Napping Help

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kobey

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My Daughters 14hh cob x, 6 years.

Is napping whilst working in groups at pony club and competitions when she needs to leave others at the start line.

At home she is happy to hack out on her own and go and jump lovely xc, sj courses as long as she has company or is completely by herself.

She all of a sudden does a nasty spin round and has managed to get my daughter of a few time, but my daughter is managing t0 feel these before they happen more and more now.

She has the most beautiful jump and absolutely loves it when she is concentrating and not trying to get back to the group.

We have had her tack, teeth, back all checked nothing is wrong.

So just wondered if anyone had any tips?? as I have never had a nappy horse before x
 
First like you say you already have get everything checked pain wise, it is unusual for a pony to suddenly start different behaviours? are you doing more in the school with pony club than before? could pony be getting fed up? Are you doing anything different than you did before that is harder work?


If nothing pain related then you really need to nip it in the bud fast and it sounds as thought pony has learnt that she can do this without your daughter being able to sort her out fairly quickly. personally, if me, I would get the help of someone experienced to work you through this, or avoid the situations she does this in until your daughter is stronger and the pony starts respecting her a bit.

It really does sound like most nappers that they dont want to move away from their herd pals...could be a matter of confidence building but without seeing sounds more like either pain, fed up or simply taking the pee....get some help, although Pony Club should be helping you already!!
 
My youngster can be a little nappy in a group environment. She is fine during the warm up and whilst everyone is moving around but after we have stood still for a short while in a group it can take a little persuasion to make her leave her pals. I now ensure I stand away from the main group and always find a space to myself away from everyone. That seems to help. Alternatively I keep working her away or around everyone so she doesn't have the chance to settle in to her little group.
 
Thanks I do actually think she is taking the pee, this is the first year she has been to PC and any competitions, I don't think she is bored as it is always varied work and fun things they do ,she is a very clever pony and is very keen to go somewhere it really is just leaving the herd is the problem, Our instructor says she is trying her luck and we should persevere is just a baby thing as she is a fab pony.

Unfortunately at PC they must all work in groups and does not have the choice of working her away from them all the time.

I am hoping a season at PC will help her, I am just worried that once a napper always a napper?? x
 
Is the horse experienced working in and away from groups? Is your daughter experienced working with younger/greener horses?

I think it's unfair to brand the horse a 'napper' and think it's just part her personality when she's just displaying a very normal herd reaction. 'Safety in numbers' is a core, instinctive motivational force in the species and one which most horses have to be trained to overcome. It's also something that may reappear under stress (new circumstances, new demands etc) because it's not eradicated, merely overlaid.

Training and practice. Is the horse consistently in front of the leg? Do you set up training situations at home, where she is more comfortable, to address the weakness before testing it under pressure?
 
Tarrsteps - I think you are correct I am just worried this is something she will always do, And I can assure you I have not branded her a napper!!

As I have said the pony is not experience working in groups, my daughter is very experience but neither of us have had experience with a pony who naps, that is why I have come on her for advice as I am not just expecting her to be able to do this.

She is a very laid back pony and never gets stressed about a situation, we have 4 other ponys at home and she happily leaves them and works away from them when asked.

As I have said I hope this will come with a good season out at pc.
 
kobey said:
Tarrsteps - I think you are correct I am just worried this is something she will always do, And I can assure you I have not branded her a napper!!

As I have said the pony is not experience working in groups, my daughter is very experience but neither of us have had experience with a pony who naps, that is why I have come on her for advice as I am not just expecting her to be able to do this.

She is a very laid back pony and never gets stressed about a situation, we have 4 other ponys at home and she happily leaves them and works away from them when asked.

As I have said I hope this will come with a good season out at pc.
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If she is fine with your horses at home, leaving them easily to hack etc then she is probably basically amenable in this department. Can you practice in unfamiliar areas using one of your others? (Provided you have one that won't get upset if the pony leaves!) Or are there friends you could go out and practice with? They should provide her the proper support at her rallies but it can be easier to work through if the only task at hand is the problem of working away and there aren't lots of other people watching and waiting.

Make sure she is consistently in front of the leg and soft in the neck at home (it won't solve the problem but will give you a better toolbox to solve it) then see if you can break it down a bit. Practice should do the job.
 
Ye we do go to training things together and she can be nappy there with my horse also, Its as if when we go somewhere that's not home she needs more reassurance hut she is never nervous or over excited, I think I maybe need to ride her at some competitions or training days and get her going more forward :) x
 
Just to let you all know they have had a fab weekend, at a XC and SJ event and she never napped once. lovely clear round in the SJ and great round in the XC apart from she refused to go in the water
(very naughty as she goes in the river at home all the time to cross into our other fields) so they took the learner route but feel we have had progressed, thanks for all your advice x
 
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