Napping Horse and Novice Riders!

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Parkranger

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Well, after a couple of comments made yesterday about novice riders making horses nap, I guess it gave me even more determination to get Oscar sorted.

After managing to stop him napping in the school yesterday, I decided to take him out with OH on his share horse. I really rode him like I meant business and whenever he even thought about napping I was ontop of him with a boot and a growl.

We had to stand while OH lengthened his stirrups and once he'd finished Oscar decided that he was going home at that point. Had a few bunny hops so boot and growl and he walked on
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I've finally realised that my frame of mind is SO important. Oscar has always napped and I've always thought 'what if I can't make him stop napping?' and now I think 'I will win, it's just a question of how long it takes!'

Had a lovely hack though - we'll forget the napping moments.....

So hopefully novicey riders can also cure nappers (he was napping with his last owner so it ain't just me)
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thanks for reading x
 
Good for you, yes its tru that you need a positive frame of mind and a little bit of confidence....but you dont get that confidence by someone telling you you a rubbish rider
 
I know that I'm not the best rider in the world but I do know that I'm a hell of a lot better than some of the people who profess to be ;-)
 
Don't put yourself down if you are a novice rider. I can guarantee my horse would not nap with you riding him (though he may scare the life out of you by being very sensitive and forward) , but put a very tough pro rider on him that makes him feel threatened and he would spend the entire time in reverse!

By the sounds of it you will have the napping sorted out very soon, particulalry if he doesn't really mean it and is just doing bunny hops
 
Yeah, I think if he was rearing it may be different but hopefully it will never come to that.

I guess for me it's knowing what to do in those situations - I was doing everything wrong - tensing, holding onto his mouth!

I'm hoping that once we develop boundries he'll be my horse in a million!
 
Its true, my mare napped back to the yard the other day and I turned her round and shes never gone up the lane so fast in her life! And I thought wow actually if I ride with this determination all the time she may actually start listening to me!
 
Mine is going through a nappy phase, she does this every now and again usually in response to changes at home (she is currently having to cope with loosing her best friend at easter and having a new mare introduced to the threesome) she also is worse if in season and at the moment is a total tart. I find if I am positive (including styleless pony club kicks) we go backwards a bit then get ourselves moving forwards. It takes time and determination to sort it out.
 
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