NEWBIE ADVICE NEEDED NAPPING 4YR OLD

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cremello1974

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HI,
After 10yrs out of the saddle(i'm 37 now started riding at 8) i have bought a 4 yr old mare who is great to box shoe travel etc a gem to be around on the ground.i found after she had a few days to settle she would rather buck than canter i put this down to her age and thought she might not have been started off right.so sent her away for schooling as i thought my rusty riding was making her worse.They have since got her going well in the indoor and even though un balanced( hence age) she is now cantering,when she first got there she was gently hacked out in company on there grounds (well behaved). but when on own got in a terrible state napping badly and rearing straight refuse to return home or proceed,so back to hacking in company - which was ok first couple of times but had then decided it was napping time again! Shes due come home wed,i don't want to give up on my gorgeous girl and would love any advice on how to get passed this phase.the schooling yard believe she will just be a nappy horse .....Would to hear any advice you may have and also your own experiences similair. Thanks :)
 
I find lots of long-reining on quieter roads (make sure you know how to do this properly though!) and then riding out with a human companion on foot/bike is a big help, then you can build up over time until you're out by yourselves.

There was a gelding on our yard who had been allowed to become nappy because his owner is experienced and didn't have the confidence to ride him through it; then again there's also an ex-police-trained horse who failed because he wouldn't go out alone. I'm guessing if the police trainers couldn't do it then nobody can!
 
Ditto above with the long-reining.

So, are you saying she's napping with the pro you sent her to? You might be better looking around for other possibilities. My mare is currently away at brat camp. I heard about them from 2 other people who had used them with great results. I went to meet them and they came to meet my girl before she went away to them. The second day she was there I got a phone call from a friend saying that she really showed her true colours. I spent the rest of the day waiting for a phone call to tell me that she had been expelled from brat camp, but no call came.
I went for a jumping lesson after the first few days as one of her easier probs was oxers and she jumped everything I put her at. I nervously asked about her napping and they said not to worry, they had seen much worse... I was so relieved (she was quite happy on her back feet too!). She is there for two weeks and when I went for an update yesterday they said she was making really good progress. I am going to hack out with them a couple of times this week so they can talk me through the techniques they have found the most effective. They have hacked her out every day on her own for 1 and a half to 2 hours.
I was really pleased to hear that when she had been seen having the initial paddy, the rider had just patted her and told my friend who had stopped to ask if she needed any help, "it's ok, she's just frightened. She just needs to work things through. If I hit her with a whip it will just scare and confuse her more." A few minutes later she just decided to trust the rider and walk on.
I think this ridiculously long reply is just to say, don't give up. As bad as a vice may seem, there are people out there who can help. If you want I can PM you there website and you can read the testimonials from their clients.
Good luck.xxx
 
I had a confirmed rearer once, it was bad, very bad, I took the hind shoes off and rode on gravel a lot, I realise this is not always practical,, but it helped a lot.
The farmer/ horse trainer next door told me to gallop round our ploughed field, that was OK, but at the top there was a concrete area, all four feet went skit and skat, and then we were over a four foot barbed wire fence, from a standstill, some jump!.
I de-camped as as we went over the wire and under a tree, still it was quite a leap!
I survived.
 
OK you a sort of newbie and she is a 4 year old baby. So take her back to the begining and start building up her convidence in YOU. Either that or sell her and find yourself a safe horse to start off again to ride
 
I had a horse that napped. I would get your horse confident to hack out with others in front and behind and build up her confidence and trust. Take her for walks in hand and do some long reining.
If she is new to you and has been away at another yard she may not yet be settled. Once you have a route that she knows well you can try and hack her out on that route where she feels safe.
 
I would start her again doing a lot of ground work with her building confidence in each other. With my 4yo l walk her out in hand with anf without a rider so she gets used to everyday things.
 
Good idea to build up confidence with another rider... but then what if other rider and horse can't ride? Your horse misses them and naps even more.

Agree with rgoldenfilly - build trust in each other. Go out walking together i.e. you walking alongside.

I have to do this with my chap everytime we move for a few days or I get the "meh, don't feel like it today" treatment.
 
My chap always hacked out on his own but when about 6 lost his confidence - I would hack as far as he would go - get off and walk him in hand until he seemed confident again and then get back on and continue on with the ride for a good time before turning for home - I know opinions are split on getting off but it worked for me as I had no-one to hack out with - I only had to do this 3 times before he was good as gold again.

Good luck x
 
Some horses mature a lot slower than others.
I agree with those that said start her again in a way, i also agree with those that have said walk her out in hand.
But you may have to turn her away for a while to mature a bit. still do a little bit with her to keep her ticking over, but not push to much. she may just be mentally imature.
 
even if you do not agree to someone post, no reason to resort to insults - v. immature and totally unnecessary.

horse sounds like lack of confidence issues, walking out, and long reining, hacking out with others all can help.

also while you have taken her to a professional yard and they have not addressed this issue, it does not look like they have looked at the cause, NH or IH instructors may be able to help address this issue better, there may be someone close by, word of mouth referees are usually good for someone that takes a more holistic approach.

4 is only young and a change of situation can make a horse behave this way if not confident, but best handled with experienced help as easy to establish bad habits that become a long term issue, if not nipped in the bud

Good luck,
 
I agree that long reining could help IF you know and are experienced at doing it.

What I would do with a horse like this would be nothing. I would take her out and when she napped I would just let her stand there and all I would do is to keep her facing the way we were going. If she went backwards I would allow her to do so and then ask her to go forward again. I would give her nothing to fight against but nor would she get her own way. When she wanted to go forward I would not allow her to go but make her stand a few more minutes and then ask so she is going forward on my terms. I would do the same if she reared, just sit her out. She is going to get tired way before you.

All through this you have to keep your heart rate the same and remain cool, calm and collected. It can take two or three hours to start with but every time she does nap it gets shorter.
 
abi31 said:
Ditto above with the long-reining.

So, are you saying she's napping with the pro you sent her to? You might be better looking around for other possibilities. My mare is currently away at brat camp. I heard about them from 2 other people who had used them with great results. I went to meet them and they came to meet my girl before she went away to them. The second day she was there I got a phone call from a friend saying that she really showed her true colours. I spent the rest of the day waiting for a phone call to tell me that she had been expelled from brat camp, but no call came.
I went for a jumping lesson after the first few days as one of her easier probs was oxers and she jumped everything I put her at. I nervously asked about her napping and they said not to worry, they had seen much worse... I was so relieved (she was quite happy on her back feet too!). She is there for two weeks and when I went for an update yesterday they said she was making really good progress. I am going to hack out with them a couple of times this week so they can talk me through the techniques they have found the most effective. They have hacked her out every day on her own for 1 and a half to 2 hours.
I was really pleased to hear that when she had been seen having the initial paddy, the rider had just patted her and told my friend who had stopped to ask if she needed any help, "it's ok, she's just frightened. She just needs to work things through. If I hit her with a whip it will just scare and confuse her more." A few minutes later she just decided to trust the rider and walk on.
I think this ridiculously long reply is just to say, don't give up. As bad as a vice may seem, there are people out there who can help. If you want I can PM you there website and you can read the testimonials from their clients.
Good luck.xxx
Click to expand...

Hi,
thanks for the message would love there details,i'm going to bring her home and build up a bond and do lots on the ground with her,then maybe send her away again.thanks xxx
 
Foxhunter49 said:
I agree that long reining could help IF you know and are experienced at doing it.

What I would do with a horse like this would be nothing. I would take her out and when she napped I would just let her stand there and all I would do is to keep her facing the way we were going. If she went backwards I would allow her to do so and then ask her to go forward again. I would give her nothing to fight against but nor would she get her own way. When she wanted to go forward I would not allow her to go but make her stand a few more minutes and then ask so she is going forward on my terms. I would do the same if she reared, just sit her out. She is going to get tired way before you.

All through this you have to keep your heart rate the same and remain cool, calm and collected. It can take two or three hours to start with but every time she does nap it gets shorter.
Click to expand...

Thanks, will do looking forward to bringing her home and building up trust theres some great posts and advice here and i'll give it ago,starting with on foot out and about, then as you've said sitting it out when out in the saddle..just bought a new body protector...feel i may need it in the near future.:D
 
Rgoldenfilly said:
I would start her again doing a lot of ground work with her building confidence in each other. With my 4yo l walk her out in hand with anf without a rider so she gets used to everyday things.
Click to expand...
etc.
will do thankyou :) theres lots of things to take on board for when shes home,no longer feel so what am i going to do thanks all :)
 
Echo Bravo said:
And Mrsd123, what does that tell us, if you have a rearer you gallop round field, has that got to the bottom of why he reared??
Click to expand...
The galloping round a ploughed field idea was used to tire a horse and make him more amenable, in the olden days this was used instead of calmers, also people used to take their horses out for a full days hunting three days a week, it made them more rideable.
My horse was in a bad way; he reared because he had been badly treated by a number of "horse trainers" after being in the hands of a girl who had little or no experience of difficult horses. In the end he was pts.
Without seeing this horse and knowing more about it, I am not suggesting there is a magic solution to stopping him rearing, other than the gravel and unshod hind feet, and this only works with some horses and on gravel, which is pretty limiting.
 
Echo Bravo said:
OK you a sort of newbie and she is a 4 year old baby. So take her back to the begining and start building up her convidence in YOU. Either that or sell her and find yourself a safe horse to start off again to ride
Click to expand...
This exactly. You have recently bought this horse but she has not been at your yard, someone else is feeding, handling, riding her etc. She has no idea who you are and has no trust in you at all. When she comes home do lots and lots of groundwork, get your trust and confidence in each other. That way when you ask her to step out of her comfort zone out hacking she will have the trust in you and should be more amenable to going forward, trusting that you will keep her safe.

Also IMO I think you are daft for buying a baby after a 10 year break, you will need lots of help and support for the first few months - I hope you have this available to you.


ETA: I have just read another of your posts about gaining trust and sending her away again... WTF?! Get an instructor to come to YOU, why have this horse if you are constantly bringing her back, then sending her away, bringing her back and then sending her away. All you will end up with is a confused baby who has no trust in anyone. As I have already said you will need a support network, people who will come to you and work with both you and the horse together.

Why did you buy a 4 year old? Yes you rode for a long time but you have still had a 10 year break, whilst a steady older horse may not appeal to you I think you should have got one on loan to get your eye back in before jumping in at the deep end and buying a baby, especially as you seem to have no idea how to work through normal baby issues.
 
Last edited:
abi31 said:
Ditto above with the long-reining.

So, are you saying she's napping with the pro you sent her to? You might be better looking around for other possibilities. My mare is currently away at brat camp. I heard about them from 2 other people who had used them with great results. I went to meet them and they came to meet my girl before she went away to them. The second day she was there I got a phone call from a friend saying that she really showed her true colours. I spent the rest of the day waiting for a phone call to tell me that she had been expelled from brat camp, but no call came.
I went for a jumping lesson after the first few days as one of her easier probs was oxers and she jumped everything I put her at. I nervously asked about her napping and they said not to worry, they had seen much worse... I was so relieved (she was quite happy on her back feet too!). She is there for two weeks and when I went for an update yesterday they said she was making really good progress. I am going to hack out with them a couple of times this week so they can talk me through the techniques they have found the most effective. They have hacked her out every day on her own for 1 and a half to 2 hours.
I was really pleased to hear that when she had been seen having the initial paddy, the rider had just patted her and told my friend who had stopped to ask if she needed any help, "it's ok, she's just frightened. She just needs to work things through. If I hit her with a whip it will just scare and confuse her more." A few minutes later she just decided to trust the rider and walk on.
I think this ridiculously long reply is just to say, don't give up. As bad as a vice may seem, there are people out there who can help. If you want I can PM you there website and you can read the testimonials from their clients.
Good luck.xxx
Click to expand...

Hi,not been on for ages but pleased to say we have progress,after weeks of long reining and hours of time she has progressed to walk trot canter,have had alot of help from our YO (she's been great) Lilly still has alot to learn occasionally she has an off moment with new things but patience,a kind firm attitude and abit of kidology win though, She neahs whenever she sees me, running to greet me and would follow me anywhere.We're getting a lovely bond and in time she'll be the best thing i ever did,We're both getting alot out of it,shes helping me over come my nerves and proove i can still deal with young horses and shes getting love care trust and skills tobe good and enjoy her work.Thanks for all your positive comments and advice.Will keep all updated and will post pics video soon x :)
 
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