Nappy Horses

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pansy

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I know this thread has been discussed many times but I would still like some thoughts please
Our horse is approx 15.2 & is 6 & has a tendency to nap which we are trying to work through - walking out with, waiting, going little ways on his own out with his friends & taking him upfront for a while etc ...
When he naps he has a tendency to kick out if a whip is used, and has also been known to throw in a little buck or rear, I know he is not in pain as all checks have been done he is just extremely stubborn, as I said we ae happy to work through but we would also like to take him to the odd fun ride or clear round etc.. Any suggestions as to how best to do this would appreciated - as I don't particularly want to create a show as he enters the ring on his own - he could be fine but if he's not i dont want everyone tutting if he has a moment - or would you just leave it until he has improved ??
 
i have a similar problem and dont really know the answer! but i do find mine nappiest if taken out with another horse and then separated.
so if you do go to a show, dont take another horse with you, i would suggest. I took a new horse to a show about 4 years ago to discover there that he was extremely nappy, and we created a total spectacle of ourselves rearing at least 50 times. So if it does happen, you wont be the first! I am sure someone will come on here with better advice too :)
 
Napping is usually due to lack of confidence so getting a horse out to new places and enjoying itself can help build up the confidence and may help reduce the nappy behaviour, fun rides are ideal as he can be accompanied all the way, have a fun time and see new things.
The same with a clear round he will warm up with others around, can see new sights and if he is settled can go in the ring and jump, keep it all low key with no real pressure and make a huge fuss when he does well, it doesn't have to be anything major just a positive step forward with his ears pricked to show he is listening deserves praise, he should benefit from getting out and don't worry if he does get nappy, most people will have been there at some time.
 
My horse can be nappy and it is not from a lack of confidence, it is cheekiness in his case.
E.g went to dressage recently he behaved perfectly in warm up & first class and was fine when I warmed up for the second class so I stupidly relaxed & as we came down the centre line in the test he spun and reared, one proper smack he shot forward and we carried on.
It has taken me years but I am finally becoming a little more no nonsense.

Tried various different approaches and found that keeping him in front of the leg, trotting/jogging if I feel him backing off helps, lots of variety, key thing is to get your confidence up hacking out with people spending time with him in front ect will help.

Best of luck
 
Forget about shows. But do absolutely take him on fun rides. Its great fun, and really gets them thinking forward. How ia he to hack out on his own?
 
Hi thanks for advice , he has actually done a couple of fun rides normally behaves ok, last one not too good - but not really blaming him - I've never seen so many horses on a fun ride, ( we have been before & ts never been as busy as it was the weekend) , we kept the ride as short as possible & ended up on a good note - but it was far too busy :(

Hacking wise we can go off in 2 directions the one direction is ok - the other direction is very scary !! & this is what we are working on at the moment - he will either plant himself, go backwards or even throw in a buck or rear - but Im sure we will get there with him - he needs to manup !
He loves jumping at homei which is why we wanted to try some clear rounds etc.. But if he's not happy he can be a stubborn sod - so may just carry on hacking out & building confidence the shows will still be there next year xx
 
I had a similar problem with Gem, it was really weird.. she hit 6, and went from a really easy hack to basically rearing, spinning, bucking and trying to take off home with you. It was horrendous and very scary at time's.. my answer to this? Well i considered taking her out and fighting with her - all the time risking coming off on the road and with a damaged spine, i can;t really risk that.
So what i did was, i hacked her out in company.. not a lot - maybe twice a week and then i just schooled in the sand school, lunged and long reined the rest of the time. She was schooled to an inch of her life, so i had full control over her and she did as she was told.

Well, she's 7 now and 2 weeks ago i decided i would go for a ride and take her out. She was an angel and completely returned to her delightful self! She was probably happy to be out instead of in the boring old school, but she marched on beautifully. We've been hacking every other day on our own and still (touch wood) no problems!

Just sit it out, keep trying.. it may be a confidence thing! If you do hack out in company, try and get him to go out infront and take the lead.. Ask the person behind to hold back a bit (not to much) but enough for there to be a bit of distance between you - so your chaps doing it alone in a way!

Good luck
 
Something I heard from a very experianced horsewoman, is that horses are incapable of taking the p**s or anything similar, so napping etc is always down to a root problem of some sort. Not particularly helpful but something to bear in mind perhaps
 
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