I have a western bred Arabian stallion that is resistant, but once he learns something he is FINE. He just seems to not want to progress through that AWKWARD stage of learning a new move.
I have to have a bit strong enough for me to contain him when he resists, as I am only 105 lbs, but the reins must be very loose to encourage him to move. Currently we are learning to lope.
He cares not a fig about following other horses, or anything other than his own comfort, so it is important to have him in a setting where he is relaxed, and not overtired or overly hot or bugs bothering him, etc.
It is a difficult thing to work with, the hardest thing I have ever done and I have trained horses for 30 years. the thing that seems to work best is to have him on a longe line for my safety and his comfort, and work him from a lope back to the jog where he is more comfortable then back into the gait he is learning again.
It has taken 6 months to get him to step into the lope without fussing, now it is a matter of getting consecutive circles from him without him deciding he is done and stopping and fussing. These horses take a lot of patience and understanding, especially if they want to bite the foot or rear up, which resistant horses tend to do, as stated in the article.
All necessary physical checks should be done, but then one must remember that sometimes it is a mental trait and that needs just as much "treatment" as if it were physical.
Lori
