VikkiL
Well-Known Member
Hello.
I'm desperate for advice from you lovely people as struggling with my Sec D mare.
Bit of background first- I brought her last autumn as an unbroken 5 year old. Backed her over winter, all went well. She is a lovely little mare, very affectionate towards people and is a very responsive forward going ride. She hacks out alone and in company without issue.
However, I am having problems when it comes to SJ at places where there are other horses anywhere near the ring. Over the summer we have travelled out once every 2 weeks on average- to clinics, hiring out courses and to small local competitions.
At some venues she is a superstar- jumps everything easily and with no issues and appears to love it going around. However if the venue has the warm up arena next to the sj ring or riders loitering around the edge she naps constantly towards them and refuses to jump- we normally get eliminated by the second fence....
When shes napping I cant do anything with her- it seems she goes totally dead to the leg. I feel it about 6 or 7 strides before the fence. She just stops going forward and by the time we have gotten to the fence she has slowed to a sand still. She the plants until she is turned away from the fence. On reapproach the same thing happens. I have tried squeezing her with kicks through to outright pony club kicking, using whip, spurs and growling but once shes decided shes stopping I cannot get her going forwards.
I took her to a local sj show yesterday. Very small fences, only 2 foot. Its one that we have been to a couple of times before and been eliminated each time, however I had my spurs on yesterday and was confident yesterday would be the day we got around. Unfortunately not, eliminated by fence two. However I spoke to show secretary who was very nice and let me have a go at clear round during the lunch interval. There were no other horses around in the immediate area. My mare flew round, not a single hint of a nap or refusal and appears to enjoy herself- exactly the same course as I had fail to get her round an hours before.
Likewise at another venue two weeks ago she flew round with no hint of refusal. Ive taken her to clinics and hired out courses but the behaviour never surfaces there, only at certain competitions. Fences are never big.
When she isnt nappy she is very forwards and doesnt really need leg- she responds mostly to voice on upwards transactions. However when napping she ignores my voice (any everything else) completely.
Sorry for the essay, is anyone able to offer any suggestions? I think she is being naughty and napping towards other horses, but Im struggling to ride her through it. Fed up of leaving the ring humiliated :-( It is the only situation she naps in.
I'm desperate for advice from you lovely people as struggling with my Sec D mare.
Bit of background first- I brought her last autumn as an unbroken 5 year old. Backed her over winter, all went well. She is a lovely little mare, very affectionate towards people and is a very responsive forward going ride. She hacks out alone and in company without issue.
However, I am having problems when it comes to SJ at places where there are other horses anywhere near the ring. Over the summer we have travelled out once every 2 weeks on average- to clinics, hiring out courses and to small local competitions.
At some venues she is a superstar- jumps everything easily and with no issues and appears to love it going around. However if the venue has the warm up arena next to the sj ring or riders loitering around the edge she naps constantly towards them and refuses to jump- we normally get eliminated by the second fence....
When shes napping I cant do anything with her- it seems she goes totally dead to the leg. I feel it about 6 or 7 strides before the fence. She just stops going forward and by the time we have gotten to the fence she has slowed to a sand still. She the plants until she is turned away from the fence. On reapproach the same thing happens. I have tried squeezing her with kicks through to outright pony club kicking, using whip, spurs and growling but once shes decided shes stopping I cannot get her going forwards.
I took her to a local sj show yesterday. Very small fences, only 2 foot. Its one that we have been to a couple of times before and been eliminated each time, however I had my spurs on yesterday and was confident yesterday would be the day we got around. Unfortunately not, eliminated by fence two. However I spoke to show secretary who was very nice and let me have a go at clear round during the lunch interval. There were no other horses around in the immediate area. My mare flew round, not a single hint of a nap or refusal and appears to enjoy herself- exactly the same course as I had fail to get her round an hours before.
Likewise at another venue two weeks ago she flew round with no hint of refusal. Ive taken her to clinics and hired out courses but the behaviour never surfaces there, only at certain competitions. Fences are never big.
When she isnt nappy she is very forwards and doesnt really need leg- she responds mostly to voice on upwards transactions. However when napping she ignores my voice (any everything else) completely.
Sorry for the essay, is anyone able to offer any suggestions? I think she is being naughty and napping towards other horses, but Im struggling to ride her through it. Fed up of leaving the ring humiliated :-( It is the only situation she naps in.
