What Should I Do?

Z

Zobaby

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 October 2007
Messages
321
Location
Scotland
Visit site
As probably many of you will know, my horse has some napping problems. I've had him nearly a year now and bought him for SJ (BSJA) and to ultimately try eventing. He's a 8 year old, 16.2hh IDx gelding. I bought him from a dealer I know very well and trusted (rode at her riding school for 2 years and her instructor has taught me for 7 years) but she failed to tell me about his napping. We decided to keep him though, as he's perfect in every other way. He's improved loads over the year, now competing fairly calmly and without problems in unaff. SJ but he pops 1.20m at home, so would love to go BSJA but don't want to risk wasting my money. We've tried XC and he loved it, as long as there was another horse in front of him. Hacking alone, as far as i can see, is impossible! At least for the near future. So really I was wanting your opinions on what I should do. Should I keep him and work through it? I've always said without the napping he would be my dream horse, but I just don't see myself anywhere near eventing with him anytime soon, and thats been my dream for ages. I'm only 16 and will be going to uni soon too, so want to get competing soon! Considering sending him to someone to for re-schooling. Anyone had any experience with this? Sorry this is so long! Well done if you got this far
smile.gif


x
 
Keep at it and wait him out...

I have had the same problems with sus a ex racer tb who would spin back up you name it... I used to sit there keep him facing the way i wanted to go and not let him go the way he wanted. Some times it would take me 5 mins other times it has taken up to an hour before he gave in and realised that i wasnt going to give up.

Patience is the key dont get stressed out just go out prepared for a long weight and dont expect too much.

What does he do when he naps and is it a confidence issue not wanting to be on his own???
 
can you get someone to walk out alongside you on foot when you go for a hack? that way he has his companion to stop him being frightened, but isn't relying on herd instinct (i.e. another horse). i'd do that for a few times, slowly asking walker to drop back level with his shoulder, then further back.
have you had a showdown with him? tbh i have not often had a horse nap more than once with me, once they know that you really really mean it and are prepared to give them a bl***y good smack or three if they won't go forward.
i agree, until he'll hack alone there's no point even thinking of eventing tbh, he absolutely must learn to be brave and go forward just because you say so, because he'll need all that trust and belief in you to go xc.
have you tried him with another rider, hopefully one who is very experienced and determined? sometimes they just need their defiance broken, to realise that forward is the answer and that everything's fine then, and they never look back.
very best of luck.
 
I cant really give you any advice on this aprt from my own experience.

I have owned two nappy horses. The first - my first horse a pretty little Bay Mare 15.1 napped like crazy always refused to go into arenas had to be led in and would go into reverse gear at the drop of a hat. Never got to the bottom of it and was shouted at by a woman who got behind us when she napped and got knocked over as the mare could nearly canter backwards. Now 20 years on I believe it was caused by my rubbish riding and she was a bit of a cowbag who took advantage.

My 3rd horse was a 16.2 bay mare who always refused to go forward at the start at Hunter Trials. Miraculously once I followed some advice to always ask the starter for patience as she was nappy it almost completely disappeared.

So what I am saying is do you think your horse is a bit of a g*t or do you think it could be tension and him having done it once you get tense and he gets worried.

Life is no fun if every time you compete you have to look over your shoulder to see what you might back into.

I would get someone professional you trust to take him to a comp and see if with less nerves about he is ok, if he is you just need Rescue Remedy if he naps like crazy for a professional say bye bye your 16 so you are too young to make yourself miserable over a horse evenj though they are much more fun than boys.
 
He's a rearer unfortunately. Me and my instructors reckon its a habit - someone's let him off with it in the past. But i do think he lacks some confidence too. We know very little about his history. Unfortunately the hacking we have is great and all of road, except we have to cross a road to get to it! So I don't think i'll ever trust him to hack completely alone as if he freaked out or dumped me, he'd have to cross the road to get home, which scares me! He's practically bombproof with another horse and i try to hack him out a lot, but tbh i can't be bothered with the stress anymore, so he's just puttng me off hacking. I'm not losing confidence from his napping, it just annoys me because of his potential.

x
 
okay, what kind of a rearer? does he threaten with little hops, or just throw himself straight up, or go up in a balanced "i've done this before and i'll scare you" sort of way?
there are ways to cope with the first and last type, the second type i would not touch tbh, they can chuck themselves over backwards they're so stupid, and squash you as they do it.
frown.gif
 
Someone walking with me is a good idea actually. I've found he doesn't care who's keeping him company, whether its equine or human, as long as its someone! And i've asked others to ride him for me, but they usually say no! And i don't want anyone to get hurt.
I've tried everything from talking to him and patting him, to beating the cr*p out of him if i have to! Depends on how bad he's being!

x
 
He always gives me warning and will start small, but get's bigger the more i fight. If i make him stand still for a minute then ask again he generally goes fine for a bit, then might start again.

x
 
Are you 100% certain that your horse isn't in pain? I have found that napping is an evasion brought about by a pain-response - My mare napped terribly when she was lame - now she threatens occassionally if the work becomes too tough for her - We've sorted out all kinds of issues from lameness to digestive/ulcer issues - maybe you should look at things a bit deeper?
Kate x
 
Does he nap when out competing or just when on a hack? I think if on a hack then it's a confidence issue that is the root of it. What's his ridden history, was he ever hacked out alone?

We got my sisters horse 3 odd years ago aged 4 and he'd only ever hacked out behind another horse and was pretty much like a donkey so we just expected him to be like that when we got him but, if he had to go infront on a a hack he got panicky as he was not used to this at all - he was just used to seeing another horses backside! We gradually got him to the front and made him do a little more infront each time so he understood it was 'safe'. he had a tendency to just spin round and 'hop' about and not turn back round - think would/could have turned into a rear eventually.

The trick is confidence, you have to be bold and give him reassurance. He is still young so you should be able to win this battle yet. If out with someone else try and ride in front as much as possible and encourage the other rider to drop back bit by bit. Get him to do this on the same routes so he learns that route and feels comfortable then maybe try get someone on foot or even a bike to go with you to help if needs be. You say he is perfect in every other way so this does sound like a trust/confidence issue as opposed to him just being plain naughty. Keep perservering i am sure you can win here!
 
oh dear...how did we end up with the same kind of problem???!!

Maybe we should join forces and conquer the world on our horses...if we can get past the front gate....
grin.gif
 
Thanks for all you advice
smile.gif
I've had all checks done - back teeth, new saddle etc. He napped badly the 1st few times I took him to indoor SJ shows (like spent the first 5 minutes on his hind legs or in the air!) and still does it now, but not as much and is easier to move forwards. XC was ok, except if he was jumping away from other horses he would refuse which is very unlike him. He would canter away from the group a small distance then get anxious, so i'd make him go a bit further then turn him back. I'm gonna go on a hack today and practise!

x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top