Napping.......it's getting me down!

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anxiousmum

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My daughter's pony has started napping. Nothing too dangerous just turning and jumping, no rearing. He did this last year before he was turned out but he's been out now for about 2 months and he trys it on every time she rides him. She has lessons every week and her instructor has now said that she's not strong enough to sort it out and wants an adult to ride him. Was hoping to be able to take him to some shows this summer but daren't. Before this problem he'd do anything my daughter asked of him. Is he just playing up? He's 5.
 
Sounds like shes letting him get away with it, a more experienced rider might have more luck. Otherwise, I'd get there early in the morning, take him somewhere he naps, and be prepared to spend all day there but he HAS to go where you ask him. Then fuss like a baby when he suceeds xxx
 
I would follow your instructor's advice - they know the pony after all. Could you find an adult to ride the pony once a week. It does sound like the pony has realised he doesn't have to do what your daughter tells him - that could end in real problems... Its a young pony with a small rider - again can lead to problems. I don't want to frighten you, but you must resolve this for her safety...

Have you joined a local pony club. Then you would be able to see the pony in a show- type environment with lots of other horses and things around, but with instructors to help her with the problems. Once the pony is calm at rallies, and your daughter is confident, then try shows. If you rush into shows now you will make this a much bigger problem.

Another thought is for you to do in hand shows initially, so she can feel like she's doing shows. If you really want her to be able to go out and do jumping classes etc this year, then you really need to consider selling the pony and getting something older and more experienced...xx
 
I have this problem although its far better now and I am ready for him napping and find it easier to stop.

my RI helped alot
Never let the horse turn in the direction he trying to go, he has to go in the direction you want however long it takes and be ready for him napping before he's even thinking about it.
Mine used to alway nap at the gate to the arena so we never do any transitions near there, all our jockey changes and getting on/off are at the back/middle of the arena so he's got no reason to be near the gate
Now I can pretty much tell when he's thinking about napping and correct it before he's done it


I think a more experienced/strong rider could be a good thing but I agree it would be better for your daughter to be to handle it herself. I can stop mine from napping however if I put someone else on him, he wouldnt act the same and spin etc for them so I would worry that even with an experience rider, the horse would still nap for your daughter, but like you said everyhorse is different so a more experienced rider might be answer.
 
This could be a sign that he's entering the stroppy 'teenage' phase. As a 4yo he wasn't as strong, or balanced, now he's 5 he's grown into himself a bit more and may start to test your daughter out. As a younger rider she may not have the strength or experience to cope with this, so I would second the suggestion of getting an experienced adult on him who won't let him get away with it. :)
 
anxiousmum said:
Before this problem he'd do anything my daughter asked of him. Is he just playing up? He's 5.
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Well is this a new thing? If so, I would definitely get him checked out.

It could be something like pain which is causing him to not enjoy his work and this is his way of telling you so.. Defo get the Saddle, teeth and back checked out.

If not, as he is young he could be going through that testing stage. if so, get a little good adult on him and when they cannot ride get your daughter back on him, and walk around with her. Just get her walking around the school/poles/turns etc and if he tries to nap, help her get him moving again (i.e quickly break the habit with your help) Once the pony knows he cannot get away with it, he will not keep trying but you have to get through that stage. Get her trotting a circle around you, so your there to quickkly move him on and the progress.. i.e one little step at a time. Don't do it one session then send her off again alone, really get through each stage.. So you walking next, then a bit further away etc.
 
My 5 year old attempted this and it was soon solved by someone following him up the lane with a lunge whip.

Basically you turn for home every 25 m, then turn back, if they back up, they get chased with whip, if they dont, they get praised.

If they do it near to school gate, they get lunged in that area for a week, and when they start ignoring it, we try again.

Very quick solution though - in 1/2 an hour he was so bored he never tried again.

Worked for a good few others on my yard too!!
 
I was judging at the weekend and had something similar, a very nice young pony with a very small child was doing a bit of 'early napping' and cute little child was trying to discourage it with showing cane. My advice (shoot me down if you like) to mum outside ring afterwards was to get some-one stronger to ride it in a showing environment once or twice just to 'sort it out'. Otherwise it could get worse. Shame as it was a really nice pony and beautifully turned out, but as a first ridden it wasn't what it says on the tin!!
 
Mine used to nap as a 4/5yr old at the gate of the arenas, reared instead of going through them, stopped and napped goin past them, if riding past an open gate napped to get out. I let an intructor on him once and he stopped and napped at the gate and she started beating him on the bum with a whip, i was raging with her and promptly told her to remove her ass from my saddle! I found hitting him just made things worst (got tense and reared) so i just clicked at him and growled at him if i felt him trying to stop and it worked :) i can now walk through gates, ride with the arena gate open and stop and open the gate whilst still on him and proceed to walk away from it to! He still naps on hacks if hes by himself though! I think maybe yours is just testing the bounderies if saddle etc have all been checked
 
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My previous angel of a horse also started this once he turned five sorted him eventually but I am an adult!. Would definately follow your RI advice and get someone bigger with a stronger seat on him before this becomes a habit. I know how frustrating it is my own horse had hacked out alone from a 3 yr old and then suddenly decided he couldnt go down the drive. They do pack it in eventually but you do need to be firm but fair and by the sounds of things your daughter just isn't big enough to sort the pony out.
 
I think you shoudl take your RI advice. Sounds like the young pony/child combination isn't working at the moment and as others have said it will only get worse if it is not nipped in the bud. As a small (5ft3) but strong and experienced adult I have schooled many a naughty childs pony :) Its not the end of the world but would be best to try get it sorted sooner rather than later.
 
Thanks everyone....we'll be going out for a lone hack tonight so I will be on foot!! I have asked a very small and experienced friend if she can ride him once a week. Elle is getting a little scared of him so I know it needs sorting out. Some days he doesn't put a hoof wrong but he's just not consistant. When we bought him last summer we were told he'd done a lot of work for a 4 yr old but we now know that's just not the case and I'm sure that's part of our problem. I'm reluctanct to sell as I know with a bit of experience he will be a lovely pony.......as long as he stops napping!!!!
 
Just an update for those of you who helped me out.........we took him out and talked and petted him alone the lanes and he was fine....just got a bit nappy on the way home which she handled beautifully. My niece rode him and he was a little nappy but since then we've not had a problem. Know it's early days but as long as we handle him gently and don't shout he seems to respond a lot better. Lesson last week he totally behaved and she's back to enjoying his company! Thanks
 
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