Thinking about napping - why?

Doormouse

Doormouse

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My 5 year old ID x mare has come on in leaps and bounds in the past 7 months but she still looks in gateways and slows and half thinks about napping.

When she came in June she was like riding a bowl of rice pudding (if it were possible to do so) she had to be kicked every stride and although she never actually napped she threatened endlessly and was very hard work hacking. In the school I was puce in the face after 5 minutes and fed up with her spooking into the middle of the school the entire time! I think she was a bit sour when she came and so I have mainly hacked her over the summer to give her a break from schools.

We have now been hunting a few times which she loves and it has got her going forward but hacking at home she stills slows down at every gateway hoping to go home and if I don't keep on at her she would just turn round. She is the same in company.

Anyone else's horses do this and any useful tips because I am starting to find it a bit disheartening.
 
My 5yr old is exactly like this! so oppinionated and stubborn little mare. Im not much help but will be following this too! However when I had her on loan and took her to her owners for the weekend to sort the problem out, she MADE me make her go very forwards and made me make sure she was working properly and not letting me give up or give in which i usually do. Even though it seemed like we were fighting constantly she did improve a lot, however still isn't perfect yet.
 
Sounds exactly like mine and as you say if you keep at them and ride them forwards properly etc it is fine but I hate it because I feel like I am nagging her and like the whole ride is a battle which spoils it.
 
Every so often I do a test of just giving my mare a loose rein and within literally 5 seconds she gradually just turns completely around and starts walking home :D
Some horses seem to love being out and about, others would turn for home in a flash.
 
Strange creatures sometimes, I think maybe some would just prefer to be field ornaments. Having said that she loves her hunting and she also demands in from the field if it rains, so more of a stable ornament perhaps.

I am beginning to think it might just be me that minds her doing this, perhaps she will grow put of it!
 
To look at this positively it is a bit of a mark of equine intelligence - in as much as the horse knows what it would prefer to be doing, and that is not being ridden........I have an old horse who does not go forward, but he does not nap. I have a youngster who does not yet go forward that well, but does not nap. I have have a horse who is very forward going, and always knows the half way mark on a hack - so goes faster to get home (but does not nap) Napping is a vice, they should not do it - and do not confuse not going foreward with napping..........Stong leg aids, teaching the horse to enjoy its hacks (time in the school if you must - make that experince as positive as you can - lunge it, rather than ride it) but ultimately it is about forward thinking / forward going - not napping........
 
Indeed, I agree entirely with the forward going and we have only just cracked that bit, finally we have forward motion without my legs falling off and life is much improved.

She has never actually napped but has also until now never gone forward. How can I make hacking a positive experience for her if I have to be so determined with her about not turning round in every gateway? I vary my rides, we do canter work, woodland rides etc and I allow her her head and freedom and try not to nag her.

Sadly she hates being lunged and I have frequently nearly been mown down by her trying to hang back to the gate!
 
My 16 yo ID mare was 6 when I bought her and she was a bit nappy in the school and worse on hacks. With her I think it was an insecurity thing, she still backs off if hacking out alone but is brilliant in the school and out with company.

IDs are slow to mature IMO so they need a little more time and patience but always come good and give 100% in my experience.
 
That's good to hear, I did wonder if it was perhaps a bit to do with the breed, my first ID, have always had TB's mainly so am used to having to calm them down and go slower! Finding the whole forward thing a bit of a confusion. She does worry inside herself, would never let it show but comes across as rude and aggressive, I wonder strangely if a calmer would help her?
 
My girl is still a little insecure and certainly likes a routine. She's forward going in the school and out in company but I don't think I'll ever change the backing off slightlywhen we're out on our own. I'll cope with that providing she doesn't spin round for home which she did do 2 or 3 times when she was younger.

I got someone to walk with me a few times and interestingly that makes a difference and if one of the dogs comes with us she's always more confident and forward going.

I think the more she experiences the more confident she'll become not sure if a calmer would help or not?
 
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