help/opinions needed (rearing/napping)

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clairefeekerry1

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totally gutted as my mare has started napping again and really means it. previously she'd plant and not move and a IH lady came out an showed me a great way to knock her of balance etc. she was great for a few weeks but has started napping again even worse. the miniute she sees something she doesnt want to pass she stops dead and as soon as i move my hands/legs she slams into reverse. if you try to turn her round she rears. she's never reared in her life before this. i've made it worse as i have got off a couple of times which i really try not to do but she reversed me back onto a road in front of a car
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was in a big open field today and she started doing it in there and running backwards across the field (scary) and then rearing as soon as i ask her to go forwards.
im now very concerened she is becoming a danger as every time we get a problem sorted she just finds another way of evading. will i end up with a bolter? where does it stop??
 
I have one of these. If you got after her she would just rear and spin away from object she was scared of and made the problem worse. Had someone chasing her with a lunge whip which helped temporarily but she knew when there was no one behind her.

As a last resort I spoke to my physio who said that although she comes across as confident, she obviously isnt. She said to take her out hacking preferably off road so no traffic backing up, on her own. She has to want to hack and it has to be her that decides it. When she gets insecure I was just told to sit there and face scary object. If she reared, just pat her and sit. If she spins, just point her back away from home again in direction of object AND SIT. At some point she will decide if there is no going back and no pressure to go forward the horse will eventually decide the best option is walk on. You have to be prepared to sit for some time. Even hours.

Do this daily for a week. In my case she got worse as the week went on but I perservered. We are now able to hack on our own. If she gets scared she no longer rears just spins and I turn her back and pat her and after a few minutes can now just gentley squeeze and off she goes. We have both started to trust each other.

Sorry that was quite an essay.
Hope it helps.

Also have you had back, teeth, saddle checked, just incase.
 
thank you. yes all the basics are checked endlessly. i'm pretty lucky to have 99% all off road hacking. what you say makes sense and i wish i never got off the other day as that has made it worse.but she did almost have us squished under a car.
 
Others may totally disagree. But if the horse is being a bitch, and there is no reason for it - get a man on her who is physcially stronger, and generally a better rider (not intimating you are not btw).

She doesn't need a beating, but it sounds as if someone needs to be on her who is not phased and will let her get on with it, and can then make her go forward.
 
no i tend to agree amy but the problem is with me and her and if someone else can make her do it, great, but she'll still do it when i get back on cause she knows she can. maybe we are just not suited together
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My mare used to do this, I put a man on her, she stopped, she vv occasionally tries it on with me but i put a man back on when i felt it brewing up and she has now learnt she is not going to get away with it!!
She now hacks out on her own and is a xc machine, before i never got round without napping and could not get her up to the arena on my own let alone a hack!!
 
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no i tend to agree amy but the problem is with me and her and if someone else can make her do it, great, but she'll still do it when i get back on cause she knows she can. maybe we are just not suited together
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Not necessarily - don't put yourself down. It's being a cow. But you are not admitting defeat by someone else getting on her - it's a sensible move. I wouldn't hesitate in your shoes.

It's also very interesting to get another's view on what is going on.
 
Another vote for getting someone else on them. Darcy always, always used to take the pee out of me and rear 180 degrees and spin etc as he napped down the track. It really put me off to the point i got off once, he took no time to bolt off and leave me there and i just sat crying when i caught him! Anywho, someone who isn't scared of him etc got after him and now if/when he tries it on he'll soon know that like with the other person i won't give up.
With this new person, ask them to ride up/ down up/ down up/ down the usual napping spot and then get on yourself and do it - even if thats all you do that ride. It really will help.

x
 
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