Help needed!!

[nat wood]

Hi there guys,
you have all been so helpful with my previous questions, was wondering if any one cud help owith this one.
as some of u may no i have just started sharing a irish draught. she is gorgeous and usually good as gold. ( can you hear the but coming )
wen i take her out on my own we have some issues with going forward. i took her on the bridle path yeste got about 600m and she then just refused to go any further. kept backing in to the long grass and spinning round. i tried 8 or 9 times to get her to carry on.
how do i stop this goin back wards thing. the owner is lovely and has given me adivse which i am taking on board. she says the horse needs more confidence from me and that if she doesnt get it she will try it on.
also i need to have a contact with the horse. (what does this mean)
im not scared that she wil rear on me or anything and i will be persistant in trying to get her to carry on. (even if i did come off it wud be in to long grass)
but i need tips. i am not to sure how i make her feel more confident with me.
she hacks out with other horses really well but i can do that alday long i want to be sure i can do it on my own.
if any one has any ideas please let me know x

 

[angela_l_b]

By contact her owner means a contact through the reins (i.e. not slopping along with long reins as then she will decide to take control and go where, and how fast, she wants to).

It sounds as if you need to show her that you are in charge (and I don't mean whacking or anything) before you take her out alone, as if she naps and gets away with it, she will try again. Do lots of work in an arena, loops and circles and transitions, making sure she responds to your aids. Don't go round the edge all the time, make her leave the track at places of your choosing so that she listens and obeys you.

Also on hacks with others, take the opportunity to make sure she is responding to you and not just following the others. Start in a small way (like by choosing your own line through the woods and make her do a little loop round a couple of trees or something) and once that is easy, make your loops bigger until you can ride her away from and back to the others, all at the same pace and without arguing. Then when you come back from the hack, if possible ride past the yard for a little way while the others go back in. Stop, pat her for being good, then let her go home (at a nice steady pace).

Reward her every time she is good, even by taking one extra step where you want.

Personally I would tell her off if she naps but isn't scared (a sharp smack, lots of leg, then praise for going forward). It doesn't have to be rough or cruel.

At this point you can probably go out alone.

Good luck!

 

[smellsofhorse]

Maybe have some lessons on her, help from an instructor on the ground would be a good help.

As for the backing up, you just need to keep you leg on and keep a contact (through the reins into her bit)

If you feel her hesitate give her a squeeze and make sure she is walking forwards nicely.

 

[nat wood]

do u know what that is exactly what the owner has said in the bulk of both ur messages.
you both have really helped and broken down what she means and tomorrow i will go and work on it.
i have just text an instructor that she has recommend that knows queenie (the horse) as i am so keen to work on everything.
thank you sooo much for your help. x

 

[Splish & Masons mum]

Her confidence in you will come with time.
My boy is exactly the same, napping when hacked alone, but he wont go in front even when out in company, in fact I had a lesson with my behavioural woman (who is also a physio) only yesterday on this very issue. We both decided he was taking the mick, not genuinely scared.
What was suggested to me is to walk on, away from the others and when he stops, give him one big pony club kick, and send him forward (into trot or canter if necessary) and praise him lots when he does go forwards. It didn't take him many times before he realised that if he stopped he'd get a wallop, and he found it easier to do it my way.
But that 1 lesson is unlikely to have completely solved the problem, I'll probably have to persevere for a good while yet, but at least I now have the confidence to tell him off, and I know it's him and not me.
Another option is just to wait it out. Don't let her go backwards. forwards or standing still are the only options. They soon get bored, but remember lots of praise when she eventually does go forwards, even if it's only 1 step, lots of talking to her, in a confident voice should help as well.
Number one rule, don't let her win. make sure you go where you want to go, even if you have to get off and lead her.
Hope you have some luck with this, I know how difficult it can be.
If you're interested I can pm you the number of my behavioural woman - I know you're not far from me.

 

[nat wood]

i know ur right, and i will def perserve as im sure she is trying it on. im just a bit soft. i always talk to her but then after 8 or so times i think "o what if she is stressed and im just making it worse" so turn back. i know she isnt stressed in my head lol as she is not spooked easily. i just need to get to know her better. she is absolutely wonderful and the owner is cracking as well.
i have all the time in the world to get her to listen to me so, i will get off if i have to and lead her thru it. but i wont let her take the micky.
ps
... so napping is when the disobey for 1 reason or another? i have just been reading up on it. (and she seems to have these symptons lol)

 

[Sparkles]

She's just napping and trying it on with you being new to her and not necessarily aware of what she's doing.
Make sure you ride her 110% forwards right from the start and do not let her even think 'backwards' for a moment.
You know where abouts she stops so make sure you get after her and just make her go on. If she doesn't do it with her owner she shouldn't havean excuse to do it with you. Go out with a positive attitude and carry a schooling whip in the hand which direction she tries to spin away.
Use your leg, then stronger, if you still feel her backing off and ignoring you, give her a growl with your voice and if she still ignores you on the third attempt,give her a tap up with the whip and just get her nappy butt forwards. Let her know this behaviour is NOT acceptable and to listen to you, not do her own thing and decide she wants to go home again.

Good luck I know how annoying it ca be. One of our cobs can be a little sod to get out on his own with a less-familiar rider, where-as I'll quite happily get on him and we're off mach 9 out of the yard and away with no hesitation or backwardsness! Bless him Love him really.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

i would suggest that you phone (not text) the recommended instructor! remember you need to be the alpha of the combination and the horse looks to you for instructions and confidence! a few lessons should set you on the right path!