Mare napping to the leg, training tips required!!

[biddy1]

I have a 9year old mare who has been back in work 8 weeks after 2 months off after a busy competition season. She has taken to napping from in the canter when I ask her for a bigger or longer canter stride either my legs or seat. She slows, then can't get her to move for the life of me! If I use my legs she kicks out, whip she bucks or rears or both! She will eventually move but not easy. I have trained her to not nap by using my voice when I think it might happen and no leg touching her although this stops the napping it doesn't help the lack of impulsion issue and is not consistent at stopping it. She used to nap when a 6 year old but not leg nap more spook nap. She hasn't napped for 3 years and is usually a very consistent show jumper and dressage horse. Any help appreciated!

She has been checked by vet, teeth done, chiropractor etc

 

[nokia]

hi my mare has been doing the same, it gets v scarey when she has decided she has had enough as she also rears and bucks. it got to the point where she would not go forward at all so i started long reigning her hacking out with somebody else to help..and just started with 5 min sessions building up 20 long hacks. She then became better in the school a bit but still not forward still bucking and trying to get me off. so i rode her on the lunge with my friend driving her forward with the lunge whip..then we progressed to being off the lunge but my friend sill being about with the whip if she started napping again.

This has taken about 3 weeks and she gets lots of reward when she is good and as soon as she settles and goes forward she is rewarded and not then overworked..its been small steps with my mare. I also forun that putting a bungie on her the ones off ebay they are about 10.00 really helped with the rearing ..i found using spurs on her made her a lot worse. I also put her on Vitex Agnus Castus from natural horse supplies and that has seemed to help her settle. I also got a wintec isabell werth dressage saddle, i find these alot more secure with the bucking than a leather saddle.

 

[Charlie007]

My lad used to do something similar. It wasn't what I would call napping but he would curl up on you in canter to the point where we were going no where then for good measure throw in a good buck!! I have regular lessons and we have now managed to stop him doing this. Part of the problem was me blocking with my hands, although only slighty but it was enough, part was that instead of pushing him on when I first felt him going to do it I froze and got ready for the buck!! I was riding defensively. My instuctor got me to ride very forward in canter, when I felt him about to start I had to move my hands, growl any thing to keep him going, just riding him through it. It wasn't pretty but he soon got the message!! This is probably of no help but I hope you get your girl sorted!