Nappy and badly behaved horses in comps...

[Starbucks]

Been to a BSJA show today and I was amamazed by the number of horses that didn't seem to want to do it.

I would say at least 1/3 of the horses in the Discovery and the 1.05 had a bit of a nappy fit at some point.

I have only really had one, really nappy naughty horse, he just wasn't cut out for SJ and XC, hed had the talent but not the attitude, so we let him just do what he wanted - which was hunting and dressage.

Sooo - if your horse behaves in a waythat in makes you thnk that he doesn't like the job - do you carry on making him? or give him another job?

 

[flowerlady]

Not all horses are SJ's or dressage. Some fair better on Le-Trec or endurance. And some are just happy hackers lol. So my answer would be give them something they seem to enjoy.

 

[Starbucks]

I agree, I think LF.

I'm a bit of an alrounder - so I love my hunting and to have some fun in the summer. I do BSJA and BE, but if Badger ever didn't want to go in the ring... I wouldn't make him.. I think I would take the hint!! Although then I know Badger is avery good boy and wouldn't do that just to take the piss, as I suspect some horses do...

 

[Skhosu]

well then why not not worry about those people and enjoy your own willing horse, they obviously have their reasons for riding these horses in these classes...

 

[PapaFrita]

Some horses are just nappy because they're young/inexperienced... I suppose the nack is in working out WHY the horse in question is being naughty.
Actually, Antifaz used to be something of a sh:t - I believe as a result of being brought on too fast and too aggressively... he's now a fantastic SJer. If I'd given up on him (and I was VERY tempted at one point) who knows where he'd be now...

 

[PeanutButterDragon]

I agree FlowerLady and couldn't have put it better myself

 

[roxbox]

A lot of horses dont know how to react on their own without their fellow herd members. This is why independence is so important. Owners often dont school or hack out on their own which is why the horse feels the need to go back to others in any different situtation for the feeling of security. You have to put horses in different situations and let them take in the sights and sounds before expecting them to go into a scarey show ring. Its a shame owners dont understand this and just expect them to be machines.

 

[SAMgirl]

Agree with PapaF - what about young or inexperienced horses? I am taking my baby out next week, and I am expecting him to try and nap towards the other horses - although this is a bit naughty - he is only rising 4 and it is just his inexperience (and therefore lack of confidence) but IMO (and I know this horse/his nature) it will do him the world of good to go into the situation and (hopefully) help him to mature mentally.

I can't just never ask the questions of him and then one day expect him just to wake up and say "today is the first day of the rest of my life, I will not show interest and intrigue into those around me, nothing will eat me so I shall not spook, I shall be in total control of myself, my actions and my natural instincts no matter how strong shall be overridden by my desire to perform and please my rider"... could happen, hope it does by saturday but doubt it will!! Some horses will go out and never bat an eyelid, other horses will need more time, but without giving them the experience and asking the questions, how can they learn?

I think it is too easy to judge from the floor, but you don't know the horse like it's rider. If you have a spooky SJ it can nap - this is not because it is has a bad attitude or doesn't enjoy jumping - it may just be spooky by nature - therefore can be liable to react that way to a SJ, a dressage board, a bird in a hedge, something on a pleasure ride - so what do you do with this horse, nothing? Only ride in a paddock or area it has seen a million times?!
Sometimes horses can have their talent abused and make them give up/go sour - isn't it better to retrain a horse correctly than to avoid a particular discipline completely? For the horses mind if not anything else?
There is people that push horses with the wrong attitude, and no it isn't nice, but sooner or later the horse will out.
I think you have to have faith that there are people out there that do love their horses, and know if they are capable (mentally and physically) of the job they are being asked to do. The riders can have great faith in these horses so will make allowences for inappropriate behaviour (such as napping), although from the ground it is easy to say, "obviously doesn't like jumping, do something else".

 

[SAMgirl]

[ QUOTE ]
A lot of horses dont know how to react on their own without their fellow herd members. This is why independence is so important. Owners often dont school or hack out on their own which is why the horse feels the need to go back to others in any different situtation for the feeling of security. You have to put horses in different situations and let them take in the sights and sounds before expecting them to go into a scarey show ring. Its a shame owners dont understand this and just expect them to be machines.

[/ QUOTE ]
I kind of agree with you, but what about in my situation, my horse schools on his own and with others, he hacks on his own and with others, but do you not think a show environment is different again?! Hence, I expect he will try and nap to the other horses. Without taking him to some low key - low pressure shows how do you acclimatise a baby to THAT situation? Surely giving him the experience will help him learn?

 

[stencilface]

I tried to make a horse who would nap do BSJA for me, and he would have none of it! Would also nap at the start of xc, even though he enjoyed it really once we got going. But then we had good years and bad years, sometimes he was ace, other times a total git. Although, I never enjoyed the rearing up in the horse box park.....

He would hack fine by himself, but just hated the atmosphere of competition I think. After I sold him to someone completely unsuitable, he has I'm told ended up in a hunting home, where I hope he is finally happy, as thats all he ever wanted to do in the first place.

However, I think sometimes as PF says you just want to see if you can work through it, sometimes its successful, and sometimes its not. If my horse had had a stronger (and likely male) rider he would have been fine, I just wasn't good enough

 

[louise4208]

A few years ago I owned a very nappy mare. I tryed all of the above mentioned over quite a long period of time, I worked in a riding school/livery yard at the time and so had lots of guidance on schooling and building up her confidence. I persevered for ages and she only got worse - to the point where she was rearing and falling over backwards on top of me.
Somehow, I managed to trade her in with a local horse dealer, 2 years later I came across her in another yard and she was 'working' as a riding school horse. I watched her during a group lesson and she was the best behaved horse there!
the mare was 12 by this time, and the owner said as long as she was with a group lesson in an arena she was an angel, but they wouldn't let novices hack her out.
Just like you say, different jobs for different horses.

 

[flowerlady]

I don't think Starbucks meant you shouldn't take a young horse for experience although I would hope you would only take him to be in the atmosphere first and walk round where all the other horses are at local shows. Only when you can then assess how they behave should you enter any of the comps. Unmanagable horses upset others which if bucking, rearing and trying to run out of the ring with some poor rider trying to stop it is very worrying. By all means take these young horses/ponies to shows but take it one step at a time, treat it as you would a schooling session! Don't expect them to unload and enter the showring when they are not used to this environment. It's not fair on the other competitors. I also agree with Starbucks alot of horses are not cut out for certain disiplines. But as long as they are behaved then have a go if not try something else.

 

[saskia295]

Were any of them by Jumbo?!!! I know a few of Jumbo's offsspring that have been nappy little sods going into the ring. Think that's just the stubbornness in the bloodline, just jesus can they jump!

 

[Booboos]

I completely agree with flowerlady. Horses have to learn and be exposed to new situations, but riders have to be reasonable. A young horse should learn to travel first and perhaps go for a little wander at a different yard and a lesson where an instructor can help, then maybe try a group lesson with others who have sensible horses, then try walking around at a show and if all goes well then try competing. It's quite a tall order for a young horse to simply turn up at a show, unload and go do a class!

 

[Starbucks]

I agree with you all about the babies.

My dads horse is a little bit nappy and it is total babyness.. I know he will grow our of it with time though.

These horses didn't look like babies though - far from it!!

I don't think I could persevere that long... but then I am a bit pathetic with things like that.

S&H - not sure what your problem is mate - only a discussion.

 

[Helga1980]

It's a fine line for me as I think a lot of nappiness can be p*ss taking.

A friends horse naps when the mood takes him, if she stopped all activities he appeared to dislike, then he'd basically end up a field ornament - a very happy one but do we really own horses just to look at them in a field?

I agree that it's pointless making horses do something they really hate, but I'm not sure if napping is a truly accurate indication they are unhappy.

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

I used to loan a 3yr old that used to be very very naughty in the warm up arena(bucking, rearing, spinning ect.) but once she got into the ring she was very good, i think it was the excitement of the busy warm up arena and other horses jumping, even though the yard she was kept at was a very busy one it just isnt the same thing. She did like SJ she just didnt have the confidence in the warm up arena(she was only doing really small classes BTW)

 

[arwenplusone]

I have a very nappy mare who can be horrible sometimes but she does actually *want* to jump & enjoys it when she's going round. Sometimes napping can vbe because the horse wants to go forward but sort of 'can't' (in their heads) so they nap instead.

I do not think that because a horse is nappy he doesn't enjoy his work. I am sure my mare would be quite happy in an arena following other horses around - doesn't mean that that is the job for her though.
sometimes you have to take nappy horses to events to get them over it & work through it rather than just saying 'he doesn't like his job' & giving him something easier to do....

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

On the other hand, I don't always enjoy poo picking or getting soaked in the rain and mud fetching my horses in.
Do you think if I stood there and played up about doing it then somebody would say I didnt have to do it!

I think there is a fine line between horses that are just not up to a certain job like being brave enough for top level eventing (XC phase) in which case then fine but I think some horses just try it on occasionally. I think there is a difference

 

[FestiveFuzz]

My horse gets seriously over excited when hacked to local shows and often shows off by prancing around and calling to every other horse on the showground in the 1st class of the day. Having previously been ridden to quite a high standard in dressage, she seems to become ultra sensitive to any leg aids which often results in her yielding to one side or another. Whilst this is a complete nuisance at a show, I know the only way to get her fully engaged is to keep at it until she is totally desensitized by the situation. Obviously I may think differently if she behaved in a manner that put herself, myself or anyone else at risk, but at the end of the day I know her over-excitement is down to her thoroughly enjoying the outing, and all the while we put no one at risk, I don't see why I should stop on account of her high spirits (which to someone who doesn't know my mare could be considered as being badly behaved!)