New horse napping hell

[Countrygirl40]

Hi all after a bit of help. I’ve bought a new horse, she’s 17 so no spring chicken and the previous owner mentioned now and again she can nap but was very infrequent. Since having her 4 weeks ago we’ve had 3 awful rides where she will literally plant and refuse to move at all. No amount of kicking, not kicking, sit and wait will get her to move. She is fine in company it’s only when hacking alone. Previous owner reversed her when it happened but I just find it so dangerous. Having back & teeth checked this week but after any tips on nappy mares! She’s a bit of a nervy Nelly so trying to give as much confidence as I can. She’s a sweetheart otherwise. Thanks

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

You have had her 4 weeks so I would stick to hacking with company as much as you can as she is probably still quite unfamiliar with her surroundings and everything is new.

With my nappy horse I lead him on a very short circular route a few times then get on him about half way round, once I feel his settled I will get on him on the yard and will continue with the same route, then I will repeat with a slightly different longer route until I have a few rides I know his happy doing.

My horse will get in a state if you try and force him and it just ends up miserable and not a good positive experience, so I would rather get off and lead for a bit rather than have an argument and upset him I find it's a better approach.

 

[AntiPuck]

Does it help having a person walking on the ground in front of you both? Sometimes that can make a big difference.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

As above, use company if possible until she settles. Or lead half way round a circuit then mount and ride back. It's early days, she's still getting used to you. In a few weeks you'll look back and laugh.

 

[Sir barnaby]

I did exactly what pinkvboots did with my mare, perfect in company but hated leaving the yard so walked a little way then got on and rode the rest. Also if you have transport travel to a safe unloading spot or nearby friends, and ride back home. After I took my mare hunting she was totally different and much better, I think she was just insecure. If she planted I would again get off walk a few yards and the get on again. I usually chose a ride she was comfortable with when out on her own, then rode different routes in company.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My horse had just never really been hacked when I got him he was 9 it took me months to get him to just go in front, his much better if someone is on foot with us he will happily go anywhere.

 

[Goldenstar]

Some horses never hack well alone do matter what you do .
You need to hack in company for the foreseeable future then work on getting her in front of an other horse and eventually hack on your own starting with only doing the familiar rides you do a the time .
The horse is 17 and was sold as having a nap in it your going to have to have your work cut out to change it .

 

[Fred66]

Some horses never hack well alone do matter what you do .
You need to hack in company for the foreseeable future then work on getting her in front of an other horse and eventually hack on your own starting with only doing the familiar rides you do a the time .
The horse is 17 and was sold as having a nap in it your going to have to have your work cut out to change it .

Agree with the first half of sentence but sometimes unfamiliar is better, had a mare who could nap when hacking but when boxing up and hacking her out on her own she was fine (had nowhere to nap to) . Continued this for a while and she eventually settled to hacking away from the yard.

 

[sbloom]

If a seller mentions a negative then it's safe to assume the issue is probably a little worse than they say it is, and it will nearly always be worse, initially, for a new owner. I'd put money on saddle being at least a small part, she'll have changed shape with a yard and regime change, and even if its the saddle that came with her, it may never have fitted truly well, could even be a random saddle, and may not fit you which IS important.

 

[MagicMelon]

As above, only go out in company and try to get further ahead in front giving more and more distance between the one behind. Personally, my experience has been if a horse naps on hacks its really hard to break that. I had one I tried for years to get over but he still napped regularly. I had to get off him, lead him for a bit then get back on and he was ok again but that was pretty tedious...

 

[Goldenstar]

Always assume if a seller tells you something it’s going to be worse than they say .
Partly that’s for the obvious reason and partly it is that horses and riders learn to manage each other other time .

 

[Countrygirl40]

So saddler came out today and the gullet in her T8 had snapped no wonder the poor thing is miserable. New gullet fitted so will see over the weeks how she is. Will get her back treated too. Also will try all your techniques but having someone around isn’t always possible as I’m on my own land x

 

[TPO]

So saddler came out today and the gullet in her T8 had snapped no wonder the poor thing is miserable. New gullet fitted so will see over the weeks how she is. Will get her back treated too. Also will try all your techniques but having someone around isn’t always possible as I’m on my own land x

I'd rest and have a physio/body worker look at a horse before putting new saddle on/riding

To put the "good" saddle onto a compromised back could make the issue worse with pain/pain association

 

[Countrygirl40]

I totally agree - will walk her out in hand I think!

 

[Sossigpoker]

If she's a nervous horse then no amount of force and violence will make her more confident. She's napping because she's insecure. I would focus on building your relationship with her and her trust in you and only hack in company.
And when in company, don't just let her follow but ask her to go alongside the other horse. Once she's happy with that then in time you can ask the other rider to fall back for a few strides so your horse is in the lead. But only for a few strides, before she panicks.

Leading out in hand and doing the same short loop each time will also get her familiar with the loop so that will be one less thing for her to worry about . In fact , even when hacking in company, keep repeating the same route so it becomes familiar to her.

I had my horse nearly a year before I changed the route with him as he's also nervous (but hacks out well once he trusts you )