A follow on from the hacking draw reins thread- to combat napping/rearing advice?

[DollyCoblet]

Hi,
After reading the thread about hacking in draw reins, I saw some people had mentioned about there experiances with riding in draw reins when riding a horse which naps/rears.
My mare who was broken last year, suddenly for no reason decided one day she was going to start to rear and nap to get her own way, it came out of no where but she can be a bit like that 'wilfull'! I had all the checks teeth, back, saddle, bit, she will hack in company fine, no problem it's when we try it alone she wont even go to the end of the lane with out rearing a few inches and spinning around, I cant get her to go forward i have tried EVERYTHING... being nicey nicey, being horride beating her up and growling at her, sitting for 1.5 hours, we always end up in a fight which she wins.
I really need to get back going with her so the draw reins idea seemed fantastic, if it works, can anyone explain there experiances of draw reins for nappers, or little buggers that want there own way!
Any other advice would be gratefully recieved and tried out, am getting fed up of only riding her once a week when can get out with others.
Thank you all

 

[TheMule]

They would be the last thing I use on a nappy horse- you want to encourage forward, not add to the backward force, surely?

 

[somethingorother]

Not sure about how useful they would be for nappers, their main function is to bring the head down/ in so although i have used it on a pretty serious rearer who went right up, i'm not sure how beneficial they would be to you. Have you tried leading her a little way out and then getting on her and coming home? Then increasing the time you ride for, decreasing the time you lead for each time? Sounds like it started as a confidence issue and has developed into a habit now. Wouldn't think a quick fix or gadgets are going to solve this problem for you.

 

[DollyCoblet]

Somethingorother - Yes this is another thing I have tried leading her on foot half way round a 15 minute loop then getting on, it was fine the first time as we were heading home when I got on, fab as she was going forward, but then when I tried it facing outward the next day (after walking to just before the half way point) she point blankly refused and went up when asked, have also tried riding with another horse to a point then that horse go one way and we go to go home she is fine with this. It seems the worst time is when she is asked to go away from home, as you said I do think it was a bit of a confidence crisis that has escalated, not looking for a quick fix but am getting to the end of everything else to try.
Have also tried if she will go forward even if its not the way I want to go we will do it as at least its forward, if her legs are moving and 4 are on the ground shes a good girl.

 

[wellsat]

D was shockingly nappy when I first got her, we got round it by putting a dually headcollar on over her bridle and getting OH to lead her using a lunge line. He walked calmly at her side and only used the line when absolutely necessary but it stopped her spinning, napping or rearing. only took a couple of times and she learned that hacking alone wasn't that bad after all.

 

[LaurenM]

I wouldn't try hacking with drawing reins for that purpose and I have a nappy horse.

You need to look at the circumstances to get to the cause first.

Does she only nap on one direction? Mine always does it to the right.
Are you confident, relaxed etc?
Does she nap at the same places?
Do you hack in company?
What does she do when she naps?
Is she being stubborn or is she scared?

If she's scared, don't growl or smack her -it will just upset her even more. Don't get into a fight with her, you'll lose.

The way I now ride my horse is by half halting on the left rein (as he always goes to the right), tap him on his right shoulder or right shoulder, right hind in sync (it seems to relax him), alot of leg and vocal encouragement.

 

[Santa_Claus]

draw reins are not a magic fix for rearers but in some cases they can stop them going up vertical as they will not be able to fling their head up in preperation for the rear. Some horses actually rear more with them which can become quite dangerous and will fling themselves about. they also won't stop the horse going backwards.

Fleur used to do as you described as a youngster and it took years to crack it (but note I could only ever hack at weekends due to daylight issues from work so took a lot longer than if could have hacked every day for a few weeks!!)

My methods were varied having identified it was purely a confidence issue with her. I started with having company in the form of another horse AND someone on the ground with a lead rope who during strops could lead her forward (far more effective than it sounds!) progressed from there to removing the person on the ground and then to taking the lead. Occasionally would still take her out on her own as can't have security blanket all the time. again at first with a leader.

One technique I actually used with success when on my own and her throwing a hissy was to get off and lead her past the problem then back to where we started then lead past again then back again to the problem point and which point would remount and ask her to walk past whilst ridden. If she did she was praised if not off again and repeat. she soon would get bored and would play ball. Most people say don't get off a napper and lead them and I would agree unless using a method like above where you are ultimately still going to ride them past.

i now have a horse who although far from perfect hacks on her own and when met with something spooky will normally go past without too much of a fuss (except the first time being ridden in a month the other week when admittedly she was as spooky as hell but hey she was very fresh and a few days later was back to normal!)

 

[DollyCoblet]

Thank you some good things to be thinking about
Santa_claus - I was told never ever to dismount her (and standing 16.3hh I doubt I would get back on!) but like you say if I went back and forth then re-mounted it would be her going past the place.