Napping problem

[EdithSparrow]

So i got this 5 year old whos so smart and has got a old head on young shouders shes so mature for her age we are learning so well together on the flat in even just a few times iv ridden her i can see improvement but the one thing is her napping towards the gate or the corner where she can see her mates. She has real toruble concentrating on me and what i ask her to do shes always looking for a way to get at the gate and have a good nosey and i was wondering what i can do to stop her napping as its every time i trot a 20 meter circle she just darts the other way. when shes been doing it iv made her do small circles on the spot but she still carries on what else can i do to get her out of this habbit?

 

[Mike007]

If I said give her a slap with a whip I might give you an entirely wrong view of my philosophy. When I give bob the notacob a well earned slap with a stick ,it is about as strong as a mcdonalds drinking straw,yet he acts as if it was a length of blue poly pipe!discipline is all in the mind. I growl at bob when he is bad and stroke his neck (scratchys)when he is good.We have been together a while ,and I think we have a relationship. It is a two way reltionship and I have had to meet Bob half way. I strongly suspect that your horse is a niece of bobs and therefore requires rather sympathetic handleing.PS ,I had strong words this evening with Bob about the whole gate napping thing , so you are not alone!

 

[be positive]

She is losing concentration rather than napping so the best way to deal with it is to give her extra to think about just before she gets away from you, instead of spinning in ever decreasing circles try a couple of quick transitions to walk back to trot almost immediately and or flexing her the opposite way for a few strides, so if she learns out through her left shoulder flex her left to keep the outside under control as she passes the gate and do a few transtitions at the same time.
She may be smart but you are smarter so out think her and keep her focus on you, a few sessions where she really thinks about what you are going to be asking next should get her back on track.

 

[ohmissbrittany]

Bepositive has a great suggestion, I'll add that if it's all location/friend dependent, I would make her work hard by the gate or the corner with her friends. 2-4 circles in a collected trot or canter (depending on her strength/balance- you want it to be tiring but not scare her or knock her off balance), then come off the circle, slow down and walk or stand/pet at the opposite end of the school/field. soon she will learn that away from the gate/friends is the easier place to stand.

 

[nato]

Oh I feel your pain. My horse was a nappy so and so for the first few months after I bought him! He very much needs a job and the busier he is the better - lots of changes of reins, serpentines, circles, etc. Don't go large at any point! Think every 20m do something different. Also don't do things in the same pattern - i.e don't do a circle at the same point in the school each time. They anticipate and get bored! You want to keep them on their toes so they have to wait for your next instruction at all times.

I would also recommend lunging or long reining - encouraging them to go forward without having to have the argument in the saddle.

Depending on how nappy the horse gets, you may need to get quite firm with her to prevent it escalating, especially if she is as clever as you say. I am always a fan of the softly softly approach but there are times where my horse needs nothing but a short sharp smack behind the leg to remind him he needs to go forward. Once he goes he gets lots of praise and all is right with the world again!

 

[ycbm]

So i got this 5 year old whos so smart and has got a old head on young shouders shes so mature for her age we are learning so well together on the flat in even just a few times iv ridden her i can see improvement but the one thing is her napping towards the gate or the corner where she can see her mates. She has real toruble concentrating on me and what i ask her to do shes always looking for a way to get at the gate and have a good nosey and i was wondering what i can do to stop her napping as its every time i trot a 20 meter circle she just darts the other way. when shes been doing it iv made her do small circles on the spot but she still carries on what else can i do to get her out of this habbit?

On another thread you say you have ridden her three times in a month since you bought her. She is young and green, she needs consistent work.