Napping. Naughty or Misunderstood?

[freebodyl]

Hello all, I have a question about my mare. She is a bit of a strong willed tyoe but ultimatly brilliant and I love her to bits but she has this streak of nappiness where she will just grind to a halt and refuse to budge. This first happened late night over the winter and she was petrified and spooky so decided it was safest to stay put...there was nothing I could do, turn her back her up coax her etc and she remaind like that until my instructor apperared and he went "click click" and off she went as was totally fine bar the odd spook. She next did it when we were out SJ, she'd has loads of lessons and been xc schooling and nothing so all ok - she had already jumped 2 rounds (one being a CR) and after the 6th fence on the third round she said "no thankyou" it wasnt anywhere near a fence? And the last most recent was last night - she was having a lesson and slipped on the grass and had a pole, she rarely touches them and after that she just had no petol and was just going backwards??? All of this I can put down to confidence BUT has she learnt this 'skill' and will she ever get out of it????

 

[jumpthemoon]

Have you had her back and teeth etc checked to make sure there isn't something causing her discomfort? I realise it's only occasional, but it would be worth checking.

 

[amandathepanda]

As jumpthemoon suggested, get everything that might hurt checked out as your first port of call but I suspect this is a case of a mare that lacks confidence and whensomething worries her she finds it easier to put the breaks on. I've got a nappy gelding who will nap with a novice rider who doesn't make him feel confident and send him forward but is fine with a more experienced rider, just because the more experienced riders generally send a horse on more which helps the horse have more trust in what the rider is asking him to do. As her confidence in you grows, she will start to nap less & less.

 

[tigers_eye]

Have you tried spinning her on the spot? Bring her nose round to your knee, loosen your outside rein, and shift your weight to the outside - this will unbalance her and she will have to move her legs. Then keep her spinning (the legs must move) until you think you can ask her to move forwards and it should be a relief to her to go forwards.

 

[freebodyl]

Wow thanks all - to answer firstly, yes her back is checked regularly and suprising she has no tightness at any time BUT can be a bit tender around her ovaries!! However as all 3 incidents have a reason for the 'STOP' I think its more confidence thing than anything or rather it started out that and now im afriad she has learnt a trick

She breaks in mid flow and there is no warning and nothing as a rider I can do - I am a very confident rider and have mad ehuge leaps in her riding thus far but im down hearted to think my wonderfully perfect mare is never going to get out of this.....I dont believe in beating up or whacking on the spurs....I actually think she would just take what ever I gave her anyway...so I may try the turning her nose to my thigh? Im going to see if I can replicate this behaviour at SJ clear round day whenthe pressure isnt onand I dont get eliminated?

Please anyone with success stories feel free to advise She isnt particulary mareish, she's very brave as she will hack on her own and xc although spooky and isnt bothered about being on her own in the stable or in the field so I dont think its nerves....I guess I know the answers really but you never know???

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

mine has done this but, is far more nappy ie, used to stop near the way out of the ring!!!! Also when schooling and he gets confused he just stops!!! I do the spin round thing, which concentrates his brain on something else, If they try to turn the opposite way you must make them go the way they dont want too!!!! Sometimes mine refuses to move but with a little patience we get there, first of all I tried a good smack but I think he enjoys me getting mad so I no longer rise to the bate!!! Good luck just be positive and you will get over it

 

[star]

my new horse is similar - i only get it when trying to jump him at the moment, but he has a tendency to grind to a halt out hacking if he sees something scary and just ignores my legs. doing flatwork in the school he's actually quite hot and spooky and quick off my leg but he just plants in front of a jump or runs backwards and rears. he is genuinely scared and not taking the piss, but it's very infuriating. using a whip just makes him worse, but he just ignores me legs. shifting him side to side gets him moving and i've tried spinning him but none of it will get him going in the direction i want - over the jump! it's a bit of a problem and i haven't found a solution yet. oh, and i have had his teeth done and he's seen a physio twice in the last month as he was a little tight on his left, but nothing enough to cause all this.