Napping when hacking in company

[harri23]

Hi! First time poster.

I have an ex racer, who is an absolute gem 95% of the time. She does suffer with a little separation anxiety but will happily hack on her own.

Now the odd problem; she will nap pretty badly when out in company on a hack.

We went out with a couple of people from my yard on saturday, all other horses were excellently behaved, then all of a sudden she tries backing herself into the hedges, threatening (and then actually) going up a few times and then pulling one of her back shoes off!

This unfortunately isn't an isolated, I don't get to hack in company all that often as I work odd hours, but every time we have we have had a similar issues.

Is it pure excitement? I don't mind her doing this at all it doesn't phase me, but I miss hacking with other people for the social!

 

[FlyingCircus]

Can you try to isolate what it is that sets her off? Is she anxious about being left behind? Did someone overtake? Did they get too close? Etc.

Only when you've worked out what it is she is throwing the toys out of the pram at, can you start to understand how to help her.

 

[harri23]

Can you try to isolate what it is that sets her off? Is she anxious about being left behind? Did someone overtake? Did they get too close? Etc.

Only when you've worked out what it is she is throwing the toys out of the pram at, can you start to understand how to help her.

So there wasn't anything I could remember that stood out.

I also forgot to mention as we left the yard she was jogging a lot. I think it's just an excitable thing and she just overloads her little brain and has to express herself aha!

 

[AmyMay]

I wonder if it’s just generally beyond exciting, especially as you don’t get the opportunity to do it very often?

 

[Goldenstar]

I don’t this is napping it’s straight stress its triggering memories of racing I would guess she was not a happy racehorse .

 

[harri23]

I don’t this is napping it’s straight stress its triggering memories of racing I would guess she was not a happy racehorse .

I was also thinking this! I don't know whether it is mean to keep doing it if in the short term it will upset her

 

[milliepops]

yeah I have one that naps in company but she naps all the time so it's not a surprise (other than being a bit weird that she won't just trail along nose to tail...)

does she do the same with one other sensible horse?
the more I learn, the more I think I fall down on the side of just not doing things that make older horses very very anxious, i sometimes wonder in whose interest it is to work through some problems. Obviously some need to be addressed in order to have a horse that can cope with life. Other things it's not worth lifting the lid.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

If it is an ex-racer PTSD type thing, would she possibly be happier if out in front?

 

[Goldenstar]

Do you have friends who will ride with you often , you could try starting with one and then add in another .
Just repeat gently as often as you can I will happily muck out sorting out issues like this for months even years

 

[atropa]

I have one who will do something similar out in company, like she seems to get herself 'stuck' backing up, throwing her head around, bouncing on the spot, even when I'm not holding her back. Solved by making sure she's at the front of the ride, which can be annoying.