How do you deal with napping? (alone)

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FreddiesGal

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Fred will nap on average twice every time I take him out - this includes walking backwards as fast as he can, doing mini-rears on the spot, or bucking when I put my leg on. I usually spend about 5 minutes circling and encouraging him to walk forwards before jumping off an leading him for a minute or so before getting back on. The napping doesn't bother me in the slightest, unless it's on the road. In this case I will usually jump off right away to avoid accident. He will only nap once he's seen something he's unsure of there fore I don't want to going down the route of smacking him as it is genuine fear.

Anyway I seem to have rambled :p How do you deal with a napper?!
 
When mine does this he get circled, growled at and kicked on. Once he realised he wasn't getting his own way he stopped doing if though he does still think about it some times!
 
You are definatly doing the right thing by getting off and leading him past, but what I also do is make sure it's a really forward going hack, non of this riding on the buckle, or walking with the handbrake on, a horse who is gazing over the hedges is more likely to nap, I ride with seat and hand and have the horse working well and listening to me in a really punchy walk, 9 times out of 10 they don't have chance to nap! X
 
My horse used to do this a LOT! I used the walking backwards trick to my advantage by turning him and making him walk backwards past the thing he didn't like. I agree it is harder on the road though as you have to be careful to avoid slipping and cars etc so I avoided that at all costs and stuck to off road riding. He hardly ever naps now and if he does, I turn him to walk backwards and he pretty much sighs, turns himself round the right way and walks forwards past whatever it is he doesn't like the look of. I found that consistently winning the battles gave him more trust in me and also made him respect me more. Now I hack out on my own all the time without problems, but if you'd asked me a year ago whether I thought that would ever be possible, the answer would have been 'not in a million years'!

My advice is; however you choose to deal with it, be consistent and don't ever give in to him. You'll get there :D
 
Eurgh napping I think you did the right thing! We came to a standstill because the track became muddy with dreaded puddles on our last hack, I was not going back over the motorway bridge so we had a big fight about it, circling over and over and him trying to rear me off, it was a disaster really! Eventually I had to get off and lead him and this required a tap or two on the shoulder with stick, I don't really think he was that scared though, maybe I am just a big meanie!

With my old share she was a slightly nervy horse and just needed to stand looking at it for a moment and go on cautiously in her own time (usually only a couple of minutes) with me using my leg to prevent her sidestepping too much, forcing her would have made it worse!

Backing up on the road is awful and I would probably jump straight off and lead because I worry A LOT about traffic!
 
Mine used to be awful, just wasn't used to going on her own, ex racehorse so hadn't done it before, would always have been with others.
She was fine in company but a pain on her own. never reared or bucked but would just plant, reverse and spin. i would get off and lead for a bit then back on til she got worried then back off again. i had to do the on/off thing 2 or 3 times, could always ride all the way back tho. Now if she gets sticky I just am firm with her and a wee tap behind the leg sends her on.
 
TakeaChance - I also do this, however I have to be careful as sometimes he will go up. It all depends on what mood he is in! I have been seen backing him all the way out the driveway - I'm sure it creates a few giggles.

He is the type of pony that really seeks reassurance from his rider and I find once I get off he will almost always walk past whatever he's scared of, and once he does he gets a treat.

He's naturally a very forward ride, and sometimes I will try to trot him past what he's looking at, however this tends to result in whiplash!
 
Mine used to be awful. I went down the smacking route as he was pretty extreme and would try anything, including rearing, running back, whipping round and running into other horses. I just smack him until he behaves. Sounds harsh but worked...I never smack him now.
 
Mine can be like this - but is getting better - someone further up the thread put about keeping the horse moving forwards and I agree with this. On the times that I get a warning - ie head comes up, walk becomes stilted, I go straight into trot as this seems to take her mind off whatever it is that has caused the problem. It is all on the road where I am, so in instances where I get no warning and she spins, I jump off as soon as practicable and lead her straight past whatever the problem is and get on again when I can find a wall or something to get on from.Smacking her makes her worse as she is a rearer as well as nappy, and manages to do this combined with bucking and spinning.

Yesterday on our usual route we met some roadworks which had appeared overnight - barriers, signs etc - some of which had fallen over in the wind and I expected that I would have to get off. But she had a look, walked a couple of steps, stopped etc. I kept my leg on and just kept telling her to walk on and after about 30 seconds she started to go forwards. She went past. This in itself was a massive achievement as normally this would result in a complete breakdown. This morning she didn't bat an eyelid at them! So pleased!
 
My ex racer is a terrible napper but I struggle with the getting off side of things. He is full up 16.2hh and I am a mere 5ft 3ins so getting back on isn't easy without a block. We now live on quite a busy road and I haven't braved it out on my own yet. A friend is going to cycle with me a few times to help both horse and riders confidence! I'm hoping having someone on the ground already will help.
 
TJ&Ozzie said:
My ex racer is a terrible napper but I struggle with the getting off side of things. He is full up 16.2hh and I am a mere 5ft 3ins so getting back on isn't easy without a block. We now live on quite a busy road and I haven't braved it out on my own yet. A friend is going to cycle with me a few times to help both horse and riders confidence! I'm hoping having someone on the ground already will help.
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mine was good with someone on the ground too, she would go quite happily. I didn't find it really helped getting her going on her own tho. the getting off thing and showing her that she was going even if she napped, so i think she just eventually gave up. difficult if you have a problem getting on though. could you get some logs and place them at some strategic points, we have them at gates just in case. also the more we went out in company and she got to know the routes, the more confident she got too.
 
I don't get off, I just pull him round in a really tight circle. Eventually he gets bored and tries to move forwards, at which point I make him do another circle and then ask him to walk forwards on my terms. Did this consistently for a week or so and he seems to have realised it isn't worth the hassle any more and (touch wood) hasn't done it in a while.

I didn't want to do circles at first as it is letting him turn his head from it, but he would jig about and back up (usually into ditches etc) so I started doing circles to stop him doing that and this tactic seems to work for him, so I'm not complaining
 
chestnuttymare said:
mine was good with someone on the ground too, she would go quite happily. I didn't find it really helped getting her going on her own tho. the getting off thing and showing her that she was going even if she napped, so i think she just eventually gave up. difficult if you have a problem getting on though. could you get some logs and place them at some strategic points, we have them at gates just in case. also the more we went out in company and she got to know the routes, the more confident she got too.
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I am not going to give up. I really enjoy hacking out on my own and used to go miles on my old pony. I will keep at it and take a friend with me who could always leg me up if I need to get off at any point. We have some quite high curbs in the village that might just give me enough height to get back on. I am not worried about having a battle off the road but just worry something will go wrong on the road.
 
FreddiesGal said:
Fred will nap on average twice every time I take him out - this includes walking backwards as fast as he can, doing mini-rears on the spot, or bucking when I put my leg on. I usually spend about 5 minutes circling and encouraging him to walk forwards before jumping off an leading him for a minute or so before getting back on. The napping doesn't bother me in the slightest, unless it's on the road. In this case I will usually jump off right away to avoid accident. He will only nap once he's seen something he's unsure of there fore I don't want to going down the route of smacking him as it is genuine fear.

Anyway I seem to have rambled :p How do you deal with a napper?!
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I think your doing the right thing. I would add a lot of verbal encouragement/ discouragement at the appropriate times, mumbling away seems to reassure my nappy horse.
 
Mine used to be / can be an awful napper - he would rear bolt up right and then bunny hop sideways back down the road/lane/track - wherever he was! Scared me silly for a good 6 months but now (4 years on!) he only occasionally spits his dummy out. The big tantrums have stopped and now its just that he will spins/hops back very slighty. As he turns, I dont let him stop at all and insist that he carries around on his circle back the way I want to go. I may have to circle him a few times til he gets the idea - but they soon learn that forwards is better than round, and around.. and round.. ;)
 
It sounds exactly like what Conn does! I find it best if you ALWAYS look where you're going, never down at the horse, have a neckstrap to keep your hands at a good height for mini rears and try to keep him infront of your legs all the time, try doing lots of walk trot transitions and leg yielding really helps :) xxx
 
I think sometimes it is better to sit quietly and let the horse have a good look at whatever he is worried about. The more you smack them and shout the more the horse will believe there is something very news about the bin/log/bag etc.

I know this is not always possible when you are on the road. My new horse is a "looker". My old mare was very bold, but if she didn't like something the worst thing you could do would be smack or shout at her - it would have provoked an unecessary tantrum.
 
No offence, but IMO by getting off and giving him treats you are teaching him that this behaviour is ok. It's probably just a habit now.

I would ABSOLUTELY not give treats and I would also be very loathe to get off.

If he does it when he sees something he's scared of - fair enough, he might be a bit scared but tough luck IMO. He needs to learn that even if HE thinks something is a bit scary, it's not going to eat him. You have to make him go past and then the more it happens the more he will see that the plastic bag in the hedge will not actually punch him and take his lunch money!

Tbh, I have dealt with LOTS of napping horses. Apart from one, just one, they were all being naughty. And they have all, apart from that one, been cured by a good hiding.
Slate me if you like, but it works and it's how pretty much all professional yards will cure a nappy horse for you (but they just call it 'strong forward riding!').

Once you win one big argument you will only ever need to growl at it. Once you have got past the point that it was napping then be as nice as pie and make a massive big fuss of it.

But bottom line - horse goes where you want it to, even if it finds it slightly scary. It trusts you that the 'scary' thing isn't going to hurt it - but that fighting about it will not be pleasant at all.

Again, please slate me all you like - but it's never taken me longer than a couple of hacks to cure a properly nappy horse!

:)
 
patterdale said:
No offence, but IMO by getting off and giving him treats you are teaching him that this behaviour is ok. It's probably just a habit now.

I would ABSOLUTELY not give treats and I would also be very loathe to get off.

If he does it when he sees something he's scared of - fair enough, he might be a bit scared but tough luck IMO. He needs to learn that even if HE thinks something is a bit scary, it's not going to eat him. You have to make him go past and then the more it happens the more he will see that the plastic bag in the hedge will not actually punch him and take his lunch money!

Tbh, I have dealt with LOTS of napping horses. Apart from one, just one, they were all being naughty. And they have all, apart from that one, been cured by a good hiding.
Slate me if you like, but it works and it's how pretty much all professional yards will cure a nappy horse for you (but they just call it 'strong forward riding!').

Once you win one big argument you will only ever need to growl at it. Once you have got past the point that it was napping then be as nice as pie and make a massive big fuss of it.

But bottom line - horse goes where you want it to, even if it finds it slightly scary. It trusts you that the 'scary' thing isn't going to hurt it - but that fighting about it will not be pleasant at all.

Again, please slate me all you like - but it's never taken me longer than a couple of hacks to cure a properly nappy horse!

:)
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Not slating at all. I do agree with you and this is exactly what I would like to be confident enough to do with mine. However it is a really busy road, he is fine in traffic but won't be if something runs into him during a "being a wally" session. I also freely admitt that I need to grow a pair and get on with it but have lost my bottle a bit after him being out of work.
 
My new one can be quite nappy, partly due to green-ness and insecurity ("oh hell that's scary, let's spin around and run away NOW") and partly due to cheeky pony-ness.

I found that the best way to deal with it is to ensure he works when out hacking, so I school him all the way around. If he isn't working then he finds things to do and has time to plot his next bit of mischief. We're currently working on half halts, transitions (W-T-W mainly and within the pace) and bits of baby lateral work. He's getting quite a respectable leg yield, started some shoulder fore, turn on haunches and forehand, interspersed with lots of stretching FDO. Schooling on hacks makes sure his attention is on me and not the next naughty thing he can find to do to amuse himself. If he does get in a stress about something and refuse to go, I can't give him a "moment" to look and think as that's when he spins and takes off. So with him, he gets a boot and a smack on the bum if needed then big pats and fuss when he does move forwards. He's just turned 6, very green though but as long as he's seen something once and realises it won't bite/kill/chase him, he accepts it and all is fine. He never needs more than a single smack on the bum to go forwards past whatever it is.

Older horse is a slightly different kettle of fish. In his case, he rarely naps or gets in a state out hacking. He's a real tourist, loves to hack and is very brave so if he gets upset then he's genuinely scared. He freezes up and backs away (quickly!!), and loses all sense of self preservation. So with him, getting off and leading him forwards is always the best way to deal with it. Kicking, smacking, growling, shouting, whatever, never works and makes him shut down completely. I get off, lead him forwards for a few metres and get back on. That works with him, every time. I don't treat or anything like that, just jump off, walk on a bit and get back on. Thankfully this horse gets in a stress once in a blue moon so getting off and back on a 17hh-er isn't often required!
 
I was out on Saturday morning for a hack and we came across a dumped sofa, clearly a horse eating monster as he wasnt going to go past no matter how much I tried to get him to. He started to walk backwards,sideways and generally wasnt having any of it. Being we were in quite a tight spot anyway I didnt want any injuries so got off and walked him past. He was fine once i got off and walked him past - wally!... Then on the way back he must of been embarrassed by the earlier sofa situation and being such a wimp as he actually walked past it without any issues:rolleyes:.
 
My old pony used to be awful for spinning round and generally taking the pi** but 15 years ago I was young and just got on with it with him! He is a star now and the hard work paid off. Horses just seem to be a different kettle of fish! Not helped by my ever increasing lack of confidence as I get older!
 
I've just recently started riding a little cob who was nappy, he had gotten his own way a lot with his owner and so thought that planting the anchor would mean turning around and going home.
I invested in a lovely long schooling whip and gave him a tap when he stopped, he put up a fight at first - backing up and turning - but with persistance he went forward, then he got a pat and a 'good boy!'. He soon connected the dots and now a week later I don't use it at all. He still tries it on sometimes but now just a squeeze sends him forwards :D
Whichever method you use for yours it's about the persistance, don't give in :) Every horse is different, mine was just being stubborn whereas your is scared so different methods for different horses, I hope you find something tha works for you both!
 
patterdale said:
No offence, but IMO by getting off and giving him treats you are teaching him that this behaviour is ok. It's probably just a habit now.

I would ABSOLUTELY not give treats and I would also be very loathe to get off.

If he does it when he sees something he's scared of - fair enough, he might be a bit scared but tough luck IMO. He needs to learn that even if HE thinks something is a bit scary, it's not going to eat him. You have to make him go past and then the more it happens the more he will see that the plastic bag in the hedge will not actually punch him and take his lunch money!

Slate me if you like, but it works and it's how pretty much all professional yards will cure a nappy horse for you (but they just call it 'strong forward riding!').


:)
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Maybe I didn't make myself very clear. I don't hop off give him a treat then just poodle along praising him. I only give him a treat once he has walked past the object.

I am naturally not the type of person to just resort to giving a horse "a good hiding" and I wouldn't have bought a youngster (or any horse for that matter) if i had the heart to sit there beating two hoots out of it. IMO once you have beaten a horse into submission, he's not walking on past the object in future because he trusts it won't hurt him, but because he knows he's going to get a damn good smack (or smacks).

I also appreciate my method isn't for everyone and I guess it's just about how much time and patience you are willing to invest in a certain horse.
 
I have similar problems with my mare, I've tried the growling and really pushing past but this always made her reactions worse. She goes up if i do this and gets higher and higher each time i make a fuss.

I now just sit it out, took one time of just sitting there and not letting her turn then eventually she went the way i was asking, if im going to hack alone i make sure i have time to sit it out so if she nap's she never wins.

:)
 
loisb501 said:
I have similar problems with my mare, I've tried the growling and really pushing past but this always made her reactions worse. She goes up if i do this and gets higher and higher each time i make a fuss.

I now just sit it out, took one time of just sitting there and not letting her turn then eventually she went the way i was asking, if im going to hack alone i make sure i have time to sit it out so if she nap's she never wins.

:)
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For me it's the more I push forwards the faster he goes backwards!!
 
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