Napping - How to get your horse out of it?

[missparis]

Following the what to do when your horse rears thread, I thought I'd ask about what would you do when your horse is napping. In my case, he is a new horse and he did this to his previous owners. He naps when he doesn’t want to do something EG. Yesterday when the saddler was out, he wanted to see him ridden on the field and in the indoor school. I generally lead him into the indoor school, however, when riding him, he was not going to have it and started napping! I didn’t have time to correct this as the saddler was trying to made an assessment of his saddle. He also does this when attempting to go out on hacks alone or when hacking with others, asked to lead the group. When he naps, he does a mini rear, and pivots around to go back to the stable or his friends. I should also mention, his not a nasty horse in anyway, and is a pleasure to do most things in the stable or in an indoor or outdoor school.

Obviously whacking him on the head is definitely not the way forward but what would your advice be to get him out of this habit? I could spin him round in a small circle but he sort of does this when he naps?

 

[Cedars]

Keep spinning him! The trick with any form of misbehaviour is to make the correct way the BEST and EASIEST way forward.

I.e., you wanna spin, thats fine, but we're going to continue spinning until you give up and we take the easy option and go MY way.

 

[noodle_]

what flamehead said!...

mine just throws a tantrum at the gate of the paddock so she gets akick and a grumble for her troubles....

if needby use a crop to back up your aids of "no"!

 

[Marciamac]

I agree with flamehead, but another thing you can do - if you have lots of time and patience - is to just make him stand still. You don't want to go forward, fine, but you're not going back, either. You're just going to stand here until you do as I ask. A friend did this when she was helping someone with their horse who wouldn't leave the yard. She said it took over an hour, but she just sat there and talked to people as they came by, and wouldn't let the horse turn around, go sideways or anything. Eventually it got bored and went out the yard.

Depending on the horse, stick and spurs can help. I rode a cob pony mare in a hunter trial - but she napped and napped and napped at the start. She kept bucking, or rearing and spinning around. It was a school pony and the owner of the school was at the start. I used stick and heels (no spurs) and if she spun, I spun her again. They offered to have someone lead her over the start line, which apparently worked in the past, but I said if you're prepared to wait, I will get her going. It took a while, but I did. I spoke to the owner later and asked her if she objected to my use of stick, but she said no, as she was just being obstinate; she thought I was very brave!

Whatever method you use, you cannot let the horse do what it wants. If it does manage to whip back to the stable or wherever, take it back to where it was. Ask someone to help from the ground, if necessary. If you give up, it will do it again next time.

But in saying all this, I am assuming his back an teeth have been checked to rule out pain.

 

[missparis]

Thanks flamehead & noodle - I shall give it ago on the weekend as it will be my first time hacking so I am sure there will be plenty of testing moments.

The moment I feel him half lifting his feet of the ground, should I start spinning? Or do I wait for his hoofs to hit the ground and then start spinning?

 

[Umbongo]

My mare was EXACTLY the same. She napped when she didn't want to do something, go out alone or asked to lead a hack...or even go up next to another horse!

I used to sit there for ages to her mini rears and pivots and always keep nudging her on until she got fed up of me asking her to go forwards all the time. I always made her face the way I was going and just kept gently getting on at her. No whip as this made her worse, and I never booted her one as this would not have helped either. Remember to praise them hugely when they do go forwards.

After a few hacks like this she is now an absolute star...you can feel her wanting to nap sometimes however I keep on at her and she gives up before she has even started. The spinning thing never worked on her. Any opportunity for her to turn to face the stables and she would have been off down the road.

Agree with marciamac too. Make sure you have lots of time on your hands and do not let the horse do what he wants. When I first took this mare for a hack by ourselves it took about 2 hours to do a 10 minute route around the block, but we did it and she only got better after that.

 

[piggyinablanket]

I have a napper too Ours will stop and reverse rather than spin, but its very dangerous on the road. I have just had to be very firm, and strong on my aids, He will not go forward despite legs/whip. I wont let him reverse where he wants to I will try to steer him out of it. (if that makes sense!) He does give on when he realises he wont win. I have had him 3 months now and we have got him hacking out on his own, the last two times with no napping at all. I still have to be awake, I can sense when he is going to do it as he backs off the contact and starts to slow. THAT is when he gets a growl and a kick before he gets a chance to stop. I think it takes a while to trust each other, Im sure it will improve. Perseverence and a calm but firm approach worked for me.

 

[Natch]

You haven't had him that long then? Could be a lack of confidence in you (and previous owners may not have merited confidence either as far as he isn concerned). Working on your partnership and getting him to see you as a leader and trustworthy would help if this is the case.

Also consider if what you are asking the horse is unreasonable as far as they are concerned: e.g. are you asking them to go somewhere they don't know, or to take the lead somewhere scary? in the case of the indoor is it the change from light to dark?

In the meantime, as short term there and then measures, if you can prevent him from turning,or if he does turn make it a full circle so he's facing the right way again. As a couple of others have implied, passive resistance (good lord I sound like Mr P but please hear me out) which means that you aren't turning it into a fight, but making walking forwards calmly the best option for the horse, is far more effective and less stressful than making it an arguement. As I have learnt to my cost over the years

 

[missparis]

I agree with flamehead, but another thing you can do - if you have lots of time and patience - is to just make him stand still. You don't want to go forward, fine, but you're not going back, either. You're just going to stand here until you do as I ask. A friend did this when she was helping someone with their horse who wouldn't leave the yard. She said it took over an hour, but she just sat there and talked to people as they came by, and wouldn't let the horse turn around, go sideways or anything. Eventually it got bored and went out the yard.

Depending on the horse, stick and spurs can help. I rode a cob pony mare in a hunter trial - but she napped and napped and napped at the start. She kept bucking, or rearing and spinning around. It was a school pony and the owner of the school was at the start. I used stick and heels (no spurs) and if she spun, I spun her again. They offered to have someone lead her over the start line, which apparently worked in the past, but I said if you're prepared to wait, I will get her going. It took a while, but I did. I spoke to the owner later and asked her if she objected to my use of stick, but she said no, as she was just being obstinate; she thought I was very brave!

Whatever method you use, you cannot let the horse do what it wants. If it does manage to whip back to the stable or wherever, take it back to where it was. Ask someone to help from the ground, if necessary. If you give up, it will do it again next time.

But in saying all this, I am assuming his back an teeth have been checked to rule out pain.

My horse is not in pain, everything is up to date. He also did this with his previous owners but as he was mainly used for SJ'ing, he was only ridden in the school and comps. They did try hacking alone but gave up in the end. He is used to being ridden in spurs but as I am coming back from a long break, I dont think it is fair while I do not have the fitness or lower leg strength to be using them so will just keep to a whip and my voice if need be.

He does stand still in the school to mount, but when outside, his quite bad (another thing to work on), however, once again, when he doesnt get his way, he starts napping. So I am hoping once we have the napping sorted, I can sort out more manners. On the ground he is respectful, and if he doesnt want to stand still, I make sure that he does. It is more of a ridden issue than handling issue.

 

[Cedars]

You wanna react before he gets the chance to take even a single step the way he wants to go - i.e. spinning is fine but any steps in the direction of home are not on.

However, if you've not had him long you may fine he needs some confidence in you so you may consider hopping off and leading him past if he's scared - if he's just being a tit though do what we've all said above.

 

[NeedNewHorse]

Keep spinning him! The trick with any form of misbehaviour is to make the correct way the BEST and EASIEST way forward.

I.e., you wanna spin, thats fine, but we're going to continue spinning until you give up and we take the easy option and go MY way.

I have to say this is what i do. My mare naps and will try it on, so its either spinning in very small circles or going forward. She is pretty stubborn, so we do spin for some time but she does eventually go forwards. Also, she has reared and she doesn't or cannot now with the spinning and the last few attempts at napping we got no rears at all. She is not really a big napper - - But there isn't any argument to it which will make them angry or stressed even more I find, as if you sit there and kick and pull they can get upset and up the anti, in which case you become in a battle (imo).
Make it as the above poster said, black and white and their choice. They are more then welcome not to go forward but the alternative is not going to be any good as who wants to spin around the spot in circles as its dull and they will probobaly find it pointless. So its their choice to go on. And also be aware of any attempt to go forward and reward immediately.

Goodluck.x

 

[NeedNewHorse]

My horse is not in pain, everything is up to date. He also did this with his previous owners but as he was mainly used for SJ'ing, he was only ridden in the school and comps. They did try hacking alone but gave up in the end. He is used to being ridden in spurs but as I am coming back from a long break, I dont think it is fair while I do not have the fitness or lower leg strength to be using them so will just keep to a whip and my voice if need be.

He does stand still in the school to mount, but when outside, his quite bad (another thing to work on), however, once again, when he doesnt get his way, he starts napping. So I am hoping once we have the napping sorted, I can sort out more manners. On the ground he is respectful, and if he doesnt want to stand still, I make sure that he does. It is more of a ridden issue than handling issue.

As as add on to what I said, if he has not been used for hacking much if at all, then don't set yourself up for an argument/issue. Go out with others and stay at the back (or not in front) for a while and allow him some time to digest going out, then get him out in front - then attempt small circular hacks. i.e give yourself and him a bit of time to prepare and up your goals.

Goodluck.x

 

[better half]

It sounds like you need to do less!

When he stops stay calm and ask for just one step forward, any movement forward give him a reassuring pat even for the slightest try.

Rather than kick with both legs simultaneously open the inside rein and using the opposite leg to bump start some movement. Once you have some movement reward with a big pat. You can then follow the natural swing of the horses head and neck, as you use your right leg swing your left hand away from thre neck. keep this going left to right like a pendulum of a clock so you both stay calm and relaxed. Good luck

 

[Splish & Masons mum]

It really depends on the horse, you have to gauge what works for you.
Unfortunately my friend and I both have somewhat nappy 5 year olds, and backwards was the preferred napping option, we spent lots of time standing still, working on not going backwards, before eventually moving forwards.
However, I feel like I had a breakthrough about 6 weeks ago when Mason was asked to go in front, was not keen and started reversing towards a ditch at speed. Previously I'd been quite scared to put my leg on as he has quite a temper, and has bucked with me in the past. but as it was a case of "if we don't stop, we will go backwards into the ditch" I growled, gave him a huge pony club kick, backed up with my whip, and we shot forwards, and remained forwards for the rest of the hack!
He's not given up trying it on, but his efforts have got more half hearted every time, and now I know I can put my leg on when I need to, and quite often, just before he stops, I can anticipate and get my leg on, and verbal "encouragement" early to prevent the stop. And ALWAYS reward when they go forwards, even if it's just 1 step, a scratch on the neck or a "good boy" to let them know they've done the right thing
You could try both options, and see what works best for you, with Mason, it seemed to be the authoritative approach!

 

[missparis]

I have a napper too Ours will stop and reverse rather than spin, but its very dangerous on the road. I have just had to be very firm, and strong on my aids, He will not go forward despite legs/whip. I wont let him reverse where he wants to I will try to steer him out of it. (if that makes sense!) He does give on when he realises he wont win. I have had him 3 months now and we have got him hacking out on his own, the last two times with no napping at all. I still have to be awake, I can sense when he is going to do it as he backs off the contact and starts to slow. THAT is when he gets a growl and a kick before he gets a chance to stop. I think it takes a while to trust each other, Im sure it will improve. Perseverence and a calm but firm approach worked for me.

Sounds like its a long road but worth it. Well done on your past 2 hacks! You must be pretty stoked.

You haven't had him that long then? Could be a lack of confidence in you (and previous owners may not have merited confidence either as far as he isn concerned). Working on your partnership and getting him to see you as a leader and trustworthy would help if this is the case.

Also consider if what you are asking the horse is unreasonable as far as they are concerned: e.g. are you asking them to go somewhere they don't know, or to take the lead somewhere scary? in the case of the indoor is it the change from light to dark?

In the meantime, as short term there and then measures, if you can prevent him from turning,or if he does turn make it a full circle so he's facing the right way again. As a couple of others have implied, passive resistance (good lord I sound like Mr P but please hear me out) which means that you aren't turning it into a fight, but making walking forwards calmly the best option for the horse, is far more effective and less stressful than making it an arguement. As I have learnt to my cost over the years

I have done plenty of grooming since owning him but I have barely asked anything of him due to my health issues. He has been ridden in the indoor many a times so his not scared of the building, I think his scared of work

When he naps, his circle is a 180 degree turn so he is heading backwards rather than forwards.

Thanks for the advice - the last thing I want to do is get in a fight with the horse, just would like a nice hack every so often plus there is a good SJ instructor that is only a 15min hack so would be good to have some lessons without relying on another person at the livery having to have a lesson too.

 

[LaurenM]

Keep spinning him! The trick with any form of misbehaviour is to make the correct way the BEST and EASIEST way forward.

I.e., you wanna spin, thats fine, but we're going to continue spinning until you give up and we take the easy option and go MY way.

I couldn't recommend the above enough!

 

[treacle_beastie]

Much the same as everyone else. No whips or spurs - just makes it worse.

I did use the spinning them round and making her walk backwards in the direction I wanted to go and that worked in extreme situations but she doesnt really get to the stage when I need to do that now.

I spent a long time sitting, gently asking and praising for small steps and gave the odd smack over the shoulders with the reins if she started napping at places I knew she wouldnt normally nap at.

Now she is just a bit slow leaving the yard but rarely stops and if I feel her backing off I send her into trot to get her moving. She hardly naps at all now, more so in company as she will always prefer to follow another horse.

I really looked at why she was napping too and found she was scared of everything so spent loads of time spookbusting which has helped loads as she now listens to be and I trust her more so we are both much more confident. If she has a wobble I just count to her and it wierdly keeps her moving forward in a rythm. The micheal peace stuff in one of the horse magazines was really helpful as it made me look at the cause and how to tackle the problems.

 

[Penny Less]

I have been working on my horse for 6 months now, he refuses to go forward when out alone. I have sat on him for 2 hours in the past not letting him turn round. Everything has failed except sitting with his head and neck in an outline. After some time ( it has been
2 hours to half an hour) he gets fed up and steps forward, only one or two steps but its forward. The last twice I have been out, I have had to walk him out the yard about 1/4 mile, get on and then hes planted himself, BUT after about 5 mins he has walked forward,
only a few steps and then planted again, but each time I make him stand in an outline till he gets fed up and although he still keeps stopping he only stops for a short time. I think the penny has finally dropped! Please God. So keep on plugging away, Im hoping by Christmas I will be able to go on a hack without stopping.

 

[Flicker]

I had had my previous horse for about 3 months and she started napping badly in the yard if I was riding her in the direction of the indoor. She did this one afternoon as YO was standing on the yard with a carriage whip in her hand.
As mare stepped back, YO flicked her with the whip, not hard but enough to make her feel it. She shot forward, I gave her a pat and she napped again, back into the flick of the whip. Forward she went, big pat, leg on, nap. Into the whip. The third time, she kept going forward, and very seldom napped after that. If she did, a bit of leg-on and a pat was enough to remind her.

I was taught a similar trick when she didn't want to load to travel to her new yard. The lorry driver picked up a handful of gravel and, when she stepped back, he lobbed it gently at her bum. The unexpected feel of the gravel as she stepped back made her step forward again sharpish! I've used that trick a couple of times now and it seems to work quite well.

I must stress that there was no pain involved - just invoking the sensation of the horse walking backwards into 'something' which they don't like.

 

[AmyMay]

if you have lots of time and patience - is to just make him stand still.

A favourite of mine - and guaranteed to work.

Less is always more with a napper.