Need some advice (and moral support) on nappy horse

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Folara

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Ive had Gen from a foal so I would say I know him pretty well. He has always had 'insecurity' issues and I guess to a degree I am partly to blame for our problems as I have until recently always ridden out with others. I can pretty much lead him anywhere tho. even when he is being nappy and a git!

Basically he is a flippin nightmare to hack out solo. If he decides he doesnt like something he spins and throws a strop and gets very 'elevated', if he sees other horses he does the same. Bearing in mind this horse is now 16.3hh and working at Medium level with my friend/rider at home he can REALLY move his body!!! When he gets really bad I get off and walk him in hand (properly working still tho not just leading). I make him walk where he really doesnt want to till he is quiet then get back on and re-ride the same bit. Unfortunately he doesnt 'do' anything that bad with Mike (my friend) but he is 6ft1 ish and a very good rider.

Do you think I should continue as I am, getting off and walking him then getting back on or is there anything else I can do? Or any 'exercises' worth trying.

Its getting very frustrating and I dont want to give up and I think he needs to get out on his own to 'crack' the problem.

Any suggestions/help or even encouraging tales of any similar horses
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would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
 
Ok, I would say he knows you just as much as you know him. Meaning he knows how to push the limits and reach your comfort zone so that he can get his own way. All horses will test their riders to see what the rules are. Because you have raised him from a foal, a common mistake is to carry on treating them as a baby, being very careful not to push him too far so you fry his brains etc, ensuring you are doing everything correctly. What seems to have happened is that you have perhaps wrapped him up in cotton wool when he is out and about, to avoid accidents and injury and if anything starts to happen, you have protected him and yourself by getting off and heading home.

I think he has probably learnt by now that if he throws a bit of a strop and pushs you, he will win. My advice for this because you are his mum and have so obviously loved him and done everything for him, is to consider putting a different rider on his back for hacking and get them to sort this out.

He will immediately be unsure of this different rider and not know the comfort zones, the rider will be more assertive with him and I think the problem is workable and can be dealt with.
 
Daisy did this when I bought her age nine and she hadn't ever been hacked out on her own. She would spin, back, bronc, squeal and generally try everything she could to discourage me.

I worked on it by doing familiar routes that she had seen plenty of times before when in company and getting my OH to walk out with us. She wore her dually headcollar over her bridle and whenever she threatened to nap he clipped her onto the lungeline and led her past. From the way you've described your problem I guess that this might work with you because it sounds like he trusts someone being on the ground. She quickly learned that evasion wasn't going to get her anywhere. I knew that it was just naughtiness because she was quite happy to do these hacks in company. Gradually it became less and less necessary for my OH to clip her on and when i felt comfortable to go it alone we would have a short trot away from him and then he would jog to catch up so became used to it just being us for short distances and then we gradually extended the time we were alone.

She now hacks out beautifully on her own and really enjoys it.
 
Hiya

Yep I totally agree, the little monster knows me too flippin well and knows exactly how to get to me and push 'me' past MY comfort zone. However I never just head home (actually he then just gets really stupid and tries to Passage home) I tend to get off and lead him past then back then past then back then get on and ride.

I spent 30 mins today walking round a field with him cos he was being awful ... walking him towards home then away etc. I then got on and walked him away from home and round the field. We ended on a good note with me sort of winning!

I think the other rider is a good idea and I have a friend (who actually backed him) who has come back to the yard and she is going to help with this when she can.

Do you think tho that he will still be MORE of a git with me cos it is me ... even after my friend has hacked him?
 
I agree that it might be an idea to get your friend to hack him out for a while to push him past these difficult moments. I guess if you get off him when things are difficult he gets what he wants and a pattern becomes established. Once your friend has hacked out quite a few times and the problems are not evident I think you could then try again. Maybe start with small walks out (avoiding difficult routes to begin with) and perhaps have your friend/instructor alongside you to give you encouragement and help from the ground until you feel more comfortable. In time you should be able to increase the distance.
It sounds to me like your horse lacks confidence in such situations and he needs his rider to show him confidence in these moments. I entirely understand how difficult this must be but I think you have to take a change of plan for a while (utilising help) and you should see an improvement. All the while you behave in the same way your horse will carry on with the same behaviour. I'm sure you will get there.
 
Yes I think this is far more naughtiness than just insecurity and as filly above said I think I have probably wrapped him in cotton wool a bit because of it.

Ive been trying to get him round a field just up the road from us as its a familiar place that we have been round loads of times and usually he loves ... when in company.

I was wondering if I should get my elder son to ride his bike out with me and we could follow that as I dont really have anyone who would come out on foot with me. Hes not very 'horsey' but he is pretty sensible and Gen likes him.

I know this isnt a 'quick fix' situ (and tbh I dont believe that any problem can be sorted properly,quickly) but do you think giving it say 6 months would be reasonable ?
 
I think even though someone else hacked him, his behaviour has become habbit and learnt, also they are sitting there waiting because they know from you exactly what to expect.

I have had a bit of this myself, had mare from 2 years old and I really treated her like a baby. It was my first horse to back and I was desperate not to get anything wrong and spoil her, instead I ended up with a spoilt child! To rectify this, as by now she is 6, knows her own strength and my weeknesses I have put another rider onboard who is stronger, bolder and much more confident. This has worked so very well. She has had a few occasions of throwing a strop, to my horror out came the whip, it took her twice to stop doing it. I rode out with my older horse, because there is no way I could cut the apron strings. It has been very hard to see another rider on board and her receiving a telling off.

Six months on, she is going like an angel, still with the other rider on board. We have done so much and I am really pleased. I consider that I had got stuck in a rut, maybe this will ring bells with your situation. In order to proceed something has to change. If you can put your trust into another rider, even if you hack out with them on another horse I am sure you can start sorting out this problems.

By walking round for half an hour, you letting the horse off the hook, you may think you are doing right by this and calming the situation down, but really the horse is still getting out of work and doing what you want. I think its time to become mean mummy, ditch the cotton wool, your horse is now a grown up and needs to learn some manners and discipline.

I know this sounds harsh, but I have been through the same and am now way past the other side.
 
Actually I agree with you. I do need to get a bit tougher. I think once my friend has been out and few times on him I will take him out and get her to 'follow' a way behind in her car and if I have a problem I can get her to maybe chase me on from behind.

Its very hard tho. as my friend doesnt have much time and has her own horse to try and keep fit and event so I cant always rely on her to be there.

I think I need to toughen up and perhaps learn to give him a telling off instead of pussy footing round him and letting him get away with it.

Thanks for the help... its appreciated.
 
It is so hard when you are on your own. I keep mine at home and because of this did'nt have any company or people to ride out with. I think this is really where my problems lay, nobody to learn from or to ask for help.

Luckily because I have two others I met a local person who wanted to ride and it started from there. She now shares my horses and it has worked very well. You say you have a friend who does not really have much time, so what about considering taking on a sharer. Through this you can gain so much, if you could find someone with experience and time, but not cash rich in that they havent got their own horse, it could be a workable solution.

I feel it is better to have a good horse that you can do anything with, rather than one whole horse all to yourself that you are stuck in a rut with. It sounds to me, that you are screaming out for a new best friend to enjoy your horse with and help you. It may lead to having another - who knows.
 
I would love a sharer BUT Gen is a now being a dressage horse and is schooled 4 times a week by my friend/rider. Unfortunately he has hacked Gen out to our biggest trouble spot and had no trouble. Gen knows he cant get away with it with Mike. Also Mike doesnt like to hack as his insurance doesnt cover him if anything happens and of course its his livelyhood so he cant be out of action for long.

Saying that he would prob do it a little as a favour as he is more a friend than anything. I will ask him on tuesday.

This leaves me 2/3 days a week to ride out myself so not really any time for a sharer.

ARGH ..... its all so annoying. I kick myself for not dealing with this sooner. Now Gen is 6 and a big strong lad its so much harder. I wont make this mistake again. Stupid me!!

I will try to hack out tomorrow after work and meet my friend on foot at the biggest trouble spot and see how we do.

I really do intend to get over this as I agree ... I really want a horse I can do ANYTHING with.
 
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