Michelle Houle How're things going with your mare?

Kimberly Harrison That's not uncommon.  Just keep working in circles and try to avoid the tug of war if you can.  He'll come around. Good luck!

Trey Mitchell either one is fine as long as the horse knows they did the right thing.  I probably kept riding Caddy, though.😉

Calib McCollister Many thanks!

Kimberly Harrison the secret is to not use your legs to ask him to go.  The more you kick the slower he'll get.  I spank them with a quirt or rein  and if they slow down, I spank again.  Spurs will just make them dull as well.  Hope this helps!

Kimberly Harrison 👍 it's all about the reps.🙂

Craig Ironside Congratulations on your progress!  I wish I could help on the draft thing, but I've only ever ridden a couple drafts in my career.  I don't think muscle development is the problem, though.  I would still recommend working on that speed control.  It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but get her to pick up the pace on your cue so that you can control her if she decides to pick up the pace without you.  Make sense?

Stesha Reukauf absolutely.  That's where your problem is most likely.

Michelle Houle try asking less and releasing more.  Build on the smallest movement over the course of a week.  Ask and watch to see the life come up in her, then release.  next, see if you can get her to look away, then release.  Then one step, etc.  See if you can slowly put the life back in her feet.  Don't be afraid to get aggressive if need be, but release just as quickly when she responds.  This is a big job, but not impossible.  Good luck!!

Michelle Houle What you are experiencing with your mare is a very common issue.  I'll do my best to help you fix it.  More than likely she has lost all her life because (just making an assumption based on others I've seen) you have asked her to move too much.  Not that she has moved too much, but that she has been asked too much.  When we ask a horse to move out and they begin to, but we don't stop asking, the horse figurse that she has made the wrong decision by moving and eventually stops moving all together.  Sort of like if I asked you to walk beside me and you say "sure" and start walking.  Then I ask you again.  You will say, "but I'm already walking!" and then I ignore you and continue asking over and over again.  You will eventually give up and go home.  

If you cluck to your horse and she starts moving, but you continue to cluck and wave the flag, she figures you must want her to do something else, but since she can't figure it out she just quits.  Make sense?