Hi! So I was finally able to get Pippin out and work with him, he needs quite a bit of work and I know it. Well anyways, after a while of doing basic leading, pivots, backs, and halts I decided to put out some ground poles and see if he'd walk and trot over them. He did great just walking over but when I asked him to trot he wouldn't do it until I brought out a whip, held it behind me, and flicked it lightly. He trotted going one direction as long as I had that but the other direction even with the whip he didn't.
After a while he seemed to be getting bored so I took all the poles away except one and raised it up a little (only a few inches). It ended up being the same as with the ground poles where he will only trot with the whip and in the one direction. It seems to be the way his old owner's taught him because even just leading or long lining he needs the whip to go faster than a walk. I know this is a problem but I need some help with how to fix this.
Pippin is normally a really great little guy and will do what I ask on the first try. He isn't lame either, I made sure to check every inch of him to make sure. I'm wondering if you very knowledgeable ladies have anything that could help fix the needing the whip to trot. I know patience and repetition are a big one but is there anything specific I should try?
I have a billion more questions but I'll just go with this one first.
After a while he seemed to be getting bored so I took all the poles away except one and raised it up a little (only a few inches). It ended up being the same as with the ground poles where he will only trot with the whip and in the one direction. It seems to be the way his old owner's taught him because even just leading or long lining he needs the whip to go faster than a walk. I know this is a problem but I need some help with how to fix this.
Pippin is normally a really great little guy and will do what I ask on the first try. He isn't lame either, I made sure to check every inch of him to make sure. I'm wondering if you very knowledgeable ladies have anything that could help fix the needing the whip to trot. I know patience and repetition are a big one but is there anything specific I should try?
I have a billion more questions but I'll just go with this one first.