napping horse- help!

[shoniedaspony]

I have just started sharing a 13yr old ID x tb mare. This saturday i took her out for a hack for the first time (i did go out with the owner walking and me riding down the same path last weds) and as soon as we had to go past the fields with the other horses in she started napping. She just kept walking backwards towards trees and barbed wire. I tried (unsuccessfully) to get her to walk on for around 5 minutes(using leg and talking to her), but the only way she would move is if i turned her to got back in the direction we had come. Therefore i decided to get off and try to walk her further down the lane, to try and stop this problem.

However she refused to move, and when i moved level to her shoulder, she started reversing again. Another rider saw us and offered to let us walk with him down the lane, so i mounted and we began walking again with little difficulty.But, after about 20m she stopped and again reversed. By this time i was in tears as i have never been confornted with this before, so was totally at a loss of what to do. The man suggested i go back up to the stables. I agreed, but decided to go into the school and see what happened.

As soon as we entered the school she was fine, doing everything i asked. I did discuss this with a friend of the owner for a short time after, and she said that it was not my fault, that it was the horse being stubborn and "testing me out". I am not sure what to do, next time i ride i will probably just school and then maybe try to hack out with someone else to see what happens.

Does anyone have any suggestions/comments to make? any help would be very much appreciated as this has unnerved me.

thanx!
shona

[helencheshire]

oh dear sorry to hear you had such trouble. Did the owner say anything about the horse being nappy when riding out alone??

If not I would ask her and It will be a good starting point to see if the horse was just trying it on with you... or generally does this to its rider.

Maybe a good idea to hack out with company until you get to know the horse better... then work on the nappyness from then on.

He sounds a bugger like my old boy I loaned from a trekking centre over winter... he was 17.1 shire X nightmare to hack out alone lol!!

once I knew him better though I found he was actually a big wimp and when he slammed the brakes on I would urge him on and shout...come on you stubborn so and so..and he would carry on!!.. of course when I first rode him out I thought my god... Its a long way down!! wasnt sure wether to kick him on or get of or shout at him!! he would spin round in circles.. whinny and reverse at an alarming rate..quite un nerving on a new horse so big.once I found he was a wimp a little encouragemet and a few words!!! we had lovely hacks!!... I found just by carry a schooling whip he obeyed!! but of course every horse is different.. I'm sure this over grown cob may react differently to things than your T/B X keep us posted!

[Lucy J]

i would disagree with hacking the horse out in company, you will only succeed in making it less secure when on it s own. does sound like a security issue thouhg, i would spend a few weeks schooling and let the horse get mroe responsive to you then try again. if the horse refuses to walk forwads do a few tight circles with loits of inside leg and repeat until the horse will walk forwards. if necessary take a piece of rope and tap it either side of the horses neck, you need to make it easier for the horse to go forwards than to go anywhere else. by all means hack out with someone else, but don't make a habit of it or the horse will expect it and won't go out alone.

worked for mine - if she is naughty on hacks she gets relegated to the school for weeks, soon sorts her out!!!

[helencheshire]

hello shona

Wondered how you were getting on with the horse..intresting to know what the owner said to you?

I agree with what Lucy K says everthings worth a try! although it sounds like your horse is happy to be schooled, usually as there on home territory with company all around.

If the horse really is dangerous to hack out alone I wouldnt risk it until you have heard what the owner says... that backing into barbed wire didnt sound to much fun to say the least.. I can only imagine the horrors if th horse got a leg over or went up. always good to know a horse well before tacking the roads.. we have enougth to worry about with all the blooim drivers who have no disregard for us riders.

I rememeber a partically bad experience with a tractor driver who carried on regardless with the biggest ' monster' trailer behind him. My horse was backing up into the wheels...

From then on I kept to the school until I felt more confident to tackle the roads again!

however nothing was an issue to him with company. which I could understand from him being from a trekking centre.. used to just following another bum along the line... still whatever was good and safe on a hack suited me fine!!

I reme,ber it taking about 20mins to get of the drive from the yard on one occasion we just sat there until he carried forwards.. I would say whenever possible try not to turn around..

Good Luck !!

I suspose with horses its all a matter of trial and error!

Helen xx

[shoniedaspony]

i havent spoken to the other girl yet...her owner full loans her to a girl called Natalie. I went out down the same lane riding Malibu with natalie walking beside and she did nap once, but as we approached a barn that last week had loose electric lines hanging from it that were sparking, and Natalie said "she does do this sometimes, but just keep your leg on and she will go" it is probably a lot of a trust issue, i am hopefully going to call Nat soon, and will ride in the school for a while as there at least she is an angel!

I may try to hack her out in company in a while, when we know each other better, but I will not use this as a way out of the problem as i can see your point that this doesnt actually stop the napping, merely makes going out alone seem more frightening. The circling sounds an excellent idea, you know how it is in situations, your mind goes blank and sensible ideas seem a long way away!!

Thanks everyone for the help and support, it really unnerved me at first as i had no experience of it whatsoever, but you guys have helped me calm down lots. Thursday will be in the school and i shall see about saturday.
(doesnt everyone LOVE the weather at the moment....just the weather for a hack!)

thankyou again... il keep you posted!

Shona

[helencheshire]

Yeah weather is fab hopefully lasts a long time!!

[shoniedaspony]

finally took her out on a hack this weekend, just a wander down the same lane she refused to go down last time. This time i went with another horse and rider, and althought she was a bit wary at first, she soon got into it and enjoyed herself. I think i will try a few more hacks in company before i try by myself again, but things seem to be improving.
thanks for all the advice.

Shona