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Monty Roberts Equus Online University
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Horse Behavior and Training

Zero Flight Response

By:
TLP
Date:
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

I have an 18 year old gelding who is just as bomb proof as they come. He's been at pasture for at least 3 years after having spent his life as a trail horse with his previous owner. I want to begin riding him but figured it would be better to begin with join-up and basic ground work before mounting for the first time. Problem: This horse has no real flight response to speak of and won't go away for join-up and will NOT move forward for long lining. I was able to overcome his initial barginess at meal times by squaring up on him with strong eye contact and chasing him off and he has been nothing but kind and respectful since. So I was able to get him to move his feet in those instances, but he just won't move them in the round pen...at all. If I can't get him to move his feet on the ground, I can't imagine him being willing to move them when I get in the saddle! He is not scared at all of flapping tarps, flapping long lines, flapping plastic bags, shaking pop cans with nuts and bolts inside for noise, noise of a lunge whip smacking the ground... How can I get this horse to move???

Mal
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

If he's completely and utterly bomb-proof, then I'd say sending him out/away to perform Join-Up would be counter-productive at this stage. Perhaps take that bit as read?
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Moving his feet. The way I'd start would be with a Dually on, clipped to a training ring, and asking him to softly yield his head and neck in a flex to my side. I'm standing by the stirrup. Without pulling, pick up the slack in the rope and wait. When he makes any small head movement towards me, release. Repeat until the head and poll is soft and willing to yield with zero resistance. Both sides of course.
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Now, with the poll yielded round, address his hip on the same side. Pushing lightly on his flank, I'd ask him to decouple his hind legs with a step away from me. I use hand or finger pressure for this in preparation for riding. Florian Oberparleiter, in his excellent Uni lesson set, quietly swings his soft rope to get the same response.
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In fact, that set of lessons may hold the answers you seek. Perhaps review those and see how your quiet horse responds?

JoHewittVINTA
Please upload your photo 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Join up is a way to gain trust but if you already have it then it's overkill. At 18 your boy has seen it all. I agree with the previous suggestions and would only add that, when you first sit on him, do it in a very safe place, with a second quiet horse that your boy already knows if possible. Good luck and I wish you much happiness together.

TLP
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

I should modify my previous comments by saying that when I can get no foot movement in the round pen, it is only his FORWARD direction that doesn't work. I can turn him in circles or back him up with the long lines all day long with no resistance from him. He will also fairly easily yield his shoulders and hip and will flex his neck readily on a lead rope. I just have to find a way to achieve FORWARD! LOL

Mal
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Thanks for the clarification. This suggests that, at some time in the past, he has been asked for too much effort or extended periods of effort, and that his bomb-proof appearance may be an indication of "total switch off." Sounds like he's given up.
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Does he come with you on the lead rope? If so, it might be possible to do a ride-and-lead from a pony-horse, with a Dually encouraging him to keep up. If the lead horse is one he is familiar and comfortable with, the power of the herd may start to renew his jest for life - and forwardness.

TLP
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

Actually, he leads wonderfully and is very responsive with or without the dually! I think I'm going to saddle him up tomorrow and see how he does taking a bit of a ride around the round pen. If I can't achieve forward tomorrow, then it's looking like I'll have my work cut out for me. Who knows? He may surprise me and be a wonderful ride. I'll let you all know how it goes.

vicci - UK (North Wales)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed

well, he's been a trail horse so maybe he'll be brilliant - maybe he was taught to stand still no matter what...I'm really looking forward to hearing how it went when you rode him

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