Horses speed

Question
Hi,
My 2 year old is well trained, but when it comes to riding faster than a walk, he has an attitude. He cro-hops when u signal for him to go faster and wont go any faster than a trot. We can not afford a professional trainer right now, so I need to know what I can do to help it. Do you have any suggestions? He knows what he is doing, so I think it might be lazyness, what do you think? Let me know!


Answer
Alexsa,

Couple of questions to consider when problems like this start.  First off, he's awfully young to be "well-trained".  He's still very immature both physically and mentally.  I, personally, won't get on a horse until they are 3 and a half.  I worked on the race track, and before that was a pre-vet med student at the University of Ky in Lexington, Ky where I did a lot of work in the animal autopsy room.  I saw first-hand the damage caused to young horses' bones, especially in the wither area, by being ridden too young.  So, enough said about that.  But, has he had these attitude problems from the start or did it show up later?  This sounds very much like he's got something bothering him, could be the saddle, so that it's uncomfortable to go faster than a walk or trot.  I have never found a horse that was lazy, and I've worked with hundreds.  An aversion to work was usually due to either a physical problem or improper handling that ruined the horse's attitude so that work was no longer enjoyable.  So, take a look at your saddle fit to start with and see if there could be a reason that moving out under the saddle is causing discomfort or pain.  Secondly, consider giving this horse some time to just grow and mature some more before you ask too much.  Because one thing I would also look at would be the wither area, if you have an equine chiropractor in the area have them look at the horse, and see if something is going on there.  You'd be surprised how uncomfortable a horse can be if something is out.  I see a lot of that in my massage work.  My own horse periodically throws out a hip, and as a result gets her back and withers out too if I don't catch it right away.  I get her all straightened out and she's a different horse.  

We know a lot more about horses now than we did even 10 yrs. ago.  I know this may sound like a lot of nonsense but it's not, trust me.  My own vet used to think chiropractic for horses was nonsense, until he saw it done and the difference it made.  He got training and does it himself now.  Just remember that you are dealing with a baby.  At 2, your horse is still the equivalent of a teenager and won't deal with things like a mature horse will.  but behavior such as you describe usually has an underlying cause.  You just have to figure out what it is.