Arrghh.... napping horse....

Marnie

Marnie

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Sorry in advance, this may get long.....!

I went out on Marnie fairly early this morning, and for the first mile or so was fine, we then got to a spot that she has been spooky at before, but we have ridden past loads of times, both alone and in company. Today she absolutely refused to go past, I was there for an hour before I gave up and turned around. She was planting, sitting back on her haunches, turning round, and in the hour I didn't manage to move more than a few feet forward. Luckily it was a quiet lane and I was next to a layby, so if any cars did come by, I could get out of the way. I didn't get off - she is 16.2, well built cob and I doubt that I could hold her from the ground if she really wanted to go - I feel much safer on her. I tried nicely, I tried the tough approach - nothing!

In the end, I turned around and went back towards home as she was starting to rear (not very high, but enough for me!). As soon as I could I turned back away from home and went a different route, then when we were going back home again, turned her away, and again a bit further on - we then went back. Everytime I turned her away from home, she was fine and didn't bat an eyelid.

So, any ideas what I could have or perhaps should have done differently? She can be nappy, but I ride out alone a lot and I have never been anywhere for more than five minutes before she will go forward. As soon as possible I will go back there in company, and also try going past the same spot the other way, towards home.

Any ideas gratefully received!!
 
I have four methods for dealing with a nappy horse it depends on the horse to what will work.

1) Beat it - blue piping is excellent. It looks scary they can see it out of the corner of there eye, it makes a noise and it does not hurt them at all. If it stops you smack it if it goes forward you reward.
2) If your horse does not respond to method 1 or it is a nervous horse etc then method 2 is to sit there and wait. Take a book but you cannot give up. It has no choice but to stay there until it goes forwards. This one often works.
3) Get off and lead it past. I actually use this one a bit and have had no lasting ill effects. My horse was very mistrusting when I took him to the beach would not go forwards but followed me like a lamb when I got off.
4) If all above methods do not work then get someone to follow on a bike with a lunging whip. Also had this one work very effectively.
 
I would probably have got off and led past, I know a lot of people say this is giving in but it's never given me any problems and helped my nappy ex racer a lot. Don't do it all the time obviously but now and again is alright!

The sitting tight option is good too if you have the time, literally just sit and wait, don't do anything until you feel the horse getting bored!
 
I carry a schooling whip with Mae, she used to be terrible for napping, so would hit my leg with it and would normally be enough to getting her going forward, if not she gets a wee slap on the bum
 
I dont see getting off as giving in either, Ive found leading them past scarey objects means I am able to ride past same scarey object the next time without problems, just a bit of reassurance was all that was needed.
 
Indeed, I would say the same,getting off is not a failure. Many excellent trainers advocate it, after all your horse has gone away, past the object, only with company rather than without. Mind you I do like the idea of sitting and waiting for ages, if necessary with a book! Ha ha that'd sort them... no way of going home unless you do it!

I have had this exact thing! With a dutch warmblood though. He would go a mile or two, then all this performance, sometimes a good week, sometimes revert back to this. I have been in tears, I found huge spurs and two whips worked a treat, (but only twice) without having to use them much at all, two whips takes them by surprise a bit when you tap both sides simultaneously!
 
I had similar problem recently on friend's large and rather excitable horse. Just would not move past something and was threatening to get nasty. In the end, I got off and led him. He was more than happy to walk past scarey object with me between him and it. But felt very vulnerable on floor and then had problem of getting back on with him dancing around - and it was a long way up. A bank by path saved my bacon, never been so glad to get on board. Guess it should be kept as a last option.
 
Thanks all for the advice - it wasn't so much seeing getting off as a failure, just more that I feel very vulnerable on the ground and also, I am not sure that I could have got back on, she is quite big and I have very short legs - mind you, it wouldn't have been a huge disaster to have walked home!!
 
i have to say the most important thing with napping is <u>ROUTINE</u> and <u>PERSISTANCE</u>

but mostley routine (im not saying you dont)
laugh.gif
 
I've been known to try to wait it out which usually works as long as you can manage to keep the horse facing the same direction or get off and lead them past something if the horse is genuinely scared.
 
i have found something out that works wonders on a nappy horse. wen it plants and will not go forward no matter wat u do - make it go backwards in the direction u want to go, or leg yield it past. my gelding v occasionally naps - usually past farms due to the smells etc and nothing is guuna make him walk forward thru. so i reverse him past the farm or leg yield. he doest seem to realise hes going past scary place until we r past it. ive won, hes happy bcos i havnt ot in a stress with him and we can continue the ride without him being stressed out etc, not sure if it will work with yours but certainly works wonders on horses ive rode , have a go
 
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