Nappy horse 10 days on

Penny Less

Penny Less

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10 March 2009
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Im still spending time sitting on my horse with his head and neck flexed trying to get him to move forward (previous posts) From spending 2 hours sitting on him, then a half hour session I thought I was getting somewhere (we have been walking out in hand as well)
Today, I walked him down past scary village, got on went forward about 100 yards then brakes went on, 10 min stop this time - yeah getting somewhere, then another few hundred yards a half hour stop which would have been longer except a motorbike came past and horse got really wound up so I got off, and he went forward when I got on again.
Remainder of ride not too bad (took hour and half for 40 min hack). I feel quite disheartened today, as I only hack about and this is really getting me down and there is no enjoyment. Do most horses get over this refusing and nappiness if you persevere ?
I still cant fathom why hes suddenly decided not to go out on his own. Im going to keep on trying but I would like to feel there is light at the end of the tunnel!
 
My newest pony Horrid Herbie used to be the king of napping. I used to have to lead him about 90% of a hack and it would take about 2 1/2 hrs to do a ride it would take Lucy 45mins to do. He is getting better and better everytime we go out. It has taken a while to get him going and he isn't perfect yet but i now RIDE him for 90% of the hack. I no longer feel i have a 12.3hh dog. :p
We have good days and bad days, as is so often with horses esp problem ones it is often one step forwards and two steps back. We'll get there in the end.
Herbie is an extreame napper so I hope you can sort your boy out to. It'll take time and lots of paitants but i'm shore you'll get there. Just remember the good days if your both having a bad one and you'll see the light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck :)
 
I think I remember a previou post where you said he was fine to start with and had got worse? (ear twist?)

Sounds like you are getting there albeit slowly. Can you not hack out in company at all? At least to make it enjoyable for you both some of the times?
 
Yes thats the one!. I managed to get out with someone two days ago, but that was exception. They are not available when I am mostly, also they dont really hack at all.
He was fine with another horse. It is a confidence thing crossed with stubbornes, as I said he has been hacking out alone for several months, although hes not a fan, but he knows all the rides now. Today he was not scared we were down a very quiet country lane (except for the motorbike) . I am having to take very deep breaths to stop myself getting angry, but have been just sitting and holding his head in till he gets fed up. Cant believe hes so stubborn. Not just a going out the gate thing this was halfway round a short ride facing home !! I was pondering on moving to a yard where people do hack out, but no guarantee that they will want to come out with me ! Also i am on DIY and most yards hereabouts are full livery. I also have another retired ned so it would mean two of them on full livery which is not possible financially. Hopefully in about a months time this will all behind me ! Otherwise I will have to try and find a riding school that might take him, they mostly dont go out alone. Hes such a sweetie otherwise, this is the only real downside to him.
 
You could advertise locally for someone to hack out with? At our yard people are always hacking out, and if I wanted company there would be someone most days after work especially at this time of year. We are DIY though which helps.

Such a shame, I hope you can getit sorted.
 
I think this horse is actually testing YOU.

Well done for not getting angry, it won't help, I know it's damn frustrating but you keep the upper hand by staying cool. Don't let him provoke at any cost. Also don't get off if you can possibly help it.

If you need to put the pressure on then voice, voice and leg, followed by voice and one sharp tap. Even if you can get one step at a time that's great.

I promise you , you are going to get there, and when you do he will have so much respect for you it will be fab.

PM me any time if you need more cheerleading xxx
 
Brandy said:
You could advertise locally for someone to hack out with?
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fab idea. put ads everywhere. where are you? someone on here might be local and could maybe meet you up the road. perhaps he'll go forward if he thinks he's going to meet a friend. you could start off with them in sight, so he goes forward to meet them. and then gradually get them to meet you further and further away...

xx
 
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Mine was quite a nappy bugger on hacks alone, rearing, spinning, walking backwards etc But he has actually got alot better over the past couple of weeks. I took mi boy on a hack yesterday, with my sister walking with us and he stopped a couple of times but setteled after about 40mins, he hacked for 1h40mins but i alone can only get him 15mins down the road before he starts stopping. So maybe you could ask a friend to walk with you. But mine does it out of stubborn-ness not spookiness lol

Also got some good tips off here a while ago .. now if he starts napping i just sit and wait until he gets bored od standing and wants to go forwards ... and transitions from walk to halt helped to
 
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Its all a bit of a chore at the mo instead of thinking Ill just pootle out once or twice a week when I feel like it Ive been having to make myself go out and work every day. If I lose weight through this because Im not at home eating I will be ecstatic!
 
Make yourself go out every day regardless even if it's only for 20 mins. If you don't....your napping;). No seriously, the more you do it, the easier it'll be to keep doing it and the more confident your pony will be in you, after all it's all just about practice.

Good luck!
 
Persephone said:
Lol, mine spins 180 degrees easier on the buckle!
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mine will happily walk forwards on the buckle but if i go into trot and shorten mi reins he stops dead and refuses to go anywere but backwards! (hes learnt that rearing and spinning dont work anymore) I really shouldnt have tought him rein back lol ... does still nap though but hes defo much easier to get going like this ... but every horse is different i supose :)
 
Hi Jhoward, as previously posted the only way I have been able to get him moving forward is when he plants himself I flex his head and neck in and keep asking him to walk on while loosening rein, if he doesnt respond immediately I take rein back. This has been the only thing to get him walking forward. He gets fed up standing still not being able to turn his head or stick his nose out although it takes time - but everything else failed. It takes him a while to realise that if he walks on he gets to relax his neck, but progress definitely has been made. Might not be pc but its his choice basically!
 
AM, I am by no meens getting at you here.

In my experiance of nappy/planting horses, holding there heads in is in some way restricting them going forwards. reining back again is not getting a nappy horse going forward. I understand that your saying he is giving in, but then its clearly not working as your still weeks later having the same problem.

AM, break this issue down with your horse, ear twisting, poking with keys etc, ok so not things that i would personally do, but then many may not take my approach of a water gun up the jacksie.

give up for the moment getting on him and trying to hack out, go out tacked up, give him a few hand fulls of grass from the hedges on route then as your a few hundred yards from home hop on loose rein and wander home. and build the distance up.

I will agree that i think this hors eis taking the p out of you, which alone is annoying/fustrating but i think you have got to the point where it has to change.

if he is suddenly insecure about going out, then make it fun for him. do the ground work and basically treat him like a baby thats just starting to hack alone.
 
I didnt say I did rein back, I said I took the rein back, meaning contact ! Also I have not been trying this for weeks 10 days since I first started, have walked out in hand etc. as well in this time. Anyway beginning to think as my mum always said Cant do right for doing wrong ! We'll see what happens

Also re poking with key, cant see the difference personally with using spurs! Dont mean that you had a go at me for that just making an observation!
 
LOL mothers have an annoying habit of being right.

im sure you will get there with him, at least hes not bucking and rearing to avoid going forwards, my apologies if i read about the rein back bit wrong.
 
havnt read the whole thread in detail, but yes you can over come in. mine was a nightmare for a few weeks, then i just had to watch her for the next month or so and then was a saint and still is!!! they just have to get out the habit and generally once you crack it they're great
 
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