Old horse started napping.

[lizijj]

We bought the perfect happy hacker for our mother in law, 19 Years old, WelshxTB, 16 hands, been there done and seen it all. He has had a lot of homes but now has a lovely home for life. When he arrived he was perfect, not a plod but bombproof, hacked out alone and in company. He is kept with a donkey, even sharing a stable and has not been ridden for over a month. Mother in Law has lost her confidence, so I get on him today and he would not go on, only backwards. I'm not a believer in losing temper with an animal so just calmly sat it out for half an hour, still he would not leave the yard. So I got off and led him for over a mile, then got on and he was OK. Any tips? I think separation anxiety from the donkey is one reason. I don't want to have an argument with an old horse, so any tips on napping - when a horse hasn't napped previously!!!
Thanks!

 

[FanyDuChamp]

I think that the honeymoon period is over, sounds like he is trying it on. Or as you say he has had lots of homes, maybe he is wary of leaving the yard? Obviously I would get back/teeth/saddle checked, he may have some pain you don't know about and if he is new to you you may not notice a change. Also he is part welsh, which although I love the breed and one certainly taught me how to ride, they are tinkers for trying it on! The ones I have known have always pushed boundaries to see what they can get away with, maybe just trying his luck especially if he has got away with it before, you did say he has had a lot of homes?

Hope it works out,
FDC

 

[Holzdweaver]

My TB used to nap very badly and mostly it was due to seperation anxiety, i tried pretty much everything and everything worked at least once but he got wise to it and wouldnt put himself into the situation to be caught out twice the same way lol, so i used a lot of different techniques. Now he is happy leaving his mates for a ride out.

It sounds like he is just trying it on so he can go back out to play with the donkey

when he starts backing, Try turning him round so his hind quarters face the way you want to go and ask for him to back up (as long as its safe to do so) keep backing and backing and pretty soon he wont want to go backwards anymore, turn him and ask for walk, he should be pretty happy to walk on.

Play the patience game, keep waiting and keep asking, build up the pressure and only release that pressure when you get forward movement(even one step).

Ask for trot pretty much straight away and keep up that forward momentum out of the yard, go back down to a walk when you are out of sight.

Cant really think of any more specifics at the moment, i tend to take a situation how it comes and tackle it any number of ways with how its panning out and the horses way of thinking and reacting(the joys of owning nutty horses lol)