. So I found out she loves Reining and so I'm learning that, and she and I are having the time of our lives! Good luck to you in all your endeavors and may all your horsey dreams come true! (Sorry this is a novel!)

Hi, I have been off for awhile. I am happy to report we are doing better. Still do not have the go go go that most other horses have but I am resigned to what we do have. Which really is pretty good. Went out on the trail with a friend and her Morgan who really moves out and lo and behold, my guy kept up just fine, thank you very much. Talk about motivation. Still it would be nice if this "generosity" were freely given and not just a result of keeping up with the horse in front. At least I do know he is capable and I will continue to work toward earning his partnership and willingness. I, too, had a trainer that was pretty hard on him , but I don't think that is the sum total of the issue. Bottom line, tomorrow will be better than today and, Lord willing, we will have many more tomorrows. Thanks all, for your input

Nancy,
A couple of things: remember that horses are herd animals and are naturally more secure and happy with other horses around. While it would be perfect if your guy looked forward to solo trail rides (and he may, eventually), I suggest you use his willingness to move out smartly with another horse and ride with friends for now. And whatever discipline you ask him to ride in, plse make sure he has the conformation for it. You will both take a loss if you ask him to do something he simply can't manage and doesn't want to do. If you have to smack him with the whip to get an extended trot out of him, he either doesn't want to do that or he finds it difficult (or both). I suggest videoing your rides in the various disciplines you are exploring to see where he does best with the least amount of extra "coercion" on your part. It could be enlightening. Good luck!