Oblivious to whips & spurs - how to tackle?

JackDaniels1

JackDaniels1

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Stubborn cob has got into this habit of trying to nap - she's got the hang of which hacks are the short & which are the long and when I ask for her to go the long way she plants her feet and won't move - literally!! she is totally oblivious to the whip, doesn't bat an eyelid, I just look cruel to whoever passes by!!!! I've tried Spurs and she starts reversing then when I spur even more she just goes faster backwards into whatever is behind us! Obviously I have to stop her as otherwise we'd end up causing an accident in the road or she'd injure herself on obstacles.
Help!!!
 
It's a case of perseverance, I think. My old mare napped terribly when I first got her. I never tried spurs, but I did have to crop her a couple of times (they were pretty pathetic attempts as I always hated doing it). Like yours, her favourite trick was to wait for a car/ditch/passerby and then reverse backwards so that you had no option but to either let her stop or head off in the direction she wanted. The trick was to never let her get away with it. If something was behind, we might go where she wanted initially, but I'd always loop back as soon as the coast was clear. Eventually she realised that it wasn't getting her anywhere and gave up.
 
Check there's nothing hurting her ? Sorry if this seems very fluffy bunny but she might have pain - when you find out you will feel bad, I know from experience.
 
War of attrition! I'd just jump off and lead her for 20 yards or so then get back on. Rise and repeat. Annoying yes, but at least you'll always complete your planned hack. She'll get over it when she sees it doesn't work.
 
JJS sounds right on the money - but another thought as well... what about something like a whip-*** rope? Rather than actually striking her or spurring her what about causing enough annoyance that she moves forward? It worked on one of my cobs with similar issues and not on the other (is it a cob thing?) but sometimes thinking outside the box gives us an edge! All a whip-*** does is annoy. Its a soft fringed piece of rope (make your own from soft chandler's rope - the official ones are pricey!) which you just flick side to side across her withers, or behind you if you are secure enough should she decide to start forward. Over and over again. It doesn't hurt - but it does irritate. Once she starts - you stop. But not until.
 
Ditch the spurs, a tap with the whip and if she still won't go turn on the haunches and reverse her where she didn't want to go. She'll probably soon get fed up as it's harder work than going forward.
 
A horse I used to ride could be a bit nappy when hacking - the trick with him was to get him into trot and moving as soon as I got on. It seemed to show him that I meant business and got him moving forwards, trotted down the long drive, out onto the road and off we went, he didn't have time to think about napping. Once we were down the road and he was going nicely, I would let him walk and he was fine. He only ever tried to nap if I walked him down the drive and the trotting business seemed to cure the problem. I accept its not ideal to teach your horse to go straight into trot as soon as your on but it solved the problem with this horse...
 
Pick your own time and place to have the argument so it can be on your terms. Pick place with very little or no traffic. Pick a time when you have as long as it takes - even if it's all day. When she stops, give correct aids to walk on - including voice aids but no whip or spurs. If she refuses. Rein back actively but ride aids to steer backwards and don't let her turn round. Soon as she tries to stop, rein back a bit further then stop and ask her to go forward again. If she stops again, repeat the rein back exercise and continue for as long as it takes. Most soon find that forwards is easier than backwards!! Good Luck
 
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