Head throwing napping and getting worse help please

Nonyabusiness

Nonyabusiness

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I have a 16:3 Irish sport horse chestnut mare of 12 yrs I've had her for about 8 weeks now. We had been doing great for the first few weeks but now she has started throwing her head violently whilst hacking out. She only does this when she decides its time to go back home. Not only does she throw her head she reins backs (wonderfully if it was asked for) but with being on hard pot holed lane with bushes n ditches its not ideal? Also she is starting to try and rear up. Not ideal. Somedays she will go further than others but still no more than half a mile or so from home. She's fine with horses hacking out I have these issues alone, whilst riding her. Hr last owner had her for 8 years so I could understand that she's still getting to know me and vice versa..... But the last thing I want is her getting dangerous whilst out alone.

Things that have changed in the time I've had her. She is now on hard feed of beet n economy mix, with garlic and a few carrots with hayledge 2 nets a day. I have also had a new saddle which I have had checked for fit for me. I've also had her four feet shod as she was only on front feet. I've checked her back to make sure that's all ok. The dentist has also sorted her teeth out recently.

Starting to loose the will to live, as I don't want to spend all our time in the ménage. Where she is fine on her own.

Also she was fine hacking alone and in company with past owner.

Advice please, this is my first owned horse and I haven't experienced this before, constructive advice please. :D
 
could she have lost her confidence a bit? this exact thing happened to a friend of mine with her new horse -the horse had never napped or been anything other than forward going (we knew full history) but within a month of friend having her she had lost all confidence and was napping and throwing her head about all the time. she didnt realise she wasnt a very positive rider and the horse picked up on it and lost her confidence . (or taking the mick depending on ur thinking):D
is there any way ur instructor could have a go and see what she thinks ? (im not implying ur not a good rider just another pair of eyes)
 
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She sounds as if she is still settling in and testing you at the moment. Is she getting turned out? you are feeding her sugar beet and mix this may be too much sugar and starch especially if she is not used to being on this diet, I would cut it back to just a fibre based feed with plenty of hay or haylage.

Can you hack her in company until you have established more of a relationship with her, then once she is more confident in you try a short circular route, be prepared to either sit it out or if you have to, get off and walk her so you get round, I will never let them turn round and go home and if you have rides that do not allow you to go on a circuit it will encourage the horse to nap so I would avoid this until certain she will always go forward.
 
Do you ride circular/lolly-pop shaped routes or do you turn on the spot and go home the way you came?

Turning on the spot is a huge no-no with my nappy mare. I always ride circular/lolly-pop shaped routes with her and because of this she has not napped for years, but I know that she would start up napping again if I turned on the spot.
 
Hi,

It takes time for a horse to settle into it's new environment. I presume it's a new and different type of yard? - my lad came from a field near a village and is now liveried at a very busy yard with 50 odd horses.

If there's been even a minor change (with my lad he gets upset with the change of seasons :rolleyes: - was fine until the leaves left the trees and now we may as well be back to square one).

She will take a while to get to know and trust you. Spend a lot of time with her on the ground (even if it's just sitting in her stable with a mug of tea) - lead out in hand if you can - will help form a bond. As OPs' have said can you hack in company whilst you get to know her? Alternate with hacks out alone so she doesn't get too used to it? Or split from the others and have 5 minutes alone and build up slowly?

Be patient - i've had my boy almost a year and we still have teething problems - not saying it'll take that long but just relax and take it a day at a time.

xxx:D
 
Ditto be positive. Also can you get an instructor to walk out on foot while you hack alone? They might spot something you do differently when alone. Was she vetted before you got her?
 
My ex racer was the same, she would get so far then panic and spin, small rears etc.. And just become completely switch off to the rider. I recommend doing what I did with my girl. I hacked her out in hand on a particular route regularly until she was chilled, I then took her out tacked up but still in hand, when close to home on the way back I would hop on and ride her a short way home, I've built this up more and more until I'm now getting on early on in the hack so also riding away from home so I'm confident it won't be long before we hack out start to finish.. I haven't had any problems such as napping etc,. Since doing this and she's so much confident :) obviously you can only do this if your horse is safe in hand.
 
My mare has come from a private yard where she had turn out with 3 others . My yard is quiet but has plenty of other horses on there. There is currently no turn it due to being on peat land it's flooded and when it's not been raining its still very boggy, the farmer won't allow them out at all. Not great... We do have a ménage were we can turn out into and a horse walker. The hacking routes we have aren't that great currently again due to soaked land. It's just a very very long pot holed lane you can turn off it but you do have to use the same lane in order to come back home it's just full of dead ends really.

She's great out with others but won't leave them once she's out with them. I think she is taking the mick and I wudnt say I'm a novice rider at all being forcefull with her ECt but the thought of ending in a ditch alone doesn't inspire much confidence.... My hacking partner has just go away for two weeks, so im a little stuck as the other girl on our yard is far to nervous of her own horse to take it out...

But I will look at her feed she is only getting a small scoop of beet n mix each day, her condition is lovely she's like slik to touch and gleams.

Thanks for the advice :D
 
Can you get someone to walk with you on foot with you when you hack out. That is what I used to do with my youngster when I was nervous to go out on my own.
 
I always allow about two years to get used to a new horse. Your horse has a new rider, new surroundings and everything is different. Ride out regularly (daily if possible) with another considerate rider on a bombproof/spookproof horse to get your horse used to the new area and its sights and smells.
 
Sounds like she is well and truly testing you and winning!

if she goes backwards make her go backwards into a hedge/ditch so it is uncomfortable for her.
If she tries to spin around turn her against herself, carry a whip and do not be afraid to use it.

I do not go for the soft option. She needs sorting out if all health checks have been taken.
Cut out all hard heating feed, haylage is enough for most horses not in hard work. Don't prat around at a walk when you take her out but go for a good long trot and canter. Get some real work into her.

Horses are not stupid, they try the little things on and when they get away with that (usually things on the ground and in the stable) they then start when being ridden. Get tough with her all round, correct anything that you do not want. If she takes half a step towards the door when you are doing anything to her in the stable correct it and make her go back to where she was. Little things like that prove that you mean what you say and they respect it.

As for taking two years to get use to new sight and sounds, all I can say is what a load of twallop!
 
Was she on hay before you had her? And check what type of feed she was on.
A friends new horse turnt scatty on haylegde and hard feed, he couldn't cope with the amount of sugars eye in the feed. Took him off it all and just on hay he chilled out again.
 
I'd say saddle pain, feet pain, tummy pain. There is normally a reason for everything horses do, just if you don't listen the majority give up trying to tell you. The minority get louder and get branded dangerous
 
PeterNatt said:
I always allow about two years to get used to a new horse. Your horse has a new rider, new surroundings and everything is different. Ride out regularly (daily if possible) with another considerate rider on a bombproof/spookproof horse to get your horse used to the new area and its sights and smells.
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how long..?!?
 
ridefast said:
I'd say saddle pain, feet pain, tummy pain.
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id say trying it on.

funny how this saddle pain/tummy pain/feet pain only materialises when hacking alone and and at places when horse decides she wants to go home and didnt have any of these pains the last 8 years with previous owner.
 
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