Awww, hes naughty napping again!

C

cob1

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 July 2008
Messages
485
Visit site
The ned has been recovering from a ligament problem in his back. Hes on month 2 of ridden rehab, and almost ready to canter!!!

BUT! The sod is napping (defo not pain related as he has had physio, saddler and vet last week for his periodical checks).

The yard who is rehabing him for me, just say he is being a naughty boy and just to make him do it (as he is forward going but just puts stops in). This is fine, but sometimes he gets a bit scary especially on the road.

Normally when he naps, he throws his head does a mini rear and flicks his bum, even when i catch him throwing his head and growl at him he still does the rear thing.

When have had some fab hacks alone (not far but minimal naps) he seems like he is just in a good mood that day.

Does anyone have any suggestions or do i just have to face facts that he is tempremental!?
 
I have a nappy horse. I have found walks out in hand really good as she doesn't have me to look after and finds it a lot less stressfull.Saying this her napping was just stopping and point blank refusing to move or running backward for a few strides.She is great to walk out in hand.So will try another go at riding her soon.
 
My boy often naps but I think I might have cracked it with him.
I had been advised to get cross with him, growl and smack him but it just made him tense and stressed and he'd just run backwards. So I thought, maybe he is actually scared, and I'v given him the benefit of the doubt and it's working. I've taken him back to basics and he's been hacking out a lot with another horse for a month, past as many scary things as possible (buses, busy roads, farmyards, people's front gardens, the high street in a gale, even through a shooting party), going behind then gradually taking the lead more. Then I took him out alone and we had NO tantrums whatsoever and I enjoyed my hack for the first time in a year. I think he's just got his confidence back, and has given me back mine too!
Maybe you could try doing that with your boy? Maybe he IS just a bit scared and lacking confidence in himself?
 
instaed of punishing him for what he does wrong. praise hin for what he does right. when he stars his antics... just try to sit quietly, and get him to stand still. the moment he walks foward calmly and positively..... really go over the top with praise. you may feel stupid but he will soon learn that its nice to things that he gets praised for. you will have it cracked eventually... just stick with it. people thing cobs are hard and you can push them about a bit but they can also be quite sensitive in some ways...
 
why dont you try long reining him? i find this fab, as it takes them back to basics and educates them at the same time. also helps to get a real partership going as they have to trust you,when you say go that way in front, that there is nothing that will harm them. sorry about spelling, trying to stop smoking and all i can think about is fags!!
 
If he is genuinely not nervous but just extracting the urine, then lots of growling and a couple of really hard smacks on the bum - every time.
Once they start etu'ing and then realise that they can get away with it, it really does make life very difficult.
 
In the end I dealt with mine the way Mr woof says, I tried the softly softly approach with no improvement. The split second I felt him hesitate I would use leg if I didn't get an immediate response a good hard smack behind. The problem I found was if I didn't react really fast then it was too late and he had already got too stubborn and I couldn't win. So the trick is to react so fast he is shocked into going forward, then when he does make sure you make a big fuss of him (making sure he still goes forward while your fussing)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top