Napping hacking alone - advice please

[Scot123]

I know these sort of questions have been asked a lot, but I'd really appreciate your thoughts on my particular situation - thank you.

As briefly as I can... I've had my pony about 3 years and we've had our ups and downs but with the help of a few weeks here and there at a trainer (for him and me!) we've come through it. We don't want too much, just some light schooling and hacking out alone.

All going pretty well until a month ago we moved to grass livery with no school and just his wee companion and one other horse (both of whom he's leader to) for company.

I have nowhere to school so it's just hacking out. It started OK for the first few weeks, but in the last week when I've set off he will just plant his feet. When I push him on he bucks. I am NOT a confident rider and this has really scared me. I've got off when this happens and lead him forward, making him work (trot, lateral work etc).

But the next time it happens again - whether going out or back towards his field.

It should be noted that I have a more experienced friend who is riding him occasionally with no problems. So it's obviously me - but I can't work out what I'm doing and what I should change. Getting an instructor at the moment isn't an option. Advice please!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would set off on your hacks, very determinedly leading him, do a circular route and get on him when the distance home is shorter than the distance back. Do that until you are comfortable with getting on and riding home, then start to get on a bit sooner, you will know where is the best place. Build up your confidence in your riding of him in this way and when you are ready to ride him out of the yard, get someone to walk with you until the point where you can be pretty certain that he won't want to turn round, then ask the walker to let you leave them, rather than the walker leaving you.. Do that until you are confident that you can keep him going, leaving the walker nearer and nearer to home. The penultimate step is for you to lead the way, on the horse out of your yard with the helper behind you as a back-stop, just in case. When you no longer feel thatyou need that support, you are ready to go out on your own.
Good luck!

ETA, make sure that you 'ride' the horse on your hacks, a lack of an arena doesn't mean that he doesn't need to listen to you, keep his mind occupied with transitions, lateral work etc.

 

[Scot123]

Thanks for your advice. I'll give that a try. Unforunately there's nowhere circular to ride - it's all 'there and back' - but I guess the principal is the same.

 

[Mule]

I had the same problem. I don't know if my advice will helpful but I'll tell you what I did. First of all only go a short distance, then build it up over time. (I don't have a circular route either). I started taking the horse out for walks in hand, along where I wanted to hack. I let him graze along the way, so as to make it a good experience. This definitely helped.

Coincidentally, I also learned how to school properly at the same time. I learned to ride on a contact, to use my seat better and also to ask more of him/ be clearer in my aids. In other words I became a better and more confident rider. My horse is the type that takes confidence from his rider so I think this made a big difference. Riding with short reins and making him straight made a big difference.

Also when he tried to turn, first of all, I would stop him and gather my thoughts. then straighten him, then tap him on the shoulder with a crop. (Using a crop behind the saddle would result in a mini rear).

There were times he'd walk the whole way home backwards, to be honest, as I became more confident this amused me rather than made me nervous. That change in attitude seemed to enable me to get him going again. If it happens now, I would get someone to lead him from the ground ( just far enough to get him past the point where he feels stuck)
Sometimes he used to jog home but as he got more comfortable leaving the other horses he stopped.

 

[q105]

I also had to deal with this very recently.

Horses who have become a bit dominant can start to try it on outside their equine herd, so maybe he’s having a moment to test you and your ability to lead him. As well as being a little unsettled.

After a few days of tears and confidence crashes and panicking that I had ruined my perfectly good horse forever, I read a few good advice threads here. And I put on my big girl pants. I put spurs on, took out the long schooling whip. And I ride. I started with a gentle tap with spurs to remind him I was boss, and I flicked him every couple of strides for about 100m. I didn’t shorten up his reins, just got him going from behind, and I rode every stride. No letting him look at a single thing to give any excuse to plant. After the first 100m I could get him into his bit and work him properly. That first little leg melted my anxiety and we rode just fine. I will put spurs on again the next time I ride alone, but I don’t normally bother with them.

I had only planned to do half the route I did, but as we started off so positively, I made the most of the weather. I also didn’t speak much. I would normally tell him he was a good boy from the minute I put his head collar on. He got no treats until we got back to the yard, and only got a scratch when he was behaving as asked.

Plan in advance. Get into a positive frame of mind. Be assertive about what you want to achieve, but don’t be bullied by him or you’ll lose. Good luck.

 

[Scot123]

Thank you very much for your replies. Hearing others stories really helps. I do really think I'm being tested, the trouble is that I'm coming up short! I definitely agree with the big girl pants comment, I think if I could push him through the first planting/mini-buck then we'd probably be OK. I am just struggling to deal with that with the fear that the mini-buck may become a biggy and I'll go flying. I know how important it is not to nip this in the bud and I think that pressure is just making me worse. I will do my best to 'get a grip' and really appreciate the positive advice x

 

[Mule]

Thank you very much for your replies. Hearing others stories really helps. I do really think I'm being tested, the trouble is that I'm coming up short! I definitely agree with the big girl pants comment, I think if I could push him through the first planting/mini-buck then we'd probably be OK. I am just struggling to deal with that with the fear that the mini-buck may become a biggy and I'll go flying. I know how important it is not to nip this in the bud and I think that pressure is just making me worse. I will do my best to 'get a grip' and really appreciate the positive advice x

I felt the same way when mine was doing mini rears. I thought if I pushed him too far he'd stand up on his hind legs. We got over it with lots of patience and determination on my part and better confidence on his. I'm sure you will too xx

 

[Scot123]

Thank you very much x

 

[Annagain]

You really need to find your brave pants. I had a similar issue when I first had my horse (13 years ago). After a week or so of him spinning and trying to go home at every opportunity I decided I'd had enough. I deliberately chose a route with plenty of places where I'd be asking him to turn away from home and went out armed with two schooling whips (he would spin as soon as I put my reins into one hand so I needed to keep both reins) and a 'don't mess with me' determined attitude. He tried once, I growled at him and booted him like I really meant it and to my amazement he stopped napping! He's never tried with me again in 13 years. Every time I get a new sharer though, he tries with them. Whether they can get him though the yard gates is a good test of whether they'll suit him! Do whatever you need to feel safe - body protector, air jacket, neck strap etc and mean business. Even if you have to stand there for an hour before he'll walk forward, do not let him turn for home until he's going forwards nicely and you want to turn for home.

 

[WandaMare]

Another thing I found useful was to transport my mare away from the yard in the trailer a few times and then hack somewhere quiet until she got her confidence. At first she would try and nap back to the trailer until I asked my OH to take us and then drive away. She was quite a bossy mare and for us this was the most effective way to persuade her that sometimes she needs to listen to me for leadership.

I also found that reacting by laughing at the napping, rather than getting tense really helped. For example, when she started going backwards I would then ask her to back up and she would immediately pull forwards, I couldn't help but find this funny. Cheeky mare

 

[TeamChaser]

One of mine used to be very nappy and a chronic rearer. He had had some bad treatment so I think would rear out of panic as having napped, he was then expecting a beating, bless him. I found with him, if he went up (and he would be vertical!) best thing was to just sit quietly and wait it out. He was not allowed to turn, back up step sideways etc. Using gentle pressure, he was made to stand still facing the direction I wanted to go in and he was napping away from. Would only take 10 mins before he'd get thoroughly bored and walk quietly forward. Getting into a battle with him just not advisable as the rearing was dangerous. He hasn't napped or reared at all in several years now

That said, my younger ISH can be a swine every now and then and he is one that needs a good kick /smack to just make him go forward. He will launch , knob, but once we've had that 'discussion' he's then always fine!! Horses for courses I guess

Some great advice on this thread so hopefully you'll find a solution that works for you both - best of luck

 

[Scot123]

Yes there's been some really useful advice. I am trying to bring it all together to see what works for us... In the last few days instead of hacking out I've found a bit of land (rough, a bit of a hill, not ideal but it'll do) to do some ground work and once we've done this I've managed to mount and walk him back to his field. I feel this is a start to break the 'habit' of planting as soon as I try to mount. I've also found a helper who has walked out with us a couple of times - though he still tried it on then, we managed to push through it.

One thing I'd like to ask - if he does plant when we're out and using my legs causes him to mini-buck, would you just sit quietly and let him wait and then try again in a few minutes? Or once you've asked him to move on would you keep asking/increasing the pressure, until he does?

 

[Annagain]

I'd be inclined to keep it all calm and low key so let him stand rather than winde him up but only let him move in the direction you want him to move. Choose a day when you have all the time in the world - you may need to sit it out for longer than you think!

 

[Notimetoride]

Mine naps when her ulcers are playing up.
If you've done all the checks then there's plenty of good advice above re riding. Only thing I can add is put on a neck strap. They help your confidence hugely.