Part 2
Back to riding him. I successfully got him cantering well in circles one day. But our next session, he ducked out whilst doing his trademark "twist" when I asked him for a canter. I pulled him up and punished him, but I did not try cantering him again that day. Now I see that this was a mistake. Another time I got him cantering and had completed several circuits when he decided to overshoot the corner, but he didn't buck. I managed to correct this. Since his little tantrum on the lungeing line, I have since managed to get a few canter strides out of him, but he has also managed to get away from me three times.
Because this was so unusual, the next time our vet was out, I got him to check Merlin over in case he was hurting somewhere. The dentist also comes around every so often and I got his teeth floated. All seems good. His tack appears fine. I am considering getting a metropolitan dentist out because I know the local one can be a bit blaise.
At the end of July, I went away for another bit of healing at the hospital. I was gone for bout 4 weeks, and once again the apprentice took over. Upon arriving back home, I observed her working with Merlin. I noticed that when leading him, she would just let him trail behind her at an amble. He would also crowd her and it would take her several attempts to pick up his hooves. Now I pretty much have to drag Merlin along to bring him alongside me when I am leading him.
I've been riding him since then, and he is about as responsive as a blob of cheese. When doing circles, I can be pulling his head to the left whilst my right leg pushing him round, and he will pretty much keep trotting straight ahead with his head turned to the side, only giving in at the last minute. He has also been "jumping" into the trot, not transitioning smoothly and will regularly toss his head and swish his tail in annoyance. Another thing is that he will lower his head and "yawn", opening his mouth wide and trying to evade the bit. I sometimes manage to get him collected and feel him soften his jaw, but only after an intense battle with him tossing his head and me sponging the reins. Once again, the vet and dentist checked him over, and he got the all clear. I finally bit the bullet and went to my boss for help. The most I got out of him was "you're doing just fine" and that he wants me to figure it out myself, and he left it at that.
So I've gone back to the ground basics. I've been riding him, working on transitions, changing leads at a trot, backing up, etc. He is becoming a bit more responsive, but I feel this became undone when I was once again lungeing him today and he threw a tantrum. I'm considering trying to transport him to a place that has a roundpen, so I can lunge him without a lead and thus he can carry on all he wants til he gets it out of his system. So, my question is, what are some exercises that will get him under control so that I can eventually begin cantering him again and get him to at least listen? Btw, I can not just sit out his bucks continuously, and I am considering sending him to a trainer for re-education.
Back to riding him. I successfully got him cantering well in circles one day. But our next session, he ducked out whilst doing his trademark "twist" when I asked him for a canter. I pulled him up and punished him, but I did not try cantering him again that day. Now I see that this was a mistake. Another time I got him cantering and had completed several circuits when he decided to overshoot the corner, but he didn't buck. I managed to correct this. Since his little tantrum on the lungeing line, I have since managed to get a few canter strides out of him, but he has also managed to get away from me three times.
Because this was so unusual, the next time our vet was out, I got him to check Merlin over in case he was hurting somewhere. The dentist also comes around every so often and I got his teeth floated. All seems good. His tack appears fine. I am considering getting a metropolitan dentist out because I know the local one can be a bit blaise.
At the end of July, I went away for another bit of healing at the hospital. I was gone for bout 4 weeks, and once again the apprentice took over. Upon arriving back home, I observed her working with Merlin. I noticed that when leading him, she would just let him trail behind her at an amble. He would also crowd her and it would take her several attempts to pick up his hooves. Now I pretty much have to drag Merlin along to bring him alongside me when I am leading him.
I've been riding him since then, and he is about as responsive as a blob of cheese. When doing circles, I can be pulling his head to the left whilst my right leg pushing him round, and he will pretty much keep trotting straight ahead with his head turned to the side, only giving in at the last minute. He has also been "jumping" into the trot, not transitioning smoothly and will regularly toss his head and swish his tail in annoyance. Another thing is that he will lower his head and "yawn", opening his mouth wide and trying to evade the bit. I sometimes manage to get him collected and feel him soften his jaw, but only after an intense battle with him tossing his head and me sponging the reins. Once again, the vet and dentist checked him over, and he got the all clear. I finally bit the bullet and went to my boss for help. The most I got out of him was "you're doing just fine" and that he wants me to figure it out myself, and he left it at that.
So I've gone back to the ground basics. I've been riding him, working on transitions, changing leads at a trot, backing up, etc. He is becoming a bit more responsive, but I feel this became undone when I was once again lungeing him today and he threw a tantrum. I'm considering trying to transport him to a place that has a roundpen, so I can lunge him without a lead and thus he can carry on all he wants til he gets it out of his system. So, my question is, what are some exercises that will get him under control so that I can eventually begin cantering him again and get him to at least listen? Btw, I can not just sit out his bucks continuously, and I am considering sending him to a trainer for re-education.