nappy horse

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lizzie87

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ok...problem is

i have to partly ride a 3yr old (almost 4) for a friend. this horse is ver nappy. we always lunge before we get on him, he goes perfectly well on the lunge, yet you get on and he won't move. he will stand there, you can squeeze/kick him and he will ignore you, threaten to rear and if you push it he will rear (not just a little one, vertical). if you tap him with the whip the same happens.

We have tried everything, bribing with sweets, and he goes while they are there, then stops as soon as they go. if yuo put him on the lunge he will go on the lunge then once he realises he is off will stop. same with leading, get him to go then stops when person leaves. He will also follow another horse perfectly, then will not leave it, if you try and make him he will stop and rear! He holds you to ransom!

There has been someone else out to ride him who was not bothered by the rearing, and did get very tough with him, which made no difference. sometimes he will not move for 5 mins, sometimes 20 mins, sometimes will not go at all without a lead.

The thing is once he is into a canter he is 99% of the time fine, adn will then work nicely.

so the question is how do you work through this? this has been happening for 6 months now, and has not improved at all. any tips?
Thanks!
 
Personally I would get a expert in or send him away for proffessional training in spring next year and back of him this year.Sounds like he has been overfaced hes still a baby and needs time to mature mentally.
At his age turning him away for winter could be the best thing.
 
if it was up to me i would turn him away (or get rid) but this is not an option as unfortunatly the owner wants him ridden! however, he does only do about 2 days a week, doesnt seem to make any difference if he gets more/less riding.

forgot to say there is nothing physically wrong with him
 
he is physically fine (all checked). also he manages to walk on when asked if he is asked to walk into yard out of the arena, however, into the arena no chance. if he is heading in gate direction he will walk off when asked, walk to enterance adn stop!
 
If everything has been checked then I would think it s maturity problem.Sounds like he doesnt understand instruction .I think these things are too important to be left to novice rider(big assumption sorry) but the horse sounds very confused.I wouldnt expect horse that age to be ridden out without companion hes too young.
Owner needs some proffessional advice.Will she not take any advice.
Ive had two rearers both came to me that way and it takes long time and lots of patience and trust to get them over it .Schooling has really helped both of them but hes too young in my opinion and it will get worse without right attention.Hes telling her hes not ready.
 
You've said he goes on the lunge with a rider with no problems - will he keep going once the lunge line is off at all? If he will, you could try a sort of intensive rewards system - lunge with the rider so he gets the exercise, then take lunge off and walk a couple of steps then immediately get off and give him a big pat and stop for the day. That way it's not his decision to stop, and you give him a huge reward for doing exactly what you want him to do. If it works, build up so you gradually do a little more each time the lunge comes off but try never to get to the point that he decides to stop - make sure it's always you. The theory is that he learns to work for the reward of stopping. If he does stop and get nappy again, just sit through it until he decides to move himself, and as soon as he moves voluntarily, again get off and stop for the day so you reward the behaviour you want. If you make him work hard after he's decided to move off, he just learns that moving is a bad idea and he will fight to stay still longer the next time.
 
will try again on the turning away issue, thanks. He is schooled more than half of the time by a psg dressage rider, and i myself ride to ele/medium level, so he hasnt been left to novices. he has only just started hacking, and doesnt hack alone, but obviously has to school alone, he catn spend his life following someone around!

if he wont be turned out, i think im going to try to get him out hacking as much as poss for variety, how about some sponsered rides?
 
that maybe an idea, we have tried to 'trick him' ie ride him whilst being lunged, then the rider unclipping the lunge line whilst trotting along, he will then continue whislt he thinks he is still being lunged, however as soon as you try to take him off the circle, or the 'lunger' moves...emergency stop!

when he does go almost straight off we dont do more than 15 mins work with him, so dotn make him work hard.

will give that 'stop before he wants to stop' idea a try, thanks!
 
The hacking sounds like good idea.I had tb at 4 1/2 and although he was good out on roads mentally he wasnt ready for schooling.My instructor told me to hack him out for 6 months build him up chill him out( he had come off race track).The hacking out in company cured his rearing problem .If overfaced he turned nappy, it gave him confidence walking out in company .He used to babysit youngsters at 6 .He had been worked too hard in his early years.
Does sound like its company he needs .Try and persuade friend to give him some time off .
 
with the hacking what did you do? he has been out twice with another person, and once with me, that is all. did you just let him follow the other horse entirely? or make him lead for a bit towards home?
 
To start with we followed when going out then after few weeks he led on way home that way he didnt feel need to nap.Just built it up gradually until he led on way out or went side by side didnt take to long and we were hacking on our own.Sde by side is good option if you are on roads for safety.
 
Keep us updated.I have made huge progress with new mare last few months ,she had never hacked on her own and didnt school only jumped .Shes pretty much a good allrounder now.Its a challenge but very rewarding.She has improved that much Im taking her on our first outing on friday to jump x my knees will be knocking lol
 
He'a a baby and insecure! If you want to hack him out, go out with another more experienced horse and take the pressure off. Don't expect to much yet or you will create more problems for the future. If you want to hack out on your own, get a friend to walk with you or go on a bike, but make it all fun!
 
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