Advice please! Horse napping when out hacking?! *Long*

[Lizzie0682]

Hiya,

Have had my new horse for about 4 weeks, we've had some ups and downs but generally felt we were getting on really well, went out hacking 3 times last week, new horse happily led the way despite obviously never having been ridden in our area before, could not have behaved better, despite seeing every hazard going!

Took him out on Sat with boyf jogging (v non horsey boyf I might add), went down road he had been down once before, its a v v steep hill and he did slip a couple of times when we went down it the week before. Man was in hedge with chainsaw, and new horse quite fairly spooked, but we got past. Then he flatly refused to go down hill, mini rears, backing into hedge / parked car the lot!! On this ride, put it down to first time being out alone, and also boyf choosing chainsaw spook moment to sprint off down hill out of sight (helpful!!). Turned to go other way (I know, I know, should never turn back), that also involved similar steep down hill and same thing occurred! Ended up turning round again and going shorter route as I was quite shook up at this point. Horse goes back to normal chilled out self.


As I say, put this down to experience. Rode out with another sensible horse the next day, horse happily goes out of yard, happy on roads, untill get to same point as yesterday. Same thing happens! Even with other horse in front, leading, or by the side, he just would not go down! Again, tried to go down other hill and same thing happened, eventually, after tears and patience of many drivers (thank god they were nice ones!) got him down there with him doing teeney tiny steps whole way down. Then settled into calm horse again. Half an hour later meet fork in road, one option big steep road up hill other option flat. Can you guess what happened? Rearing, backwards going for hill, angelic walk when pointed at flat option.

Now, as I say it's a new horse, and although I own another horse, she is retired so not been riding regularly for a couple of years. new horse was bought as confidence giver which after last weekend has been dented!!

I guess I'm thinking: -

1 - Has the slipping down big hill shook him up a little? Potentially injured himself without me noticing? Farrier is out this week for new shoes generally. Going to ask him for thoughts, and also possibly road studs, and maybe back shoes off for more grip??

2 - Is he just generally naughty and taking the p with new owner?! I have never ever know a horse nap when already 30mins into a ride, and also when with another horse? Plus he doesn't seem to be napping to get home, just not go a certain way? The girl I rode out with advised shouting at him, and giving him big whack with crop. I can see the sense in this, but when he's just gone backwards down a 4 foot bank and only saved himself by scrambling up at the last minute its easier said than done!!

I've invested in a new body protector, that will hopefully give me a bit more confidence to kick him on more, but when he goes backwards he's is completely uncaring as to what is behind him, it is quite frankly just dangerous.

If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance x

 

[Wobblywibble]

If it seems to every time he is asked to go up/down steep hills my best guess would be the saddle pinching him - have you had it checked?

 

[dangermouse]

As it seems to be associated with hills, you could try dismounting just before you reach the hill so it is under your terms and see how he walks down/uphill when being led. Are the road surfaces slippery where you are, some horses concerned about poor surface and if you say farrier due are his shoes slightly worn. My horse did not like going down one particularly steep track on one hacking route and used to attempt rearing etc., never did it anywhere else, he was fine when I got off and he could make his own way down without carrying me.

Did your horse have vetting and was flexion test fine?

Good luck

 

[Izzwizz]

Did you have the horse vetted when you bought him? It all rather sounds like my friend's horse who happily hacked out for ages. Then he started napping, spinning and going backwards for no apparent reason. Turned out he had suspensory ligament problems and was in pain going downhill. After he had surgery he was fine and has been ever since. Maybe get a Vet out to take a look and make sure he is sound and hopefully pain free. Is the saddle ok and does it fit right? Are his teeth ok?

Maybe try leading him out in hand and see if it still happens. I think you need to rule out any pain issues that may be going on before you start shouting etc. I rode a horse who was nappy for his owner and did manage to get him hacking out on his own eventually. I had to be firm with him, ride a shoulder in to stop him rearing and backing up. He got shouted at by me as a rider, I almost developed a growly voice that really didnt sound like me. I think it was a confidence issue with him but we got through it and were happily hacking out in the end.

Hope you get to the bottom of it, what a shame when he's still new to you.

Good luck

 

[charmeroo]

As he only does it going down hills I would suggest that you have his saddle and back checked as it would suggest pain-related. Don't panic - but on the basis that it could be this I would not ride again until you have checked both things.

 

[NicoleS_007]

Is it only going up/down hill? Mine was quite sticky going downhill as he had a chipped navicular bone, did you get him vetted? Mine was a nappy Tb who was a stubborn git to hack!! When we first bought him we went out in company hacking and he was fine following another horse but napped when infront and we couldnt stop walking or he would spin/rear to go home. He graduated to leading on hacks and we could eventualy stop and chat to people without him messing but he was always stubborn when out alone. We would get 15mins down the road then he would spin/rear then he learnt he couldnt get away with that so he started reversing down the road when he felt the need. Everytime i applied leg to go forward he would just go back even faster, we had some nearly incidents with cars and ditchs to!! If he started messing I just sat there very quietly with long reins (but ready incase he spun) and waited until he stopped reversing then i would pat him, give him a second to stand then ask him to move on, if he didnt then i would bounce him off my leg by like jumping in the saddle as i kicked him on. I did smack him once on the bottom one day but that made him 10 times worse, so I wouldnt use that again. I would say patience and dont get worked up just sit and wait until he gathers himself and then ask to move on even if you go one stride forwards and 10 back, just ask again.

 

[abitodd]

Agree with the other posters. You need to rule out saddle and pain issues.
If all is fine then I would put it down to the slippery road surface.
We have seriously steep hills in our area and the suface tarmac is like glass. My barefoot horse slips a bit,and does tiny steps to be safe. A shod horse would be terrifying to ride on these roads.
If you get off and lead,you will build your horse's confidence and when you start riding down these hills again,don't rush your horse and keep reblancing him with reassuring half halts.

 

[katie mac]

i would say depending on your experience get a more experienced rider to take him out to see what they think cus as a rider i find sometimes you have to be on the horse to feel what is wrong with the horse looking on just isnt as good sometimes and only if you are very confident get off and lead and if you do take a long line with you and experienced help Hope this helps and best of luck also a agree with all getting things checked out but a experienced rider can help you know where to start

 

[timefort]

I had this problem with a youngster I used to ride. Would go fine normally but would point blank refuse to go down hills - often to the point of turning his back on the hill and then popping in the most enormous rears. My only way round this (after back and saddle checks) was to sit out the stress, then either lead or ride him down gently, slightly sideways and slowly - I had the advantage that the hills I practised on were in a field rather than roads (this is also when I had confidence). Do you have a hill in a field you could practice on? - that might give him better grip if it is the slipping which is stressing him.
Sorry I don't have any useful advice - but with time the youngster eventually got over his hill phobia.

 

[Aces_High]

I would get road nails put in his shoes straight away. It's amazing how slipping on tarmac can knock their confidence. I would also look at popping a more confident rider on him once you've got the road nails in and seeing if he does the same with them. He could well just be taking the pee a little bit and has realised that he can to a degree do what he wants! I am sure it will all iron itself out quickly but defo speak to your farrier. All of my horses have road nails in the whole time.

 

[AmyMay]

Did the vetting throw any issues up?

Is your saddle fitted to him?

Do you have road studs fitted?

Sounds like a pretty genuine horse, with an issue that he's trying to make heard.

 

[Bigginge]

Did the vetting throw any issues up?

Is your saddle fitted to him?

Do you have road studs fitted?

Sounds like a pretty genuine horse, with an issue that he's trying to make heard.

What she just said!

Could be all manner of reasons but first step should always be benefit of the doubt and check for pain, especially as there does seem to be an association with hills, and then he says he returns to nice calm horse. If he was just nappy/naughty/insecure then he'd be at it on the flat too. Get his saddle checked.

 

[shellonabeach]

Friends mare did this threw all her toys out of the pram when asked to go down hills, turns out her back was sore which physio / saddle fitter sorted.

I don't think your horse is napping, like others have said he is not happy about something bless him

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mmmm, I'd be inclined to walk him out in-hand (poss with another horse if you feel you need it) and walk down the hill with him to see how he goes (pref with friend on the other horse to take a look at how he's walking etc).

This will do two things: it will help you with the diagnostics as to whether its pain related, or possibly even he's remembered the bad experiences on this hill, i.e. chainsaw man & also slipping, which is very unnerving.

Also, if it IS just napping, your taking him out in hand and being a firm herd leader he can trust will all help the situation. It might just be that you have to walk him out in hand, for now, then at some stage just hop on quietly and ride back to the yard. We had to do this with mine when he objected to solo hacking. I have to say that yours does sound to be displaying classic signs of nappy behaviour; so once you've eliminated any pain issues/saddle etc., I think you might still end up with "nappy" behaviour and have to deal with it accordingly.

As you're both new, its doubtless a confidence issue; you need to be the herd leader your horse can trust. Sometimes a new horse will throw up a bogey which is an excuse! i.e. like having a certain place on the route where he'll spook, or a certain road. Then the rider starts to tense up and expects the problem, which the horse will then sense, and there you've got a vicious circle!

I think it might benefit to go back to the ground with him; and in a secure environment do some serious groundwork/long reining etc and gain his confidence about being with you and respecting you as herd leader; then one day you could quietly just go for a leading-rein walk out on the road together and see how it goes and then progress very gently into riding home perhaps, taking it very easy and not stressing him out at all.

You WILL get there, don't worry! I did it with mine; and he was a right stroppy little git. So worth persevering with. It also might be good, if you've had all the pain checks/saddle etc and he still continues to baffle you, to get some skilled help to come out with you on a hack and see exactly what's going on, and work with them to get him through these issues.

Good luck anyway.

 

[noblesteed]

My horse struggled with hills when I first got him, he had come from a pretty flat area to a very hilly place!
We worked out he had issues with his feet, bad farriery for years had made him unbalanced and we also think caused stifle issues. He napped for several reasons but this was one of them, he would go sideways if he HAD to go downhill. Remedial shoeing and careful fittening work fixed him and he was fine with hills after 6 months or so and has been ever since. The napping took considerably longer!!!!

 

[el_Snowflakes]

I would either go for road nails in the back shoes (if its the back he is slipping on) My horse is terrible for slipping on the road and in the yard where its a fairly smooth surface- to the point where i would not hack anywhere where we were required to go downhill....

I got road nails in the back and she improved... I have now taken her back shoes off for th winter and seen an even better improvement. Your horse will probably still asscociate hills with slipping but once he sees theres nothing to be afraid of Im sure he will get past it. I would also speak to your riding instructor to make sure you are not riding him a way that will make him unbalanced -good luck