Napping

[haffyfan]

Well things had been going just too well for me it seems. Harry was getting ridden a couple of times a week and ride and lead was working out fab...it just couldn't last could it

My friend C is on one of her never ending hols till sept and it's looking like T probably won't be able to ride him anymore so yesterday i was back to ride and lead with no other options on near horizon.

Only i ended up leading both of them most of the way as murph, the little foul smelling poopy that he is, decided after about two years of not doing so to nap big time. As soon as we got to top of lane he didn't want to go right...should i have let him go the way he wanted, who knows? Ended up towing him along as he dug his heels in as getting cross with him resulted in poor old harry getting wound up thinking it was him i was cross with and he kept inadvertently getting in my way of trying to get Murph forwards whilst onboard. After two openings across the fields that face home i got on thinking he's go as was walking better...what do you think little toad dug his heels in again and started to reverse hence having to get off again as by this point i had harry turned round facing me in surprise. Cue me leading again...didn't get much further and heard motor bikes ahead, just couldn't be doing with extra stress so got on turned round and the little foul smelling poopy of course behaved perfectly. Tried to ride past the home turn and he promptly went into reverse and reversed into the bracken (all 6ft high of it) and the ditch it grows in cue me getting off again and dragging them down towards the road and away from home. Waited till he stopped trying to nap and was walking alongside me and then turned around and got on and rode back home. Did a couple of [reluctant] circles with them at top of lane before heading home. Of course behaved beautifully again as soon as he faced home.

Could have cheerfully throttled him...why now i'm stuck again does he have to remember about being nappy

Dreading my next attempt now...already put off going this morning, so not good is it.

Then just to add a bit of injury, i had decided to wear my new long boots and those boots aint made for walking!

Cookies for all who actually read any of that.

[spotti]

Oh Haf, I know allllllll about napping and it is indeed a oain in the backside!!! Nothing more frustrating...espeically when you think you've solved it and then after a period of 'good times' it comes back to bite you in the bum >-(. Still you did the right thing IMO by not getting cross with Murph and also by not just letting him drag you back home. With Faith I've sat for over an hour in the same spot just waiting for her to stop 'stropping' before I could ask her to move forwards, just a tiny bit, and then we turn for home (but only when she stops trying to tell me that's where we are going ). I'd imagine this can be quite difficult with two neds because you don't want to upset Harry whilst trying to teach stubborn Murph a lesson...then again it sounds like it's hard enough trying to get out as it is (same here!), without having to try and take them out individually...

Don't really know what to suggest to you. All I can say is that I feel your pain - been there, done that, got the t-shirt! At least with you (and us now) you're not on the roads...used to be tonnes worse when Faith used to stop mid-way across a junction - typically in front of a big fat bus :rolleyes: - or on a blind corner on a hill!!! Silly old moo.

[solomon]

So frustrating for you. I have not had to deal with this thankfully so can only say don't let the b*gg*r wear you down. Be strong and put your old boots back on. Is it worth getting someone to go with you on the ground? Anyone you could ask?

[brigadier]

oh no, when I used to do ride and lead, the one proviso was that the horses were well behaved when doing it as there is not much you can do when it goes wrong, it simply becomes dangerous.

Maybe you will just have to accept that when you are doing it for exercise as opposed to a ride for pleasure then you go the way he is comfortable with and you know he will be safe. In the meantime if he continues to be nappy then get the long reins out and smack his bum!

[haffyfan]

Well the sh1tbag did it again.
I let him go the way he wanted and all was fine for a while, just started to think hey it was just a blip when he stopped - thought he was starting but he needed a wee then about a dozen strides later if was as if a lightbulb had gone off in his head and he just packed up like the day before. Ended up ringing my OH (thank heavens for Saturdays!) after he slipped his bridle whilst i was trying to get him to shift (little toad) fortunatly he's such a stubborn so and so he remained stood rooted to the spot whilst i slipped it back on (Not the first time this has happened, he's a sod for it!) Thanks to my Oh taking harry off my hands i finally got him moving, was able to get back on and once we were past half way point (ie he knew it was going home) was able to take Harry back and OH went and retrieved his van and got home relatively unscatched...he was pig at the gate and i had to get off after he refused to let me close it and decided he's try to kick Harry instead

Gawd i hate that horse so much sometimes, why on earth do i worship the flippin ground he walks on the rest of the time... i need my head testing thats for sure.

As for the future.... Eek no idea as can't really risk taking them out alone again now he's done it twice in a row. Why couldn't i just collect stamps or press flowers or something equally safe and stressless