Pony napped for first time today - advice please!

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FinellaGlen

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My lovely Highland girl napped today in the school for the first time and I wasn't really expecting it because she has always been so forward going. She was working fine in trot but when I stopped to chat to YO at the open door naughty pony decided to plant and would only move in a reluctant walk. When I asked for trot she put her ears flat and swished her tail but didn't actually move anywhere. I made her walk round for a few minutes and then got off and lunged her quickly on both reins to see if there was a problem but she was very keen to move on the lunge and only wanted to canter!

I am going to ride with a stick tomorrow but I don't want to do the wrong thing and end up with a permanent battle on my hands so does anyone have any advice? I am only hacking out once or twice a week and neither pony nor I enjoy jumping so I am worried that I am boring her to death and that is what is causing problem. Before I had her she hacked once a week and was schooled for half an our each week so I have increased her workload a lot although I have built up slowly because, obviously, she wasn't very fit when I got her.
 
Maybe if she's bored you could try some new things like polework if you dislike jumping, gymkhana games, handy pony, dressage movements (turn on forehand, rein-back, leg-yield etc), bareback riding, loose schooling, different kinds of circles and movements like serpentines, spirals, half circles, walk to canter and halt to trot. Hope you're pony's napping gets sorted
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She probably thought work was over for the day when you stopped for a chat!! Beware of stopping by the school exit for a chat - I've learnt that if I do that with my ponio and then carry on going round the school he'll then tank back to the gate every time!

If you're worried she's bored, even if you don't like jumping, how about doing some trotting poles? Or get some cones/ barrels and do some bending?
 
Thanks all for your advice. I have had her saddle and back checked and dentist is due shortly. I do think it is just part of her "settling in" period though as she has been with us for about 6 weeks now. I am trying to vary her work so that she is not bored and I will try out some more "fun" things this week to see if that helps re-engage her attention and make her more willing again.

I don't normally stop by the gate it has to be said and the gate was open too so I think that may have been what first gave her the idea that napping was a good thing to try. I am going to carry a whip today and, hopefully, this will focus her mind even though I will do no more than give a light tap. I think I am just feeling disappointed more than anything because she has been so forward going up until this point.
 
Don't worry about it honestly....it may have just been a one off because the gate was open and you stopped.

You can always give your boot a tap before tapping her with the whip, sometimes that's enough to send my (lazy) pony forwards
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Thanks bex1984. I had a nappy horse before (as well as two non-nappy ones) and I really don't want to find I have another one! I loved her forward going-ness and it would be such a shame for it to disappear. Maybe I am worrying too much. I do tend to focus on the negative things sometimes.
 
Just let it go Finella - don't turn it into something it's not. I reckon bex is spot in and ponio thought work was over for the day. But I'd certainly spice up her schooling lessons tokeep her interest and pole work and handy pony stuff is great for building trust in horse and rider too. x
 
Thank you Sunnymum. I probably am over reacting. I am hoping that she will be fine when I ride this afternoon. I will do some pole work to introduce a bit of variety. It will be good for her anyway as she is not very balanced.
 
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