Napping horse...

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Fiorano

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My warmblood x is a little b***er! At a show or a lesson in another environment he is forward going and keen in the school, which is great.

However, at home he is always nappy in the school. I have hacked him, loose schooled over jumps, lunged him, in fact done everything I can think of to give him variety and he is still napping when I ride him.

He is difficult to get into a forward walk and trot is very difficult. Once he is going he is fine but if I ask him to walk and stretch and then pick up the reins again he starts all over again. Just had his teeth and tack checked and all is well. He did have a KS operation but is fully recovered.

Any ideas, tips or suggestions would be greatfully received.
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You seem to be doing the right things, not sure if others will have ideas. SOme horses are more difficult at home, and if schooling on the flat isn't his favourite thing I guess he is telling you. I wouldn't over do it, keep doing the things you are doing to keep him interested.
 
Thanks Quiet Hack.

Kenzo, when asked to trot he offers two or three strides then falls back to a very slow walk. He nods his head and sometimes even threatens to rear. He did rear during sessions before his ks operation but has not left the ground since. He is just 'difficult' to move forward. He will sometimes plant his feet as if to say, 'do know what, I think thats enough'. It's hard to explain. Part of me thinks it's a learned behaviour from previous pain and the other half thinks he is just being naughty. If you saw him at a show or at my instructors yard you would not think he was nappy at all. Most frustrating.
 
I understand you are frustrated.
Its strange that he is good elsewhere and naughty at home!
its normally vice versa!!
Its good that he behaves at competitions thats the best way to be!
I can understand that its annoying though.
I agree with you though that he associates home schooling with a learned pain.
Is he not improving each time he goes in?
Do you hack him out etc?
 
Hi Scrapeesh, yep hack him, loose school him offer as much variety as I can think of BUT the riding is a bit of a nightmare in the school. I find him the same each time I go in. I have tried lunging before getting on him to see if that made a difference but, sadly, no. Having sat here and thought about it I think I may give the schooling a miss for a while and stick to the hacking and see if that makes a difference. I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do.....
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how about just keeping his feet moiving, when he plants himself, try turning him and praise him for moving, once he moves, it might be easier to keep him moving. Or perhaps you could get someone to walk beside him for a couple of circuits of the arena. Probably get shot down in flames, but it is just a suggestion. Mine used to be a bit nappy and i always found that it got her moving.
 
Iam also have the same issues as you. Im unable to ride at the mo as im waiting for the dentist. (long story). Although i believe my boy has teeth issues, it is'nt just down to that. I think he is just stubborn and does'nt like the arena. He very much has the attitude that once hes been in there for 10min then thats enough thankyou very much. He is fine hacking, infact he walks out very nicely, but only until he thinks he's had enough. Once he stops shouting does work but only when you are out hacking. In the arena forget it. Once he's stopped ive tried all sorts to keep him moving. Turning circles, kicking, shouting, growling. A sharp smack with my stick. Ive tried small sticks, longs ones. I have learned that i need someone on the ground to help me. What we do is get an empty bottle and fill it with pebbles. Get the person on the ground to shake it loudly at you when you are asking to go forward. It does work for me. You could try a waving a plastic bag, or tie it onto the end of a lunge line, anything that will make a noise so it will keep them moving forward. My pony is coming up 5 , and i understand your frustrations just as you think your making headway it all starts again. Im hoping its something he will grow out of, but im wanting to do some local shows this summer, and some how i don't think they will allow my friend in the arena chasing me around with a plastic bag !!! If you find anything else that works please pm me.
 
Mine regularly goes through nappy phases (new arena, change of companions, not being keen on surface etc has provokes it) and in the past I have found a couple of days of someone on the ground with a lunge whip works wel and gets her into 'going' mode - one instructor even chucked a handful of arena surface at her which shocked her into action but frightened the life out of the other horses in the lesson.
I find that galvanising her into action (I ride in spurs) and then trotting very forwards for a few circuits gets her going. Sometimes she'll nap again as she gets to the gate and I just have to start the whole process again. But when she does go forward I use a very light contact and in canter a very light seat to encourage her before asking her to work in ang kind of shape.
If leg and voice aids don't work, try lengthening the reins and then 'flapping' them against his neck - you may have seen jockeys do this with racehorses that 'plant' themselves - again it just galvanises them into action.
Like me, you probably have to ride alone a lot of the time, but can you ride with other horses sometimes? My mare much prefers this (as long as they are not too big, or too naughty which will sometimes scare her enough to provoke a nap in itself!) - you could even ask a co-operative friend to act as a 'tow' and follow her around if he grinds to a halt.
Generally if there is not a physical cause it is just a habit, but it is important to win these battles even if you just get a circuit of nice trot (in which case it can sometimes be a good idea to make a fuss of him and finish on a good note) because horses will always take advantage if they think they can get away with it!
 
Thank you to everyone who replied. It's very comforting Ironhorse and Curly Wurly to know that I'm not the only one who has this problem. I have a friend coming over today who has only seen him at shows and clinics so in his 'good' moments and it will be good to hear what she thinks. I will put into practice some of the suggestions and see if any work.

Thanks again everyone and for those who have this very frustrating problem.....Good Luck!!
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