Nappy Hack to Happy Hack?

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Parkranger

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Just wondering how many of you managed to sort out nappy horses?

My new boy is a sweety but really does let his nerves get the better of him. Went out on my own today and got about 5 mins away when we met up with two horses from the yard. They were ages away when he started his 'nap'. It's not nasty - he turns around (not spin) and shakes a bit. I just sit there calmly talking to him then turn him back to the evil monster he's spooking at!

Today he really was an idiot though and put in a few bunny hops and I figured that if I let him get away with it today, that would be it. We were arguing for a good 5 mins before he gave in and went the way I wanted him to. I really can't let a TB start napping or it would be a nightmare.

So realised quite quickly that he responds to a boot in the ribs and a growling voice - a tap with the whip made it worse! Got past our yard mates and then we had a nap at another horse cantering towards us. Only took one growl and a boot this time so think he'll get better.

Got back to the yard and he started to nap towards his stable, so got dragged to the school for 30 mins

So, my plan for sorting this is:

hacking alone atleast once a week
not to let him win on any occasion
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any other tips? No way i'm letting him win this - I do know that it's 50% nerves and 50% 'he know's best'.....
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and no, I'm not tense on him....I make a conscious effort to remain loose and calm!
 
my pony can be really nappy when he knows its not someone forceful riding, he's thrown 2 kids from the yard off so now has an adult rider back on board, im pregnant and he's young so im not riding him just now.

iv only ever had 2 fights with him in nearly 2 years, as soon as they realise they arent going to win they tend to give up, but he's awful with younger rides if they dont be very strict with him, not the first pony he was bought to be!

everyone has told me i should have kept riding him as its not likely he'd put a foot wrong with 'mum' on top, wasnt worth the risk though!
 
Most youngsters go through this phase, the thing is not to make a big deal of it.

I prefer big spurs to a whip. I occasionally used big heavy weight mexican polo spurs on mine. They are very effective, but kind as they have smooth rowels. I think it was the sheer weight around the ankle that had most effect!
 
definately prefer leg to whip.....he's really not a 'nasty' horse he just gets himself in a tizz. One thing in his defence is that if he spins at something one day, once he's seen it he'll be aware of it the next day but not spook at it.....

I think some of it is my fault as he was doing so well and hasn't been hacked on his own for 2 weeks - gotta keep on top of this if I'm going to sort it!
 
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Have u tried walking him in hand first?

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Nope, I'm too lazy and he's got to get over it and trust me in the saddle
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I guess it's a great way of building our relationship though as he is trusting me more and listening to what I tell him....just never battled like we did tonight....think 4 days off contributed to it!
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When I first had my horse I used to ride out with someone else and they'd go in one direction and we'd go down a different path. Had to get off and drag him the first few times, but he soon got the hang of it and he's never any trouble passing other horses now.
 
I can totally relate. My old pony was a total nightmare out hacking on his own or if you asked him to go infront. At first you'd have to sit there one handed continually growling and beating him with the stick. It sounds cruel but you'd be under a car if you didn't. I used to have to take him on my own up my instructors drive every time i rode to get him used to it. He's better now and we just have to use leg aids and voices, whipping him puts him a step back. So don't give up and react quickly when he does nap. Don't whip him if it doesn't help. I found growling voices to be very useful.
 
My girl used to be a napper on her own so I used to get someone on foot to walk with me. She now hacks out on her own without napping but she always feels a little tense.
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With her I'm pretty sure it was lack of confidence rather than naughtiness
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I think your doing fine. This is what I would do so can't think of anything else. Except maybe take him out twice a week on his own even if one of them is only for a short distance. Good luck with your new boy.
 
My TB has had some issues whilst hacking him out, he stops and spins around.
I have walked him out in hand to find out if it was nappyness or nervousness. (sp?) Then I had someone walk out with him whilst he was ridden and for the past two hacks he has been perfect. I stuck to a hack he enjoyed and built it up which built up his confidence. When I asked about how to deal with his issues people suggested long reining him and having someone walk with him then gradually walk behind him.

Good luck.
 
Sounds exactly like my girl 6 months ago. Hacking by ourselves the whole time, until she could deal with it happily. I know some people say go out with other horses whilst he's being nappy, so he gets confident, but I found she was just worse by ourselves the next day or something. But it's different for each horse. She's absolutely fine by herself now, and will very happily go out each time, albeit for the first five minutes she's a bit slow, till we hit the grass (as you might remember...
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) best of luck, I had such a problem with this but you can nip it in the bud with consistency and patience
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I had 6 months of napping with my tb when he was about 5.Did exactly what you are doing lots of encouragement growling voice occassional whip if he was really bad .Hes brilliant now even after having several months off for injuries.The best thing I ever did was go out on my own he and I built up a really good relationship and confidence grew.He was so bad in the beginning he used to rear and spin but he seems to have grown out of all that now.The worst nap he ever did was having a lesson and he tried to follow the other horse reared and spun to follow and went over backwards with me on him.My instructor taught me a few new swear words that day.He never did it again scared the c**** out of himself.
 
my 6 year old horse was the king of nappers when i got him! i have a TB also who runs off backwards when he's scared but other one is full on bucking and rearing- when i first got him home he used to refuse to go to the right in the school- nearly frightened me to death! however, i stuck with it, not letting him win, even if it took an hour and now he's 95% fine. he still tries it on ocasionally but its very half hearted and he gives up pretty quickly. i found doing lots of making them go in small circles to get them forward off leg if ignoring it etc better than simply whalloping or kicking but then have used that as well (problem is then you risk the broncing!! he he) as long as you remain positive that HE WILL NOT WIN you'll get there sooner or later- don't despair!
 
Yes! My lad was terrible and would try to nap at every road junction and had major strop attacks too. It has taken hard work, guts and perserverance to sort it out but we did it! You have to find what works best for each horse to deter them from their actions without making the situation worse. If you used a crop on my lad he would get worse with you so I learnt to stay very calm and circle him tightly several times and then ask for forward again. He soon got the message and the napping got less and less. He is a fantastic little hack now and great in the heaviest of traffic too!
 
Well, my mare used/does it. Not going away from home but everytime there's a turning with an option for going home quicker, she'd do a half rear, spin round and try to take off home, only way I could stop was turning her into a hedge or fence as if I put pressure on the reins she started fly bucking and leaping.

I decided it was getting dangerous, so I gave it some thought and started walking her out inhand. First she did it in hand too, but gradually stopped. Then I started riding her, and she kept on doing it, not as badly, but still a bit. At this point I decided she was taking the micky, and next time i took my stick and gave her a pretty sharp smack when she napped, and since then she hasn't done it since. (I don't usually carry a stick on her so I think it caught her by surprise).

I still take care to pay attention at junctions and not just sit there like a lemon, I'm ready for it so I can spin her round asap to stop her legging it.
 
Tyler, although by no manner of means a bad hacker, had his moments which tested me.

Refused to go through water and would go so far from our yard before spinning round and trying to go home.

We managed to work through this by having a horse go so far ahead of him and gradually increased this distance each hack.

I agree with the 'prefer leg to whip' comments. I think that the sight then use of a whip can get a hrose more wound up and cause further issues.

I used to carry a couple of carrots out with me and would occasionally give him a carrot by dropping it on the ground or if I was feeling very brave lean over and get him to grap it (like carrot stretches on horseback lol)
 
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Tbh, thats not often a good option, I had to lead my horse a short way down the road last night and my life flashed before me several times. Somebody who is competant should always be on board, its much safer.

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I agree about staying on board but sometimes, depending on the horse, they can feel safer with you on the ground and in Oscars case that's certainly true - I had to get off yesterday and walk him away from the others then get back on!

thanks for all the feedback guys - I know we'll get through this, but he just needs to stop being such a big baby.

also changed his bit to a french link with the cheek bits so he can't slide the bit through his mouth and evade me!
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