erika wrote:
He may be lazy but if he's off balance and feels akward, you do have to cut him (a little) slack. I'm not saying let him get away with it, but if he's increasing his speed and trotting fast, he IS trying. Are you posting at his fast trot? If it's a balance issue, work him at a nice fast trot for awhile untill his fitness level goes up... And try to encourage rather than punish at this point, because it is new to him, he's just starting to learn and has to figure things out.

I'm all for the "Ask, tell, demand" method with a horse who already knows his job, but you have to cut a horse who's just learning a little slack or they're going to hate their jobs.
See, he's not trying though. I have to ride the crap out of him just to get that fast trot. It would be easier for him to give me a nice lope, but that would be what I want you see so therefore I won't get it....

I'm not picky about leads, and I'm not even really picky about the corner cutting thing, but he starts trying to cut at the 2/3 mark. I'm only really picky about keeping forward movement and keeping him straight. Cutting corners is tolerable for now, and he doesn't know anything about proper leads, but trying to drop me is NOT ok.

I have to admit I am having fun with him. He's definitely been a challenge, but not out of my league. I used to work for a place that had a 15 yr old appy teaser stud that did exactly the same things, but not quite as bad. The boss paid $75 for him at auction. Have no idea how that happened since he was one of the best horses I've ever worked with. Decent conformation, nice disposition, super athletic (can jump 4' easy under saddle. funny story but I'll save it for another time) lots of personality, but stubborn as a f***ing mule. He was a really ugly horse, but definitely a good horse. I think I have a picture of him too..

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Not perfect, but he was DEFINITELY worth more than $75. Sorry about that, but I LOVE that goofy horse. I miss him every single day and I don't get to talk about him very much. (and if you look closely in the last picture you can see his mullet)