DraftX Drags feet when leading

1rish · 03-17-2004, 08:10 AM

Hello everyone, I am new to "COLD" blooded horses and have a question.
A month ago I adopted two 10mo old Draftx colts from a PMU farm. They had never been handled before I purchased them. As of this date they are halter broke, tie, blanket, clip, load willingly into the trailer, have seen the farrier, vet, been to the vets office to be gelded. They are amazing boys!
One is a TB/Belgium and the other is a Clyde/?. The TBx has come along just like all my other TB babies, very hot and sensitive but responsive and is working wonderfully. The Clyde on the other hand is SUPER quiet, not a spooky bone in his body and NOTHING bothers him. This is wonderful except he takes that mentality into his training. He walks super slowly on the lead, dragging his feet, I have to keep constant pressure on the lead to get him to walk or he will stop. I have tried everything, if there is a second person anywhere in the vacinity he won't do it because he knows there is backup, (or if I have cookies in my pockets.) My problem is I don't want to have to bribe him etc. There is no pushing this guy around as he already wears a size 78 blanket (to get an idea of his size as a 10mo old.) So I am not physically pulling him, he just needs motivation to move. I have never had this problem with any of my other TB babies. I was told that Draft breeds have these lazy tendancies. Could someone give me some ideas on how to address this situation?
Thank you,

MissBandit · 03-18-2004, 01:07 PM

At one barn where I worked there was a large Draft cross similar to your fellow. He was a foot dragging, lazy oaf too. He'd even occasionally trip over his own feet (he did grow out of that tho). It just took a little extra tug on the lead a cluck and perhaps a swat on the neck to get him going. We made sure that we were walking beside him and not infront of him, we kept our pace consistant and didn't keep looking up at him to check on him. He still walked a LOT slower than the rest when being led out (which was actually a relief after all those nutty TB's), and under saddle he needed to be ridden with spurs b/c he was pretty thick skinned and needed the occasional jab to wake him up. Loved that brute!

1rish · 03-18-2004, 06:41 PM

I absolutely adore him too. It sounds like it just may be something I have to live with. If I am not walking in front of him with constant tension on the rope he stops. I can walk beside him but then I have to walk slightly behind his shoulder and constantly tap him on the rump with the end of the lead to keep him moving. About the only time I have seen him pick up his feet and move is when he is "herding" my TB colt around the playpen.
Thank you for your input. Guess I will just have to learn to deal with it.

CA Fan · 03-18-2004, 08:51 PM

Hi Irish, I've had to deal with this problem and I'll tell you how I fixed it.

Lead your boy along the long side of the arena fence with him between you and the fence. Have him on your right side with the lead in your right hand and a 3 or 4 foot stiff heavy dressage-type whip in your left hand. Start walking. When he lags behind, push your leading hand out a bit (that's the cue to speed up) then extend your whip arm straight back (don't bend your arm) and tap him on up high on the but until he takes a few hurried steps and begins to lead properly. (It will be weird at first because you will end up looking back at his but over your left shoulder, but keep trying, it gets easier). Every time he lags behind, reach back and spank. When he leads properly, leave him alone. Once he realizes you're serious with the spank, he'll stop dragging his feet and all you'll have to do to get him to speed up is extend your leading hand a bit.

Good luck!
; )

1rish · 03-19-2004, 02:06 PM

Thank you for your advise. By allowing him to drag behind for so long it was difficult for him to understand the concept of move up even with me at his shoulder, but it worked. It even seems to have improved his lunging.
Thank you. Hopefully within a few days I will no longer need the whip.

LadyJumper · 03-19-2004, 05:55 PM

I am leasing a draft and he does almost the same thing. I get him to try to catch me by making him trot to the side of me and that gets his feet a going.

charmedlife · 04-04-2004, 11:07 PM

Are you sure you are not feeding him too much protein? There is a muscle disease of draft horses called ESPM. It can cause symptoms like stiff gaits,tying up,over all poor performance.The root of the problem is the inability of these horses to properly break down glycogen in their muscle. You can find out more if you go to www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic.I just found out about this too. Good luck Charmedlife

<small>[ April 04, 2004, 11:08 PM: Message edited by: charmedlife ]</small>

LordOfDaReins · 04-05-2004, 10:02 AM

Oh, haha. I have this problem with my iddle mindy... sometimes shes just like your horse, but other times shes a nutcase (so its not exactly the same), but on her lazy days, I just work her faster. If she wants to rest that day, I just make her do a lot of trotting and cantering, and a little walking and I let her go early (not that I ever ride her that long anyways)
THE LOTR SOLUTION OF NOT A STORY!!!

So if your horse is slow, you first have to assess that it is NOT his nature and he's like this because he is lazy. If he's walking slowly on the lead, you start jogging and get him to jog too. Watch out for those feet! Ive been stepped on by a perch and its no fun! But I didn't cry. Basicly the same thing all the time. If he's going slow, kick him up a gate... after a while he just might figure out how it works.

03-17-2004, 08:10 AM	#1
1rish Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Doing Laundry Posts: 1,549 Images: 36	DraftX Drags feet when leading Hello everyone, I am new to "COLD" blooded horses and have a question. A month ago I adopted two 10mo old Draftx colts from a PMU farm. They had never been handled before I purchased them. As of this date they are halter broke, tie, blanket, clip, load willingly into the trailer, have seen the farrier, vet, been to the vets office to be gelded. They are amazing boys! One is a TB/Belgium and the other is a Clyde/?. The TBx has come along just like all my other TB babies, very hot and sensitive but responsive and is working wonderfully. The Clyde on the other hand is SUPER quiet, not a spooky bone in his body and NOTHING bothers him. This is wonderful except he takes that mentality into his training. He walks super slowly on the lead, dragging his feet, I have to keep constant pressure on the lead to get him to walk or he will stop. I have tried everything, if there is a second person anywhere in the vacinity he won't do it because he knows there is backup, (or if I have cookies in my pockets.) My problem is I don't want to have to bribe him etc. There is no pushing this guy around as he already wears a size 78 blanket (to get an idea of his size as a 10mo old.) So I am not physically pulling him, he just needs motivation to move. I have never had this problem with any of my other TB babies. I was told that Draft breeds have these lazy tendancies. Could someone give me some ideas on how to address this situation? Thank you, __________________ Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

03-18-2004, 01:07 PM	#2
MissBandit Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 13,495 Images: 368 Blog Entries: 1	At one barn where I worked there was a large Draft cross similar to your fellow. He was a foot dragging, lazy oaf too. He'd even occasionally trip over his own feet (he did grow out of that tho). It just took a little extra tug on the lead a cluck and perhaps a swat on the neck to get him going. We made sure that we were walking beside him and not infront of him, we kept our pace consistant and didn't keep looking up at him to check on him. He still walked a LOT slower than the rest when being led out (which was actually a relief after all those nutty TB's), and under saddle he needed to be ridden with spurs b/c he was pretty thick skinned and needed the occasional jab to wake him up. Loved that brute! __________________ Founder is the #2 killer of horses. Learn how to prevent, spot and treat this deadly disease. Emergency Treatment http://www.laminitisclinic.org

03-18-2004, 06:41 PM	#3
1rish Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Doing Laundry Posts: 1,549 Images: 36	I absolutely adore him too. It sounds like it just may be something I have to live with. If I am not walking in front of him with constant tension on the rope he stops. I can walk beside him but then I have to walk slightly behind his shoulder and constantly tap him on the rump with the end of the lead to keep him moving. About the only time I have seen him pick up his feet and move is when he is "herding" my TB colt around the playpen. Thank you for your input. Guess I will just have to learn to deal with it. __________________ Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

03-19-2004, 02:06 PM	#5
1rish Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Doing Laundry Posts: 1,549 Images: 36	Thank you for your advise. By allowing him to drag behind for so long it was difficult for him to understand the concept of move up even with me at his shoulder, but it worked. It even seems to have improved his lunging. Thank you. Hopefully within a few days I will no longer need the whip. __________________ Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.

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03-18-2004, 08:51 PM	#4
CA Fan Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milpitas, CA Posts: 3	Hi Irish, I've had to deal with this problem and I'll tell you how I fixed it. Lead your boy along the long side of the arena fence with him between you and the fence. Have him on your right side with the lead in your right hand and a 3 or 4 foot stiff heavy dressage-type whip in your left hand. Start walking. When he lags behind, push your leading hand out a bit (that's the cue to speed up) then extend your whip arm straight back (don't bend your arm) and tap him on up high on the but until he takes a few hurried steps and begins to lead properly. (It will be weird at first because you will end up looking back at his but over your left shoulder, but keep trying, it gets easier). Every time he lags behind, reach back and spank. When he leads properly, leave him alone. Once he realizes you're serious with the spank, he'll stop dragging his feet and all you'll have to do to get him to speed up is extend your leading hand a bit. Good luck! ; )

03-19-2004, 05:55 PM	#6
LadyJumper Full Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 179	I am leasing a draft and he does almost the same thing. I get him to try to catch me by making him trot to the side of me and that gets his feet a going.

04-04-2004, 11:07 PM	#7
charmedlife Full Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Southwest TEXAS....I LOVE TEXANS & horse lovers all !!!!! Posts: 44	Are you sure you are not feeding him too much protein? There is a muscle disease of draft horses called ESPM. It can cause symptoms like stiff gaits,tying up,over all poor performance.The root of the problem is the inability of these horses to properly break down glycogen in their muscle. You can find out more if you go to www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic.I just found out about this too. Good luck Charmedlife <small>[ April 04, 2004, 11:08 PM: Message edited by: charmedlife ]</small>

04-05-2004, 10:02 AM	#8
LordOfDaReins Full Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 170	Oh, haha. I have this problem with my iddle mindy... sometimes shes just like your horse, but other times shes a nutcase (so its not exactly the same), but on her lazy days, I just work her faster. If she wants to rest that day, I just make her do a lot of trotting and cantering, and a little walking and I let her go early (not that I ever ride her that long anyways) THE LOTR SOLUTION OF NOT A STORY!!! So if your horse is slow, you first have to assess that it is NOT his nature and he's like this because he is lazy. If he's walking slowly on the lead, you start jogging and get him to jog too. Watch out for those feet! Ive been stepped on by a perch and its no fun! But I didn't cry. Basicly the same thing all the time. If he's going slow, kick him up a gate... after a while he just might figure out how it works.