Would you consider a nappy pony?

metalmare

metalmare

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I spoke to a dealer about a pony earlier, which I may view this weekend. It is priced cheap for a fast turnover, so no major money would change hands and in many ways it sounds nice (happy mouth snaffle, fine in traffic, only 9 years).

However, the dealer says it can be nappy hacking alone (nothing spectacular, refuses to move forward) as it has worked in a riding school and isn't used to hacking out alone.

I appreciate the dealer informing me of this and she feels that it's nothing a bit of forward riding and encouragement won't solve.

What are your thoughts on this?
 
My first two horses were both shockingly nappy and I took them knowing that. If horse is cheap enough and you feel it is something that you can cope with then it wouldn't put me off. Both of my horses were pretty much cured and would happily hack on their own once they knew that napping wasn't going to get them anywhere. If you do take the pony have a plan and stick to it, it just takes determination and careful training IMHO.
 
However, the dealer says it can be nappy hacking alone (nothing spectacular, refuses to move forward) as it has worked in a riding school and isn't used to hacking out alone.
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I wouldn't hesitate to have it if it were the right one for me. Most ex-riding school horses are nappy. You can soon work around it and cure.

And I completely agree with wellsat - planning and careful training is the key, as well as patience.
 
This is what I was thinking. Have a battle-plan, keep calm and stick to it. For the amount they're asking there isn't too much to lose.

I feel that the pony could be a sweetie if this were sorted.
 
I feel that the pony could be a sweetie if this were sorted.
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Probably would be.

But remember, it's not so much a battle plan, but thinking around corners, not getting cross, nor taking a stick to it. It's very much about patience and perseverence.
 
Of course.

What strategies have you tried in the past?

I have thought about walking out in hand, riding out with my other pony (who loves going out) accompanying part way or simply playing a waiting game if it refuses to move so that it gets bored first! Also walking out with my partner walking alongside for 'company'.

Also, I thought about bringing it away from the field and from company for its evening feed, round to the back of my house.
 
LOL, but a bit different :)

My sec a can take the limelight for nice looks.

Does anything else scream out at you though, cosmetics aside?

I did ask the dealer about the ludicrous price, she works like Primark I think, in cheap, out cheap, fast turnover.
 
metalmare said:
Of course.

What strategies have you tried in the past?

I have thought about walking out in hand, riding out with my other pony (who loves going out) accompanying part way or simply playing a waiting game if it refuses to move so that it gets bored first! Also walking out with my partner walking alongside for 'company'.

Also, I thought about bringing it away from the field and from company for its evening feed, round to the back of my house.
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Nappiness is not always about not wanting to leave its companions, so I really wouldn't deprive it of it's company. Just establish what ever routine works for you with regards management and stick to it. A lot of it is about confidence doing things on its own.

The key is making sure you have enough time, always. Do ride it out for the first few weeks in company (as a lot of us would do anyway). You need to know that it's 100% in traffic before going it alone.

Then go it alone. I sat on a horse once for 4 hours after it decided to plant. And I literally did just sit there. Think of routes that can be 'fun'. So a route where there is a canter is brilliant. You want to instill that 'forward' is fun, backward is boring.

Hunt it as well - does wonders for them. Fast, furious and fun!
 
yeah i would and have!

one thing though, the advert states hacks out alone and with others and is an easy ride - the dealer has obv been honest and told you it naps but I would be wary about other issues they may be hiding - maybe nothing at all!
 
Great advice, thank you. I'm lucky because my livery is the field behind my house so it's more time to spend with the pony/ies(?) Also, there is a bridle-path opposite the house which is suitable for a canter, which is great.

If there is a chance of being sat there for four hours I think I'll take sandwiches ;)
 
One of our ponies is an ex riding school and tries it on EVERY time we got out on her own. But we worked on it over the last year and now a quick tap with the whip and a growl is enough to send her on and once she realises she will not get away with it (its more argumentative than fear with our girl at this stage) then on she goes and we have a great time. So yes, I would buy him if he ticks the rest of your boxes.
 
Yes, I thought it was a contradiction treacle_beastie. I guess it's all speculation really until I actually go and sit on him. I suppose whether you spend 100, 1000 or 10,000 on a pony there's always that element of risk.
 
Thank you, indiat.

I enjoy training so I think every time I rode for the first few months / year I would have to get on thinking this is a training session as opposed to this is a hack. I think a bond of trust is important.

I've brought my yearling on since he was a weanling and he trusts enough to walk past lorries, tractors, buses, etc with me, walking out without company so I think it is a similar principle.

I think time spent grooming and in the field probably goes a long way towards helping your pony trust you.
 
We bought a 13HH pony for my son,knowing she was nappy.
However i dont think she was nappy at all.My son took her off down the woods on his own,and i trusted the pony 100 percent to look after him.She made my son the rider he is today.
I think the pony was over faced and had gone stale.Her old owners expected far to much from her.She needed fun in her life.My son hunted her every week and sweetened her up.
 
Yes, I don't think a pony would necessarily be nappy with every rider, in every circumstance and all surroundings.

I think it depends on what's on offer. There are plenty of horses who hack out fine but refuse to enter a school because that's been overdone, so I think it's a case of getting a happy balance.
 
metalmare said:
Thank you, indiat.

I enjoy training so I think every time I rode for the first few months / year I would have to get on thinking this is a training session as opposed to this is a hack. I think a bond of trust is important.

I've brought my yearling on since he was a weanling and he trusts enough to walk past lorries, tractors, buses, etc with me, walking out without company so I think it is a similar principle.

I think time spent grooming and in the field probably goes a long way towards helping your pony trust you.
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Exactly! I bought a youngster this year, my first ever, and I spend hours walking him in hand, grooming, etc. I think we have started to form a good bond and now I can't wait until he is backed next year. With our stroppy little mare, all the time we spend on the ground with her has worn her resistance down! She submits to the children grooming her and tying her up in ribbons becuase she finally realises they won't go away. We had a hard time with her as she is rather fiery and HATED being a riding school pony. Now she is mellow and relaxed so instead of no holds barred fighting, all we get is the odd strop when she naps.
 
And let's face it, going from a riding school to a dealer this pony has probably not had one to one fuss and attention... he's always just been one in a crowd.
 
DEREK.

Anyway. Yes I would and have.
My horse naps up one side of the school but has gone from grounding himself and turning no matter what to you only really him moving off. Nothing a bit of leg didn't sort out.

I'll admit I was really looking at this pony, I think you should go for it!
 
I found that with my mare (who has been known to nap quite badly out hacking) is to always ride circular routes. Never, ever, ever turn around and go home the same way that you came. She will then always remember that spot and try it on (if it takes her fancy) even months later.

I will also get off and lead her if she's napping somewhere dangerous and this has never made her worse, infact it often breaks the 'deadlock.' I usually can hop back on after 2mins leading her and carry on riding without incident all the way home.
 
I think it depends on who will be riding it. If it is to be ridden by a small child or nervous rider then perhaps not.

And it also depends not only on whether you can handle it, but whether you would enjoy the process.

Personally I think I could cope fine with a somewhat nappy pony, but I also know that personality wise, I might "click" better with a "sensitive" rather than "stubborn" personality type of horse, if you see what I mean?

That being said, if the pony has been used a as a riding school pony the nappiness could be more down to "circumstances" than to its "personality". And if it is used to "exploit" inexperienced riders then it may be quite easy for a more competent rider to sort it out.

If you like the pony in the first place and are happy to work through it, then I wouldn't let it stop you.
 
My little one used to nap like a fool!! Still does sometimes but we worked on it and it's a non-issue now really. It's certainly something that can be worked on and as long as the napping doesn't involve rears, bolts or bucks I'd certainly buy another napper again.

I used to get off when he was being a real t*t. Whatever you finds works, he would usually have a major napping session in the most inconvient places (middle of a village, infront of 20 cars etc!) so I'd find getting off was just easier. I never ever allowed him to go back wards though and circular routes are a must until it's sorted out.
 
It wouldn't bother me as I never, ever hack alone - I can't think of anything more boreing, I like a good old natter along the way, if I have to ride alone, I will always go in the school - so yep I would :)
 
amymay said:
Although, I've never got off.....
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Lots of people don't like getting off and see it as a defeat which I understand.

However, my main aim when I hack out is for me and the mare to get home safely and to have an enjoyable time. 99% of the time we have no issues and there really is no danger. She has been known to nap badly (spinning, reversing, rearing and leaping about) when there is traffic around. At this point I would get off and lead her, it is safer for everyone and with this particular horse, it doesn't make her more likely to nap again. She mainly naps because of fear and once she has been led past the scary thing she will then generally ride past it without issue the next time.

Her napping due to 'I don't want to go forwards for no reason except that I don't want to' was solved by riding circular routes.
 
My mare wasn't nappy when i tried her but soon as i tried to ride her out alone (after initially riding with another horse) she started, so the fact that the dealer has told you the pony is nappy puts you at an advantage as it wont come as a surprise.

When my mare started i didn't heed the initial warning signs and before long we had rears, spooks and reversing, it did for some time knock my confidence and i would get off and walk her past 'the scary object', which whether rightly or wrongly got us going forward.

I have had her 3 years now and tbh she would still rather ride out with others but i can get her out on her own, i always ride a circular route, i keep her thinking i.e. school movements and have learnt the art of leg yielding to get her past scary objects, i do ride her more foward on our solo rides and don't allow her time to linger.

Hope that helps, and btw for the price i say its gotta be worth a look.
 
Plenty more pebbles on the beach.

Not the sort that I'd even consider, I sometimes sell ponies as children's mounts, something like him wouldn't be suitable at all for what I do.

Unless you have the time etc, etc, etc then I'd personally say pass him by.

I stupidly bought one, super pony, little sod out by himself, I enjoyed riding him because I could cope with the high school airs above the ground and the attempted bolting, he ruined riding for fun for my daughter though:mad:

Sold him to a summer camp pretty sharpish where he is perfect for doing the nose to tail job, much loved and will probably be there for the next 20 years until he drops dead, so a happy ending.
 
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I would consider a nappy pony if the seller was genuine but from a dealer that advertises;-
"wanted horses cobs ponies, any thing considered but MUST be realistically priced in the current economic climate.
good private homes are waiting. can collect nationwide,
based in yorkshire"

If it was an easy fix the dealer would have sorted it and would not have put this;-
"hacks out alone or with others
easy to ride
pops a fence steady away
lovely child/teenager pony straight forward easy to ride and deal with
no vices"
and repeats this here;- http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all_rounder_horse_9_yrs_13_2_hh_appaloosa_north_yorkshire/advert/136075
Bargepole anyone?
 
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