Napping - any tips on how to stop it?

H

Hutchlou

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 May 2009
Messages
405
Location
Northants
Visit site
My mare seems to be getting worse & is starting to nap almost every time we go out (in company & alone). She will back up into hedgerows, undergrowth & ditches & just refuses to go forward! I have given her the reins, kicked, smacked, persuaded, petted & waited. I've let her take a step towards home then once her feet are moving, turned as sharply as possible & booted on but she just stops, plants & then goes backwards again. :(
Please help, it's getting to be too much of a bad habit now.
 
Mabe you could have someone walk with you, and lead her when she playing up? i know its not something you want to do all the time, but once she starts to behave, with some one walking, she might behave on her own.
 
Thanks Tink&Lily. I do this when I take my daughter out. She rides & I walk/ run! It does help, as being on. the ground I can just take her reins or attach a lead rope for a minute until we are going nicely again. Likewise, if I am riding with another horse & she naps, if I wver get off (absolute last resort!) & lead her for a few yards I can get back on & ride her again. Unfortunately this nap, get off, lead, get on business can go on a bit!! :(
 
If it was my horse doing the naughty nappings i would always just sit it out even if it took hours. I would just keep the horse looking where he was supposed to be going and giving him no option but to go the way i was asking. It will take time but you have to be prepared to put the time in. :) Dont force the horse, as that is asking for trouble, just give him no other option he will eventually give in.
 
I used to longline my boy out down the road and round the woods to get him used to going out on his own, you could try that?

If not i would get someone to come out with you and lead her (with you giving her aids too) when she starts napping and then you both giving her loads of praise when she does walk forwards.

If it isnt to dangerous then i really do think you should be trying to get her forwards on her own, if she wants to backwards fine...just no turning round! She will eventually get bored of it and walk forwards which is when you give tonnes of praise.

I know how annoying this is so really feel for you. Hope you find something that works
 
mabe when you ride in company, mabe you could ask someone to lead you from their horse, i had to do this with a friends horse, he got the message eventually.
 
I had terrible trouble with my last horse - jibbing, napping, rearing and spinning (an ex trekker who hated going out alone). To try to break it, I tried the leading, instructor following with a lunge whip, sitting it out, all sorts. I had his teeth, back, feet anything and everything checked.

I hate to say it, but the only thing that worked for us was using the longest spurs I could find (not using them per se, but enough to tell him they were there), a schooling whip, and a lot of patience. The first time those spurs went on, we did a full round-the- block. He had been taking the total piss out of me. From that day on we came to an understanding - and he stopped the constant challenging.

I hope you don't have to resort to this, but my horse was getting way too dangerous to not try it, and having to be sent back. sm x
 
Last edited:
can i ask do you have any lessons with local instructor with your mare, as they would be best person to advise you as then they will see horse and you together to work out soloution.

it could be your mare is in pain or your mare is take the pee........

but you really need to find out which one it is really-good luck
 
Thanks for all your suggestions, sounds like I need to be a bit more patient! I always feel a bit guilty for the other riders when we have just planted!! Funny thing is I don't think she would rush to catch them up if they went off without us!! Funny horse!
I will keep working on it - I'll try sitting it out first as I have plenty of time on my hands! ;)
 
My horse was a napper when I got him. Make sure she trusts you and respects you 100% on the ground first. Then when you're riding, when you feel her going to nap, use your seat, lean back to send her forward. Take as much time as it takes for her to step forward, lots of praise when she does and a treat. If she spins, turn her in a circle, if she backs up, rein back so you are in control of the movement. She should stop! Once the nap has been ridden through, continue to do that hack as much as you can. If you feel nervous, get a confident rider to work this through. Or wearing a body protector can give you some more confidence. I found my horse was great after consistent riding to get over his lack of confidence and hacked out alone really well. Smacking him or scolding him just really upset him. So sitting quietly and taking all the time in the world worked for us.
 
It is more unusual for horses to nap and plant when out with other horses. Is there any usual trigger for this - ie seeing something scary? If not and it happens randomly, then there is quite a good possibility that she is in discomfort somewhere, which is what she is objecting to.
 
My horse was very nappy to the point he woulnt even walk to the field without another horse with him.

I used to ride him out on the same hack with other horses until he was used to it and then try it by himself.

But i found wearing a pair of spurs worked!! It has taken me months and months but it works in the end and now i dont have to even wear them and we can go where ever.

dont give up tho :)
 
i am going through something similar with my boy, and things seem to be getting better. he will plant, back up without a care whats behind him and will occasionally rear. he will also nap in company and can actually be worse when out with others. i learnt early on that there was no point in getting angry and booting/smacking him the whip as he will retaliate and rear and buck.

the method that seemed to work well with him is that when he stopped a would grip and squeeze with my legs but constantly, no niggling and kicking just a solid wall of pressure. if he didn't move forward after about 10secs would increase the pressure by varying degrees. a couple of times it got to the point where i was literally just using the spurs. as soon as he took one step forward i would release the pressure. as soon as he stopped again we start with the same method exactly in exaclty the same way. worked really well and within 2 days a section of hack that had taken 40mins was now taking 10mins.

i am now at the point where i can be much firmer and quicker, but still must stop myself from kicking and booting him and using the constant pressure appraoch.
we have had a few days where things have gone backwards but i now know that i will get through it and think that we are becoming much more of a partnership. he now onlymakes minimal effort to stop when walking off the yard and will march the rest of the way round. (this has taken 3/4 weeks although i have been unable to ride him consistently due to work so has taken longer then might have done)

also all of this was done with him by himself. i am still working on the napping in company as it is much harder to get after him when he starts backing into the other horses! but i am sure we will get there

ps - sorry for the essey, and as others have said give it time and be prepared to wait it out.
 
I did wonder if she is in some discomfort as she always puts her ears back when she sees me bringing her saddle but I had it checked & it fits fine, so I just put it down to her being a stroppy mare! :) Also she will work & jump well in the school & on new hacking routes or new detours she is keen & has her ears pricked! It's almost as if she wants to choose the route that we take, backing up & planting when it is somewhere she doesn't fancy!! Does this seem odd?! She isn't a brave horse & she does spook easily, so seeing dogs, motorbikes, lorries etc can scare her but she will usually pass them but very warily!
I wish she could talk. :(
 
would be best to check that teeth, back and saddle are ok (get second opinions if not convinced). i have had a mare who would only hack round set routes and flatly refuse to turn off the normal route.
as said current gelding will nap in company - very odd but looks like it is just one of his quirks. he has always marched out in front when on new routes but is now going through a napping stage(hopefull nearly sorted!). he is also perfectly happy to school/jump etc so i'm pretty sure he isn't in pain. he's strange in that he is much braver when out alone. when in company he spooks much more and will rely on the other horse to lead him past things, even stuff he has previously walked past by himself! still deciding if he is taking the p**s or is actually scared, but decides to just 'get on with it' when by himself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top