Nappy behaviour - help!!

[Hollyhorse]

Sorry to post about this again but the problem seems to be getting worse with my horse. Quick summary - my horse is really nappy and resents going forward but only when you want him to. He'll be going quite sweetly, not REALLY forward but moving nicely then suddenly will halt. He then just stands there like a rock! I've tried sitting there and waiting for him to walk on, I've cried just clicking at him, I've tried squeezing him, kicking him, smacking him on the shoulder, smacking him on the bum - no gd. If you smack him on the shoulder he rears and still doesn't move, if you smack him on the bum he bucks and still doesn't move. If you try any of the other methods he'll just stand there. I've tried trying to 'fool' him by trying to turn him to the side to get him moving but he just does a lovely pirouette! Once you manage to get him up to canter you can then really push him on and he stops napping and actually starts to really move! I now have no idea what to do. I've had help from instructors who are at a bit of a loss. The problem is also on hacks - the only way to get him moving is to get another horse to walk in front of him. Lunging him before also doesn't seem to help. Am thinking of trying being lunged on him so he has someone in the middle with a lunge whip to threaten if necessary...
Any tips?! Please I need your help!

 

[buddly]

do you go hunting? this sometimes helps nappy horses i used to ride one that wouldn't even follow another horse and one minute would be fine then next would decide not going any further

and like yours would rear go backwards etc but then would eventually move on. he went hunting and got much better though u would still have the odd argument but not much good luck

edited to say also got followed round school with luce whip did help but u might need to hold on!!!! how old is your horse?

 

[_jetset_]

When he stops I would open your inside hand and turn him immediately so he has to move his feet and as soon as he does, then give to him for a second. Long term though, I would say do lots of transitions to get him off your leg as soon as you touch his side which will make him 'sharper' off the leg.


Sorry, ETS just seen that you turn him already. In that case, as soon as you feel him start to stop (it will be a real split moment thing), do something different. Whether that be to turn him and ask for walk, or push him into trot.

 

[H's mum]

Are you 100% sure that he's sound?
A lot of horses with this kind of behaviour have some form of low grade lameness which causes them pain - the horse may be trying to tell you something?
Kate x

 

[Troggy]

My pony naps, always has done and always will! Have tried many things over the years as she learns to avoid them so I have to rotate! At the moment, when she slams on the brakes, I turn her round and rein back for 6-10 steps, then turn round quickly and trot on! In the past I have also got off and lead forward for a few steps before getting on again and kicking on straight in to trot. When I put my leg on after she has stopped she just backs up regardless of what is behind her, including ditches! Another trick that works is if there is a gateway for example that they use as an excuse to nap, I carry a long stick and tuck it under little finger so it sticks forward, just in their line of vision, then she won't stop there! Again it doesn't always work but I am still trying different things! I have tried nicely nicely and also not so nice(

) but at the end of the day she is a mare and just needs out witting! I occasionally hack with others (keep her at home so not always possible) which helps and also have been hunting but only once this season as ground has been too wet or pony has been broken! Just keep them going forward, at one point I didn’t do any walking on hacks, as once she was trotting, we were usually ok, but this has since changed! Just keep an eye on their ears etc, I use that as an indicator of when a stopping is coming!
Hope some of these may help, just remember NEVER EVER GIVE IN! Not even once! This is how Toff's problems started iwth a previous owner, she wanted to hack, Toff said no, Toff got put back in field!!!!

Also have you had everything checked lately eg saddle/teeth etc? I know some ponies, like mine, will always do it but worth checking. Toff has recently been diagnosed with Idiopathic headshaking/Neuralgia so always worth considering there may be a reason behind their behavior.

 

[kateknights]

I had the exact same thing with my horse in the summer, when i first had her, she would just halt and no matter what I did she wouldn't move, in the end I sat at the end of the lane for 50 minutes, until she gave in, from then onwards she has been so much better, It sounds like you need to do the same. I know how you feel it's sooooo frustrating, but just try and keep your cool and no matter how long it takes just sit there and aks him every couple of minutes to move on, if he wont then leave it and try again after another couple of minutes and again, basically until he gets bored. Some people may not agree with me but it has worked for my girl and she never does it now.
Good luck, hope this helps
Keep us posted
Kate x

 

[Hollyhorse]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you 100% sure that he's sound?
A lot of horses with this kind of behaviour have some form of low grade lameness which causes them pain - the horse may be trying to tell you something?
Kate x

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I'm sure he's sound, had him vetted when I bought him a few weeks ago.

 

[Hollyhorse]

In answer to a few questions:

He's 4, rising 5.

Like the idea of hunting - will investigate!

I've had his teeth done, chiro out to check his back, saddle fitted. No real problems found anywhere!

I must say - kate1 - I am tempted to just let him stand there! Saves the confrontation. But I am worried that he's then getting away with it and only moving on on his own terms which in the longterm won't help...but to be honest the more I get on at him the worse it gets in the respect that he starts bucking/rearing but of course I usually can use that momentum to get him moving! eventually anyway...

Troggy - today on the hack he did actually shake his ears a few times...I thought it was because I was kicking him...?? He's never done it before, it just seemed like head tossing because he wanted to get his own way...

Thanks for all the feedback

 

[spooks]

i had a horse that used to do this in between spooking at grass and legging it back the way we had come etc etc...my friend took her out to see what she was doing and she planted at a junction of all places!, luckily its a quiet country lane and wide enough for any cars that should happen along the road to get passed..anyway my friend sat at said junction for approx 20 mins until the horse decided she had had enough now and would move....WRONG...my friend made her stand there another 20 minutes until she was ready to move off! dont know if it cured her as i sold her on shortly afterwards..might be worth a try though...im not suggesting you make him stand still for as long as he has made you wait though, even 5 minutes once he has decided to move off,at least he wont win as he will be allowed to move off on your terms.

 

[Hollyhorse]

That's a great idea! Makes sense as means there's no confrontation but he's NOT winning - perfect plan! Worth a try anyway. Trying another hack in company tomorrow then will give it a go on monday when there's fewer ppl around to cause probs. Shall maybe take my ipod so if he stops and stands for 1/2 an hr I won't get bored?! Will let you know what happens.
Any other ideas welcome

 

[SpruceRI]

Hate to say it but maybe it's his age?? Maybe he just feels really insecure going out on his own all the time and would benefit from company - though not necessarily giving him a lead.

Can someone go out with you on a bicycle if another horse and rider not available?

I've had a horse exactly the same as yours sounds, and did pretty much what the people above have done. Initially did the walking him in tight circles routine and not letting him stand still for a minute, even if that meant dragging his head to one side and leaning over violently to put him off balance. Wouldn't do that with a youngster though.

3 months of that plus of making him walk 1/4 mile backwards, and he never napped on the road again, though he did a little with going into the rings at shows etc.

Would've loved to have taken him hunting, but didn't have the transport available. Sure it would've made him more forward thinking as he'd hated being left behind in company.

 

[Hollyhorse]

Actually he's never out on his own! Always in company! Plus he does it in the school as well - anywhere. It's definitely naughty nappy behaviour rather than a green baby.

Will try the circles method to see if that helps at all - will be gentle tho, as you say he's still young.

I'm going to investigate hunting, my only worry is to mess up his beautifully clean legs and give him splints cos he's still a baby..

 

[Hollyhorse]

Okay - update! FYI - going to try the 'letting him stand then making him stand for longer when he moves off' method tomorrow in the school.
When on a hack with a friend today he was even worse than yesterday - wouldn't even go beside the other horse - only happy if completely behind. Really annoyed me so I put both reins into one hand, held my whip upside down, then, while holding his head up so he couldnt buck, I just kept hitting him. This did help because he then stopped stopping and trotted forward so got in front and then as long as I kept hitting him every stride he stayed there! Sounds harsh I know but at least I got him forward.
Then after a bit we had to stop for some traffic on a narrow lane and he got in behind and wouldn't go beside/in front again. By this time I was shattered so just gave him a loose rein and kicked him forward with a few smacks - he walked forward! And for the rest of the hack (about 25mins) he walked beside and infront, taking the lead, not one seconds hesitation, like a normal horse, didn't stop of spook or slow down at all - he was walking really forward I had no leg on at all!! My friend had to keep trotting to keep up! Then at the end she turned away from us and walked in the opposite direction to her stable and we turned the other way to our stable and he didn't even bat an eyelid! I didn't even realise til later!
Anyway I think maybe he just gave up? Hopefully it's the breakthrough I've been waiting for...who knows. But will see what happens when I ride him tomorrow.