Horse napping in school

[newfy]

I’ve just started to share a new horse (19years) and have ridden him in the school but after about 10 minutes he starts napping. He will refuse to go around the edge of the school/ even circles. He will just stop and start circling in the centre of the school. He doesn’t try to go back to the gate. I have even tried to change the rein but after a while he does the same thing. I have tried doing more circles/ transitions but he doesn’t have it. The owner hacks him out all the time and it’s just me that rides him in the school. He is probably trying to see what he can get away with as I am not hugely tough with him, so yesterday I would give him a little smack if I could feel him starting to slow and he improved a bit for another 10 minutes or so but then would go back to napping.
I don’t know what else to try!

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Keep going. Keep him thinking. Don’t ever go large around the school, 20m circles, serpentines, shallow loops, leg yield from 3/4 line, leg yield from 15m to 20m circle, transitions on a circle etc. Don’t give him the opportunity to nap.

the more lateral with you do the easier it will be to move him back into the track with your inside leg.

if the owner only hacks it may be that he isn’t supple enough to work in the school and is finding it really hard. My mare came from a hunting home, could canter and jump out hacking all day long but pop her in the school and she was bambi on ice.

keep it short and sweet and gradually build it up.

 

[newfy]

Keep going. Keep him thinking. Don’t ever go large around the school, 20m circles, serpentines, shallow loops, leg yield from 3/4 line, leg yield from 15m to 20m circle, transitions on a circle etc. Don’t give him the opportunity to nap.

the more lateral with you do the easier it will be to move him back into the track with your inside leg.

if the owner only hacks it may be that he isn’t supple enough to work in the school and is finding it really hard. My mare came from a hunting home, could canter and jump out hacking all day long but pop her in the school and she was bambi on ice.

keep it short and sweet and gradually build it up.

Thank you, I will try that! I was going to have a lesson on him soon but wanted some tips for when I’m riding on my own!

 

[Red-1]

At 19 years old and the owner only hacks, I would suspect the horse is a bit stiff and not enjoying working in the school. What does the owner say?

 

[AmyMay]

At 19 years old and the owner only hacks, I would suspect the horse is a bit stiff and not enjoying working in the school. What does the owner say?

This.

Also consider what time of day you are riding, because of the heat. Try and ride before 8.00am if possible.

 

[newfy]

I only ride in the school once a week and do it in the evenings around 6pm. The owner says he is playing up as he starts to nap after about 10mins of riding, but she wants me to work on him in the school. When I rode him on a hack he is a completely different horse and has so much energy.

 

[Red-1]

Straight lines is happy and energetic, circling is unhappy and nappy...

It may be that he has bad associations in the school, or is uncomfortable on circles. Either way, I would have a vet exam first, followed by short sessions in the school, meaning walking round, maybe trot the odd long side and call it good. Go in on the way back from a hack. Do a walk round, trot a long side and dismount while still in the school. If that is OK, then work it u from there.

If the horse doesn't even want to do that, I would start by going on a hack and simply going into the school to dismount and make much. Then increase the time.

 

[Shay]

Echo that - he is either school sour or in pain. Possibly both. You should get a vet to ensure there isn't pain associated with working in a small space - or with the school surface. If not then as red suggests go in for only a few minutes then off to a hack. Very slowly increase the time in the school.

It does occur - if the owner will not work him in the school (presumeably becuase they have the same issues) then are they using you to try to do what they will not? That isn't a fair basis for a share. If the owner wants him ridden in the school sure they should do that?