Help. napping :(

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Cobs2010

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I have a cob, that picked up the habit of napping. At one point she would napp at any chance she could find. With a lot of work she is coming better but she still has a nasty habbit of squashing riders legs against gates.She won't run to a gate to do it, but if you go over to the gate to get something, and ask her to move away from the gate she refuses and just turns to her side and squashes herself up agains the gate. Has anyone ever had this problem? if someone grabs her and walks her away from the gate then she's ok. She has had tack and teeth and vet check and everything is healthy and fits her good.
 
I would do plenty of work in the school, on the ground and on board. She has to respect your personal space and it's not the easiest place to insist on this when you are out in the middle of no where! From the ground, I would want her to back up with no resistance, turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches. Once you have established these moves on the ground,you need to build them up from being on board. It will definitely be worth the effort!
 
I'd carry a short riding crop and whenever you are going to go near the gate, swap it to your OUTSIDE hand, tilt it forward a little so the end is resting gently on your horse's neck and give a couple of little fly tickles with it so she knows it's there and knows that you're prepared to use it. If she doesn't respect your polite request to move away from the gate, be prepared to be firm and give her a sharp tap on the neck - be prepared for a smart leap forward! You need to nip this in the bud before the napping extends to other things/places.
 
Hello. I've tried carrying the whip with me on the side of the gate and warning her that it is there but this just makes her squash harder agains the gate! Any more ideas anyone? Thankyou for all the ideas :)
 
Long term this is something to work on in the school - get her doing turn on the forehands and leg yields until she will step across when you ask. Maybe have some lessons and brief your instructor that your aim is to get her to understand about moving away from pressure a bit better.

In the short term, when she actually goes to squash your leg turn her head right around in the direction she is trying to squish.

Just a thought (bear in mind I don't know much about 'marish' mares as I've never owned one): this sounds a bit similar to the issue of mares in season crushing people agains stable walls. The harder you push them away the harder they push back. Did you have any indication that she was in season when this problem started? Maybe someone who knows more than me can shed more light :)
 
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