Nappy Horse - result (I think)

Penny Less

Penny Less

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10 March 2009
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After previous posts re horse not going out and various opinions given I thought you might like to know how things are. (Maybe you wont !) Anyway after instructor not being able to get Ned out either ( in fact he was worse than with me ) I decided to set aside this morning to have a sit it out session. Managed to get ned out of back way of yard then about 50 yards on he decided that was enough. Realised we had just left home! There is nothing to scare him out there and more important no traffic or people looking at you as if you are mad. After a hour we had moved two steps forward five back, I had taken a paperback to read and also some rustly papered sweets. No good. Helicopter came over really low and thought that might do something, no good.Anyway after another half hour of no movement, I tried making him stand with his head and neck flexed as we usually dont ride like this and thought he would find it difficult! AFter another half an hour with me asking him to go forward and loosening rein, then taking back contact, he went forward !!!!! We walked through a narrow bit onto another field and although he tried to stop twice more as soon as I brought his head in he walked on.
Anyway we walked round the field and just as we were coming back through the narrow bit a herd of cows put their heads over the fence and he was really scared. I chickened out and got off as there is a pond just beside and also a slope to go down. Im worried now that I have undone all my mornings work. I just hope it will work again for me. Sorry for long post, but was quite chuffed and now worn out and dying for a wee!
 
Well Done you. I think you have done absolutley the right thing. Don't be worried about thinking you have undone your hard work, you won't have, but don't be suprised if he does the same thing next time too, he will just be testing you out. I would leave yourself with as much time the next time and at least another few times after that and expect to go through the same problem, but he will get better you will find the lenth of time you wait for him to move forward will slowly reduce.
 
Well done. Sounds like you found what works for your horse. As said above don't worry about getting off just take him out next time and do egsactly the same as you did today. He'll get there in the end it's just a battle of wills. (trust me I know) you just need to be more stubborn than he is LOL. Keep up the good work. :D :D :D :D
 
Very well done you and you did right to get off when a serious problem happened. Your safe to try again another day because of that.

More practise required it may take a month or longer but definitley on the right path.
 
I spent 2 hrs just sitting it out on a hack once with my old horse at a notorious ditch , dont know how horses reason but he never ever even hesitated after that - it was the best 2 hrs work I ever did!
 
Sounds really good. I love that you took a book! Sounds like exactly the right attitude for the horse! You'll probably have to sit it out a bit more but great positive start! :)
 
I am not looking forward to doing it again. I got very sunburnt this morning. I hope Im not going to have to do it at every place hes refused to move! Other yard people said theyd get rid of him. Lifes too short. Unfortunately Ive fallen for him a bit hes really rather a sweetie apart from this
 
I'm going against the usual grain here, but if you get off and the horse still has to go past whatever he stopped at you havn't lost the battle, maybe a lateral victory, because I really think that when napping the horse is saying he doesn't want to go past something (or just doesn't want to go forward), not that he doesn't want to pass whatever with you on board. If you ever get stuck on the road you don't always have the option of sitting it out because drivers are impatient enough on the whole without having to wait until the horse has finished his tantrum!
 
Take each day as it comes, sometimes it one step forward 10 steps back. but the satisfaction of your horse going and doing what you want, after umpteen people said sell. Bliss:):):):)
 
mainpower said:
I'm going against the usual grain here, but if you get off and the horse still has to go past whatever he stopped at you havn't lost the battle, maybe a lateral victory, because I really think that when napping the horse is saying he doesn't want to go past something (or just doesn't want to go forward), not that he doesn't want to pass whatever with you on board. If you ever get stuck on the road you don't always have the option of sitting it out because drivers are impatient enough on the whole without having to wait until the horse has finished his tantrum!
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I get off Herbie everytime he naps. I often get told i shouldn't but it works with him and if i wait him out he just starts bucking, rearing and leaping so it's much safer to get off and lead him. I have gone from having to lead him 90% of the ride to being sat on him 99% of the ride. Some days i don't have to get off at all. You just have to do what is right for your horse and in the situation. You know your horse better than anyone.
 
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