Kick up the a**e required please

sleepykitten

sleepykitten

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Hi all,

have posted on here several times now about my new horse who is nappy hacking out alone. I have decided to sell him about 20 times, and changed my mind 21 times. I really like him as he is perfect in every way except lacks confidence out hacking. Gets so far, then decides to go home and backs up doing mini rears until i let him go home. I then make him go straight back out again and usually get a bit further. I am not a brave rider and was sold him as a quiet happy hacker so was a bit more than i bargained for when he started playing up. Trouble is, i'm getting very attached to him and think he will be worth it to persevere, but i need a kick up the arse to make me sit tight and see the battle through. HELP!!! Or maybe I should just sell him and buy a rocking horse........................:eek:

Cocoa and kitkat for reading..
 
Do you have an instructor, or somebody else who can take him out who won't give in to him?

Do you have a confidence giver who can ride out with you?
 
How far do you need kicking. Give him time and just take one step at a time. Try walking him out in hand for awhile, turn him when you want to and build up from there, short steps adds to long miles, sounds he needs insurance from you.
 
Quirky - yes, I've ridden out with several friends who have been great, but he is absolutely perfect in company - even if the other horse is playing up, he is fine, so the behaviour doesnt even come up then! He needs some confidence for definite, but i think he trusts me, just tonight i went and jumped on him in the paddock bareback, no headcollar, nothing! he is fine with really mad stuff like that, but just seems to dislike being on his own outside his "comfort zone"!:confused:
 
If you are becoming attached to him, persevere :)
My share horse was a napping nightmare when her owner took her on - wouldn't even walk off the yard, let alone go on a hack!
She occasionally naps now but its sorted quickly. Her daughter is the same and I've just started to hack her out now - a quick squeeze and a "get on!" works for her, as long as someones firm.

I'm no expert, but I'd say one step at a time - walk him in hand maybe? With another horse, ridden or someone else walking, take him a short hack, then come back. After a few days, lengthen it etc etc until he's behaving beautifully then get on and even if you go up the road and back and he behaves, that's a good positive step. Build it up steadily until you're able to hack out properly. One of the girls on our yard has someone driving to halfway round the block to meet her, just in case she needs it for that bit of security.

I find that napping differs greatly between different horses so it depends on them how you stop them - a friend's horse needs more of a loose rein (ie, no gathering up) and kicking on, whereas my share horse needs stopping completely, standing for a minute then walked on again.
Echo what others have said too about getting an RI to perhaps ride him out, or come with you and tell you how to deal with it :)
good luck
K x
 
Hi , I had a similar problem and was ready to sell but needed horse rideable , after a year of getting no-where I asked a Monty Roberts/Kelly Marks trained person at Harrogate to help . She was wonderful and sorted the problem within 48 hours ! Walking in hand is great and I've always done it , and still do , but ridden mine was totally different and that was the sticking point . My problem was I had no-one to ride out with to get us going but if you can ride out with someone and take it in turns leading the ride it will soon come . Good Luck , well worth it ... after 1 1/2years of struggling , problem sorted and we are now 3 years on !
 
Napping can be solved. :)

Does he nap because there is something ahead that he is frightened of? Is he just testing you? Is he a naturally 'backward' thinking horse? Does he rear when you put too much leg on (ie, you are telling him to go forwards but he doesn't want to, so he goes up instead)?

It is worth trying to figure out what is triggering the napping and how much pressure he can take.

My rules for riding a nappy horse. :D
1. Both the horse and rider shall get home safe and sound.
2. Never, ever, ever turn around and come home the same way.
3. Always ride a circular route (see 2).
4. Don't be afraid to dismount and lead your horse past a scary object. As long as the horse does as he/she is told (stands still for dismounting and remounting, leads nicely) it has not been naughty.
5. If it is too dangerous to have a battle of wills due to dangerous behaviour or traffic, dismount and lead the horse (see 4 and 1) until it is calm and safe to remount. Then carry on with the hack as if nothing happened.

Other tips.
Voice training. Say 'walk on' every time you go from halt to walk, even when leading.

Ride with two schooling whips. Start in a safe area and try to 'flap' them up and down. Even if you don't touch the horse's sides that should send him forward. You can touch the shoulders with each downstroke if you need a stronger signal. By rotating the wrists when you do this, you wont be jabbing the horse in the mouth as you flap the whips.

Have a martingale strap/ d-ring strap to hold on to. You don't want to jab the horse in the mouth if he suddenly does go forward.

If you think he might rear, try to release/give with your hands slightly. Gripping tightly on the reins with a stong leg on will make it more likely that he will stand up.

If you have lots of time and it is safe, just sit and wait. I once sat on my mare for half an hour because she didn't want to go forward. She eventually got bored as I wouldn't let her turn around or back up, so she decided that it was better to go forwards.
 
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