Horse napping by gate in school - help please

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gable

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Back, tack, teeth checked. I feel he is just being a little sod!

8 year old, cobxtb - have owned him for nearly 4 months now. I knew he had not done much flat work schooling when I bought him, but as this is what I enjoy doing, I didn't think it would be such a problem.

He sometimes point blank refuses to go past the gate at all, as soon as we go in the school - other times I can get 5 or 10 mins work then he plants himself or walks backwards. He bucks if smacked.

My trainer rides him once a week and although he attempts to nap with her, she is a proffessional rider and he gives up much sooner with her than he does with me.

Its not only when we go past the gate but also crossing the school, away from the gate - so at x in the school.

Any ideas? My trainer is away now for a month so would like some advice from you lovely peeps please.

Hacking out he is perfectly fine.
 
Sounds like he is not a big fan of schooling - can you go in the school less and do your schooling on hacks?
Make sure you don't stop for chats by the gate, and try to end your ride at the opposite end of the school, get off, big fuss, then lead to the gate. Have you tried a tap with the whip on his outside shoulder? You'll have to get smart and take action before he really starts napping.
Try making school work more interesting with poles etc, and borrow a mad child plus pony and do some mounted games type stuff to have some variety in the school.
 
make sure all schooling sessions end with a dismount on the center or quater line and never ride out of the arena.
Put a strong rider on him and see if he does the same. It sounds like he's testing his authority.
Anticipate what he is going to do and counteract it before he takes control. Lots of circles and rein changes will keep his mind busy and don't be afraid to back up your leg with your whip.
Be consistant too.
 
Sounds like he is trying it on. Also I suspect that you have 'taught' him that if he persists in napping for long enough, he wins. So with you he persists - and wins, correct?

If he gets stroppy enough to worry you and you are not prepared to smack him, then you will have to be more persistent than he is. When he takes you to the gate try continuing to give calm aids to ask him to get back to the work you want. Take a flask and sandwiches, you may be there a while. but DON'T give up until he complies, otherwise you are just teaching him that he will always win.
 
Your horse is telling you, the only way he can, that he does not enjoy being ridden in the school. It may be that he just does not like going endlessly in circles, or it could be that he does not understand what you want from him. I had the same problem a few years back, once I had proper lessons, my trainer showed me exercises the horse enjoyed and understood and everything was fine.
 
Some horses just try to get away with that they can.
My old mare used to sidestep, run backwards etc everytime we went near the arena door.
I got her schooling, forwards, infront of my leg and then I had my whip in my outside hand so when she went to leave the arena she would get a smack on her bum. I persevered and she was then fine and didn't bother. She too bucked it hit with a stick but I just booted her forwards.
Agree with what someone else has posted. Always dismount in a differant part of the arena, never at the gate. Even walk around in hand for a bit first before leaving.
Failing this - I agree witht he bucket of water idea :D
 
Lunge him in the school to get him thinking forward first of all...

Then if you school is sand/ grit etc a good handful thrown repeatedly at his bum by a helpful bystander should help him move forwards... similar to the bucket of water idea.
 
He is definitely trying it on, make sure you never stop and talk by the gate, ensure you never get off near the gate and when you have finished your schooling session don't just take him straight back to the yard, walk him back the long way or walk off around the field ect.
If he plants turn his head in the direction you wan't to go and ask him to walk forwards (don't keep constants pressure on) even if he takes one step reward him with praise then ask again...this can take a while.
Alternatively when you feel like he may plant or is backing off turn your whip upside down and smack from one shoulder to the other across his neck, this is likely to make him shoot forwards.
When you are riding and you know he will try to nap across the school look the way you want to go keep your outside rein and a strong outside leg and kick smack ect until he goes forward then immediately stop the pressure.
I also agree that placing poles obstacles ect around the school to focuss on will help a lot.
Don't worry he will get over it when he realizes it doesn't get him anywhere.
 
I have this problem with my daughters pony when he decides he's finished he will just keep taking her to the gate or to me he also does it with her in the ring. I get on him and he doesn't even try it but she's only 8 she's getting better at being bossy but he still takes the p****! Anyway what I have found works is if I stand with a lead rope and whenever he gets near I swing it round in circles (its how I taught him to lunge) it kind of gives visual pressure to move away then once he's past I stop, then I gradually let him get nearer before I start circling it and then I can usually get to the point where if he keeps going so I dont have to start. We do still have to keep having the same "conversation" but it does work and helps her out without me having to get hands on. You may need to do some prep work with him first on the lunge so he understands what it means but then if you could have someone at the gate doing it while you ride it might just make him realise he cant get away with it with you any more than he can with your trainer. I would also echo keeping things different, busy and interesting we have learnt with Fudge that if he can work out what's going on he'll be a pain if we keep him on his toes with lots of changes in direction, pace etc he's much easier. My daughter has also learnt that we have to win and end on a winning good note no matter how small no matter what or how long it takes :D
 
Thank you - these are really helpful and what I thought anyway - sometimes it's just nice to know you are doing the right thing.

I never ever give in, get off etc - it is just becoming very frustrating and I no longer look forward to riding him in the school as I know we are going to have the same 'battle' at some point in there.

I will put some poles out tomorrow night and see if that helps.

I actually never thought of getting off at a different point in the school as I usually ride him out of the school - that's a good one so will try that too.

Hacking can only be done at the weekends now due to dark nights.

Thanks again.
 
amymay said:
How fit is the horse?
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A lot fitter than he was when I bought him! He was a bit of a fattie - but a summer of fun rides, jumping, xc and hacking has put that right.

Working in the school is my only option during the week now due to dark nights and winter dressage.

When he is not napping - he works beautifully, very willing and forward.
 
Whether he enjoys schooling or not is irrelevant, as long as you are mixing it up with hacking and different schooling exercises, he need to know that he goes where you tell him.
If you are afraid to ride him on and be firm with him, which it sounds like he's needing, ask a stronger rider to do this for you.
I helped a friend with her horse who was doing this, we sorted it out in a few session, i could see her horse backing off a mile away from the gate and she couldnt or wouldnt deal with it.
Her horse tried it with me, but was given short shrift and i never used a whip, just legs and tactics. When the owner went back onboard she was ok for a bit, but started napping again, with me shouting instructions to her, she got through it, she was worried and bothered by what the horse might do.
She mixed it up by long reining around the school a couple of times a week, and dealt from the problem from the ground to good effect.
Good luck
 
Thank you - its nice to hear some success stories.

I have spoken to his old owners to said he used to do this when they first got him but he 'got over it' by being persistant.
 
He is having you on as his assumption of you is that you haven't the same determination to ride him past the entrance. It is a common thing so don't berate yourself. I remember going through the same thing with my pony many years ago.

First - when approaching the gate don't start to think "Oh no - here we go again! Will he stop this time?" Instead think "YOU WILL GO PAST THE GATE WITHOUT HESITATING" I write it in capitals as in your head it has to be a very positive demanding thought. It is to be obeyed!

Second - prepare for the ride past. Keep your head up and looking firmly ahead of you, don't look at the gate at all or the area around it - as you are coming close to the gate look across to X, keep your legs on him and be so positive in your thoughts and actions that he just has to obey.

When you are in the arena and schooling try never to go around the arena without doing something different. eg, 20m circle at C and E, go large, shallow loop on next 2 long sides, 20m circle at B, go large, serpentine 3 loops, go large, change the rein. There are so many ways to make schooling interesting for you both.

By changing the subject frequently he will start to pay attention to you as he won't be sure where he is to go next.
 
Thank you - reading these has made me so determind to win this battle - and positive too.

I'm actually looking forward to trying it out tomorrow night in the school.

At first, I thought he didn't like going in the school at night, but he did the same thing on Sunday in broad daylight! (However, I think he will be worse in the scary school at night - but not going in there till the spring is definately not an option)
 
gable said:
Thank you - reading these has made me so determind to win this battle - and positive too.

I'm actually looking forward to trying it out tomorrow night in the school.

At first, I thought he didn't like going in the school at night, but he did the same thing on Sunday in broad daylight! (However, I think he will be worse in the scary school at night - but not going in there till the spring is definately not an option)
Click to expand...

Good on ya :-)sit up, shoulders back, leg on and as Max would say ....
Say what you mean, and mean what you say:D
 
marydoll said:
Whether he enjoys schooling or not is irrelevant, as long as you are mixing it up with hacking and different schooling exercises, he need to know that he goes where you tell him.
Click to expand...

Agree with this. My last Tb would grind to a halt at the gate, walk backwards and sometimes rear when he reached the gate. He also refused to be ridden into the school by rearing and spinning, smacking him with a whip just made things worse. What I found worked was ... to start with no riding out of arena, mounting/dismounting in the middle of school, making a downward transition away from the gate and an upward transition when approaching the gate, clicking going past the gate to encourage forward motion, no halting at the gate and riding a circle just before the gate the past the gate. Basically alot of repeating yourself to get the point across. If mine did get the chance to nap then i would just sit and wait until he got fed up and moved on. It worked brillantly as in the end i could ride in and out of the arena without hassle, open and close gates whilst mounted and ride with the gate open with no fear of him legging it out of the arena like previous occasions lol ... It does take time but you will get there :)
 
Its nice to know I'm not the only one with a nappy horse.

Although I have have horses most of my life, I have never had or known a napper like this before.

Thanks again
 
UPDATE!

Well I tried the suggestions you gave, particularly riding him hard by the gate and ....it worked!

As soon as I could feel the tiniest bit of backing off my leg, the outside leg pony club kicked and was backed up with a tap with the whip.

The only time he managed to actually plant and walk backwards was in walk, so I made him turn in a tiny circle, kicked him on and off we went.

That's 1-0 to me (for now)

I can't thank you enough for your advice.

He didn't look pretty but neither did I, that wasn't our adgenda tonight though!

Once he had done a 20m circle on each rein, nice and soft and supple, I walked him on a loose rein away from the gate and got off at the opposite end from the gate.

Thanks again.
 
gable said:
UPDATE!

Well I tried the suggestions you gave, particularly riding him hard by the gate and ....it worked!

As soon as I could feel the tiniest bit of backing off my leg, the outside leg pony club kicked and was backed up with a tap with the whip.

The only time he managed to actually plant and walk backwards was in walk, so I made him turn in a tiny circle, kicked him on and off we went.

That's 1-0 to me (for now)

I can't thank you enough for your advice.

He didn't look pretty but neither did I, that wasn't our adgenda tonight though!

Once he had done a 20m circle on each rein, nice and soft and supple, I walked him on a loose rein away from the gate and got off at the opposite end from the gate.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Well Done! My first pony when I was a kid was a napper. She just used to gallop flat out to the gate as soon as she thought she'd done enough and then refuse to walk away from it. With a lot of help from our instructor, a LOT of patience and a few tears we did solve it by persisting even it it meant all we achieved was 1 circuit of the school in walk without her doing it and then dismounting at a different point of the school everytime we rode her. She came through it and became one of the best little competition ponies we ever had! Well done again for this eve. A massive acheivement!
 
Aw...thanks...I'm feeling fab as it was really starting to frustrate me, especially as he is a new horse after losing my horse of a lifetime back in July. I could easily have given up as I want my old boy back so much and haven't got the energy to fight with this one as I'm still a bit numb.

I'm under no illusion that this is the end of the problem, but certainly a step in the right direction.

Thanks again.
 
Yaay well done you, it doesnt matter if it didnt look pretty as long as it was effective :D theres plenty of time to make it pretty when he's listened and working with you and not against you
 
UPDATE 2

That's 2-0 to me.

Managed to lunge tonight without one single stop, turn in, nap!

It was only a couple of weeks ago that he napped on the lunge, turned in and charged at me!

I'm over the moon and so is my boy.

Can't thank you all enough for your support.
 
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