My pony has just turned really spooky

[mar2505]

Help, this last week my pony has become so spooky and nappy it is really upsetting me.
Friend rode him and fine so looks like it's me!
Nothing has changed with feed, hay etc so don't know what to do. Spent whole day avoiding riding him today.
Any advice please

 

[AppaloosaPonyHorse]

How long have you had your pony, could he just be testing you maybe?

My chap went through a phase of napping, everything else was fine and he did not do it for a more experienced rider, so I just had to ride through it (with help and moral support from someone on the ground) and make sure he knew I was in charge. I used schooling whip (small taps if he started to nap) and plenty of leg and my voice. There was one place in field he kept napping at so we literally walked it big pats when he was good, then in trot and finally canter. Wasn't easy as he also was a bit of a bucker so it was nap, tap, buck, smack and kick on.

If you have someone experience or RI who can help you while you ride would be good as I know it can be scary or just plain unpleasant. I really hate napping, but we seemed to nip it in the bud.

Give him loads of praise when he is going as you like and be really firm and assertive if he tries to nap. Don't put off riding him too long, I think the longer you avoid it the harder it gets to psyche yourself up to get onboard and you end up getting less confident.

My RI has great phrase 'fake it til you make it' so even if you don't feel confident in yourself about something (or something is not going right), act it and pretend you are as much as you can.

 

[L&M]

Mine have both hit a 'wall' in the last week - they don't want to be out as the field is so waterlogged, but are bored off being in. Excersing is just in the school or hacking on the lanes, whereas what they really need is a good gallop.

If it is worrying you riding, can you lunge before? I did this with one of mine today - I got on him in the school and felt he was going to buck me off, so got off and lunged him for 20 mins. When I got back on he was as good as gold and worked well.

Hopefully it is just a temporary thing and we will have nice normal horses again once conditions improve.