Re-starting a 13 year old welsh D

Question
Hi there!

So i have my Welsh D gelding who has had 2 months off work due to injury, i would like to re-start him from the beginning as such because hes very lazy and unresponsive to most aids i give him, and he can be very naughty, he will rear if i ask him to move forward when he doesn't want to, he will bolt + buck if he doesn't want to work. I'm constantly being dragged about and barged about by him as he doesn't respect my space.

I was wondering what you would recommend I do to try to get him responding and respecting me on the ground and mounted? He is 13 years old and has done lots of shows of most kinds before i got him. He is ridden English and i don't have a sand school to use.

I would really appreciate any advice! :)
Leanne + "buck"

Answer
Hiya Leanne...

Wow he sounds like a project for you.

I'd be sectioning off his field and getting him used to working in there.  Then do some Natural Horsemnaship with him, I recommend Kelly Marks's book Perfect Manners, which will give you the basics to get him to respect you.  Clicker training is very good, and as Welshies are very smart (I know, I started on a section A, moved up to my friends sec D mare, and now am reschooling a Sec c broodmare, and they've all been incredibly smart) he should pick it up.  

If he barges you, make him back up and wait till you are out of the way, for instance make him wait to go into his stable, make him follow you, not barge past you.  Make him wait for his feed/haynet, if needs be, teach him to say please..I know it's a trick, but I used this on both my arab mares, and now, they say please and thank you by picking up a front foot and dropping their heads.  To teach him this, get a long schooling whip and his headcollar with lunge line attached...walk him out side, and ask him 'say please'  as you do this, tap his front leg with the end of the schooling whip..I don't mean whip his leg, just tap the side of his knee till he picks up his foot...when he has picked up his foot, tell him good boy, and give a reward, a piece of apple or carrot.  Keep repeating until you can just say 'Say Please' and eventually he'll get it.

Also, be careful with his feed and exercise regime, DON'T give him hard feed if he doesn't need it...if he isn't working, he won't need any additional feed.  

Hope this has helped, and I hope you get him to respect you...nothing worse than bargy ponies!  If you want anything else, please do contact me...

Emma xx