Nappy horse not improving

Penny Less

Penny Less

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10 March 2009
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Spent a good half hour sitting on planted horse both of us covered horseflies,in searing heat. Was only going for a short pootle as it was so hot but nag not been out for a week due to heat. Anyway he decided he wasnt going, so eventually I got off and led him
on then we had a lovely trundle through the woods and home, although spooking but at least moving ! I do love him as hes a real sweet natured type apart from this but beginning to get really disheartened now. This is two months now and he still hasnt got the message. Do I carry on or sell him on to someone where he can have company every time he hacks out. Dont know, pointless post really, just whingeing !!
 
I normally find that it takes about 2 years of almost daily riding (several hours per day) to sort out a horse so that it is good when hacking out by itself and in all situations. There are some horses that will never be good but to find out one just has to invest the time and see what happens.
 
Can you turn him and reverse him in the direction you want to go - then turn him the correct way round and ride forwards again? This is what I have to do with my pony (who I may add I have had 16 years!) when he for some reaso n decides he doesn't fancy going forward past something scary! I always make sure I 'win'!!! :-)
 
You don't need to sell him!

If you are using one method and nothing is being improved change tact. Do something else.

Besides, I think you would be surprised the amount of poeple who a) cannot hack alone and b) don't have any problems with hacking alone. It's not an easy task for anyone.

x
 
I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble. When i first bought one of my horses she refused to hack alone - would get to the bottom of the drive with much spooking then plant - if i put any leg pressure on she would go backwards. I tried a few times but gave up - it was no big deal to me anyway as i dont like hacking alone. 3 years later - after hacking with others - last week i had a bit of a brain storm and thought i would give it a try again. Went out for 20 mins with no problem at all!!!
So my advise has to be - hack with others for however long you think is suitable (if you can) then give it another try!!
 
My baby horse has been napping too. I've managed to cure the planting and we've moved on to something else ( but that's another story).

To cure the planting, I used a wip-***... 36 inches of rope, with a loop for my wrist to go through (so it's doubled up). I put my reins in one hand and when he ignores my leg he gets 1, 2, 3 slaps left, right, left and this makes him take off quickly and start trotting. I let him trot on until I'm ready (if not he gets another slap) and then we come back to walk. We keep repeating this until he goes forward from the leg; now he's got the hang of it, I usually need it just once at the beginning of the ride and therafter he's great.

This works for me because the horse doesn't get hysterical or take-off when I do this. I don't beat him with it but it does slap, make a noise and fly though the air on either side of him.

You have to start this in the school or somewhere safe until you're confident that he won't over-react to it. Do it as early as possible on the hack and somewhere safe to go forward for at least 10 or 20 strides. Be prepared for him to rush forward in response (this is good) and don't stop him too quickly. Be prepared to repeat it until he gets the message. If it works for you keep doing it /carrying it every hack until you've forgotten why you carry the rope.
 
Have you only had your horse for two months?

If so, please don't sell. I have had my mare for 3 months and we have just started to hack around the farm alone - she can still see the other horses! She will go out into the village with another horse but not by herself yet.

I am v impatient and want more than anything to be able to hop on and hack through the woods etc but I have to be patient. It WILL happen. And it will for you too, I am sure.
 
I had this last night, had new horse approx 1 month, he just kept turning round, head in the air, planting himself - the flies are the problem I think, but he was coated in fly spray, so really dissheartened. I'm not that confident, so not sure just how far to ask him with a whip and kicking and saying no to him before he has a hissy fit and throws me off - not that he has shown a tendancy for rearing or bucking, but I am just cautious as he is new. Anyway - he won, I took him in the school instead and made him work, he was still throwing his head a bit, but I felt safer. :( I just feel bad that he won, and that this is going to get worse. My partner who rides him has no issues and he thinks he is taking the mick out of me, and thinks he should still do as I ask flies or no flies.
 
Why don't you invest in a couple of lessons with a good local instructor? It might just give you the confidence you need to be a bit more forceful/effective.
Don't give up yet!
 
Im with OWLIE on this one, my horse was horrendously nappy. Would turn on a six-pence and bolt for home (thats if we could even get out the gate). It has taken 2 years to get him to hack alone comfortably. Theres lots of different things you can try, in-hand is a good one, getting someone to walk and cycle with u is another. I would personally give it more time. The more he trusts you the better it will get.
 
ladyt25 said:
Can you turn him and reverse him in the direction you want to go - then turn him the correct way round and ride forwards again? This is what I have to do with my pony (who I may add I have had 16 years!) when he for some reaso n decides he doesn't fancy going forward past something scary! I always make sure I 'win'!!! :-)
Click to expand...

I sympathise as it really is a nightmare and can just put you off as you feel so useless.. With my nappy TB I reverse him past the offending object.. then spin him round and push him forwards which seems to work for him. I got off once (before discovering this) and found as soon as I'd mounted and he stepped forward he found something else to nap at.. stupid horse...
 
Oh we have numerous things to nap at ! Just too hot and sticky and tired to work on him at the mo, it been over 80 here for the last week !
 
Can i give some advice have you had the horses BACK checked ? My boy such a lovely horse started bucking really out of character and was getting worse , luckily someone very experianced told me to get off , checked his back and found the points were it hurt and he had napped going in to school planted both feet firm i treally had noticed a difference in past two three weeks and thought he was being naughty , horses cant speak ,but try to tell us and i missed the signs - i do now !Good luck
 
Dealing with napping takes confidence.
Put on a body armour and carry a whip
Give him a hard smack behind the girth evey time he stops,pref when you feel him slowing
If this doesnt work and loves to reverse,be brave and let him reverse into something solid like a tree/hedge but sit up incase he leaps forward
Spurs are also useful in these situs
The spooking will stop eventually
Ive recently taught a lady how to deal with a knapping pony,and told her not to get on unless shes 110% willing to ride positive-it worked
Good luck :)
 
My horse is a complete wuss, he hates being alone and he hyperventilates. To get him to the school alone I have to kick and cajole and go in trot (one hand firmly twisted around some mane and stuck on his neck). I don't hack him alone, he finds it way too traumatic. If he was taking the mick and just planting but OK then I would beat him, but he is seriously traumatised by it, he is completely tense and it is really not fair on him. Even out hacking with others he goes from canter to halt at the sway of a petal :) Luckily I bought him to SJ and he is good at his job, he certainly isn't a happy hacker!
 
Dont sell yet! I have had my mare for nearly 2years and am only starting to hack on my own round the farm. She used to be a nightmare, but now hacks happily out with others and starting by ourselves. Have you tried long reining? This helped my confidence a lot because I was on the ground if she does anything silly I am more confident to put it right than if I was on her (she used to buck, spin etc). Once you have done it when long reining then try riding again.
Good luck!
 
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