HELP - Nappy horses

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Debbiewatkins

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HELP!!!!!!

My horse has started napping on the roads. He used to be excellent, would go out by himself and always be well behaved.

But now it's a nightmare, he will go out with other horses and more than happy to take the lead. But if we go out by ourselves, we can get so far down the lane, then he'll stop and refuse to go forward.

I've tried all sorts... smacking him, trying to reverse him, leading him all to no avail. The other week he got me off, luckily he was so shocked he just stood there.

I've been told that I need to give him a good beating - but I don't really want to do that.

Has anyone got any suggestions?
 
My mare has never hacked on her own because she just has no confidence. Maybe your boy has had a confidence crisis? Something scared him and he just doesn't like it?
Have yo let him get away with this napping? I had to give in one day (through no fault of my own) and after that my mare was so bad! I got someone else on her who was very confident and just beat her down the lane. (Her field was at the top of the lane so she refused to go past it, but when her field was at the bottom of the lane she would walk down like a lamb.) I then long reined my mare down the lane until she went down without being prompted, then I got on her and she was fine.
Is there any way of being able to long rein your horsey down the lane? Or just ride him out at the front alot, say for a few weeks and then try him on his own?

I hope this makes sense! PM me if it doesn't!!!
Izzi xx
 
I def do not like the idea of beating a nappy horse. Its usually caused by a lack of confidence and a 'good' beating is not going to help.

is it always in the same direction that he naps? Try going in another direction.
My horse always used to nap when I asked him to go down a particular lane where there were battery hens and a slaughter house. He knew this and refused to go. I never asked him to go that way again as there was a genuine reason and he didnt like it and neither did I.

If it is safe to do so, keep the horse walking in circles, do not let them stop. Then after a few circuits ask the horse to go along the road again and keep repeating.

Or go out with another horse until he gets his confidence back.

To help with confidence I work my horse in hand in the school asking the horse to move over, go back etc, I also used pole work in hand, backing the horse through parallel poles etc.

It is frustrating, but with patience, napping can be overcome.

Good luck
 
Thanks!

I've tried all sorts with him. Unfortunately, I had to give in on saturday, as he was getting a bit dangerous and it was just my luck, that a few cars decided to come down the lane.

As for going the other way, it leads up to the main road, so it's not really an option.

I'll just have to keep going out with other horses, until he feels more confident.

xx
 
What a shame and how annoying for you! years ago my first pony was exactly the same because she had been allowed to get away with it by her ex owners I was later to have found out!

Assuming her tack, saddle, teeth, back, feet etc are all in good shape then it will take time and lots of positive riding. She is not on too much food?

It sounds like she may have got away with it once/or is testing you out and so it continues. I would also do lots of work when in the school to sharpen her up a bit off of your aids as napping is to do with the horses impulsion and desire to go forwards away from the leg- sounds like she may need to may be a bit more sensitive and respectful of your aids ( although I know its easy to say when you havent actually seen the horse).

Try to use pressure and release- ie you use leg/seat (pressure) and as soon as she go forwards to release the pressure = reward.

The release of the pressure is the horses reward and this combined with lots and lots of transitions, leg yielding should sharpen her up a bit and give her something else to think about.

Smacking normally makes a bad situation worse and winds them up when they need to be calmer. Some horses do need very firm handling though, do you have someone that can help you?

Also a tactic I would use on a nappy horse is to just make them stand there dead still for as long as it takes and they get bored and fall asleep on the spot!!- they then get so bored they go forwards and I reward them straightaway- have you tried this?- Good luck you will get there it will just take lots of patience, time and consistency! know how you feel though!
 
Oh that standing still on a nappy horse was another tried and tested method. I had forgotten about that one. Its a good one to try.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Also a tactic I would use on a nappy horse is to just make them stand there dead still for as long as it takes and they get bored and fall asleep on the spot!!- they then get so bored they go forwards and I reward them straightaway- have you tried this?- Good luck you will get there it will just take lots of patience, time and consistency! know how you feel though!

[/ QUOTE ]

This worked for me on a nappy horse. We stood there for 4 hours. But as everything else had been exhausted it was my only option.

It worked - and we never had to repeat the exercise.
 

Thanks! I do believe that he's just testing me out, which isn't very nice, but he's always been a bit of a Kevin, as my instructor says.

I've had everything checked, back, saddle, he's not on too much feed. I've even put him on Steady Up to see if that will make a difference.

He can be quite lazy in the school, so I have been doing lots of lateral work with him. But he can be very sharp when he wants to be!

I've asked my OH to come out with us, he's not that impressed about having to go walkies with a horse, but he said he would - bless him.

I will definitely give the standing still routine ago.... I've got nothing to lose!

xx
 
My mare is very nappy, dont beat him just be firm and keep reassuring him pat him constantly if needs be obviousy if he rears or does anything really silly give him a bit off a boot and carry on keep talking to him, this has helped my mare loads and were starting to get there now!
 
As long as you don’t think the napping could be for health reasons I have some suggestions. I had a terrible 12 months with my horse napping but have been able to control through perseverance and consistency. Although I feel it will always be there, and that is just his nature. A beating will not help, only scare him and probably make the situation escalate.
1. The thing is to make a plan of what you want to achieve and take it very slow.
2. I know it sounds boring but you need to do the same thing for days or even weeks to make him feel confident and secure again.
3. Go out with other horses for a few weeks keeping the routes short, familiar and preferably in a circular route.
4. Then dwindle the number of horses down, ensuring the horses you are out with WILL NOT nap and are confident and calm, and keep on the move all the time if you can.
5. Try going in front when things are calm but not for long periods of time.
6. I would try and stay in walk or trot for most of the time you are out hacking and not to canter on the way home and you’ll only encourage the horse to rush home. If you need to canter do it on the way out so the horse is thinking forwards and not about going home. The journey home should be calm and slow.
7. Then go out on your own but with someone confident on foot.
8. The aim to to have this person after a while walking behind you just incase your horse does nap.
9. Then once you feel the napping is under control and the horse is relaxed try to go out with no one on foot, again keeping the route familiar and circular and calm.
Hope this helps, I completely understand that frustration tries to take over but its that last thing your horse needs. Good luck!
 
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