Napping Horse

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BigRed

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My horse naps. He is perfectly happy to follow my husband (on foot, or cycling). But if I try to go on my own he stops and goes into reverse. I do not believe he is scared, he is being bloody minded. He doesn't shy or spook and once we get going he will lead my husband and happily hack home.
Hitting him doesn't work, neither does circling him. Has anyone had proper success in sitting there and waiting for him to give in, and how long did you wait.
 
BigRed said:
My horse naps. He is perfectly happy to follow my husband (on foot, or cycling). But if I try to go on my own he stops and goes into reverse. I do not believe he is scared, he is being bloody minded. He doesn't shy or spook and once we get going he will lead my husband and happily hack home.
Hitting him doesn't work, neither does circling him. Has anyone had proper success in sitting there and waiting for him to give in, and how long did you wait.
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Yes, take a book, sit and wait, takes ages at first but they soon get the idea!!

Mine used to have a paddy and rear and rear, any pressure put on him at all, waste of time, in fact I don't even ride with a whip anymore.....

Just sit wait, ensure they are facing in the direction you want to go but if they want to plant let them, they do get bored after a while and gradually mine just planted for a few mins and now only does occasional few second "thinking about planting" I do nothing and he carries on. It was a REAL issue so don't give up!!
 
Not to the same degree, mine is happier in company inc with my other half. In the early days she did nap a bit, the best tactic was to let her look, reassure her, then ask again, if I thought she was frightened. If that didn't work, I moved her around, left right back, whatever, but always moving and always facing the direction of travel. Worked quickly and well but as I said, was only in the early days and a couple of times. Once we go to know each other, never happened again.
 
Mine was just over an hour......

I don't let them "gawp", keep their attention in the right direction, and unstick their feet laterally. But, other than making sure they are not "resting" while planted then I am happy to wait them out, if ordering them to go is a no go (usually because of some history).
 
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