Napping Horses - Your Opinions

[spotti]

What would you do with a horse that napped?

Nothing nasty or particularly dangerous, just getting so far and then either stopping completely or if persuaded to keep going, really drags their feet?

Faith, being the freak that she is , is fantastic out on a new route, but only the first time we go that way. The more times we go that way, the more hard work she is to get going! I'm sure she's supposed to get better the more familiar it is?!?!?!

Anyway, she's got this habit of slowing right down and eventually grinding to a halt, refusing to budge unless its in the direction of home. Now this generally isn't a problem as we've learnt to pull into the side of the road and just sit there - not moving, not eating, not really doing anything but standing - until she seemingly forgets to be napping and will happily walk on the way we were headed.

I know she's not frightened as you can see it in her face that she's quite chilled. She's not in pain as she will stride right out, sometimes even jogging home when we eventually head back. She *touch wood* seems to pick out places that she knows are relatively safe to perform her game of statues, yet walks just fine on busier roads etc. Oh and her 'sticky points' seem to change each time we pass them...almost like we've conquered one bit, but a few feet after the original 'sticky point' will become another statue-triggering-spot on the next hack...

Knowing Faith like I do, I know she's just seeing what she can get away with and how little she has to do in order to be rewarded (either by carrot slice or by going home), but it does make hacking out hard work!!! She even does it in company...freak pony. And in-hand (although in-hand is our current method of beating the sticky points as she prefers to follow me on foot ).

A quick note before I ask your opinions: any method involving a whip within a metre radius of her results in her setting her neck, rearing, spinning and bolting home.

And now, over to you....what would you do?

[fimacg]

I remember going through this with Chompy but cant really remember any one thing that stopped it, I did use to carry a crop and slap my boot with it so that it mad a noise and got him going or a dressage stick with half a plastic bag tied to the end and would wave that beside me (but plastic bag end toward the floor and alongside his body but not touching him if you understand me).

I also used a bungie to stop the rear spin manouver and I would give him a smack with the stick when that was on.

The odd tractor turning up at a sticking point when he was contemplating being a pain also came in handy as he forgot to be rude, but you cant carry one of them around with you.

hope those ideas help.

[scattymare]

I have used the 'sit it out' tequnique many times and will maintaing a steady pressure or gentle nudging at all times. The moment they walk on, the pressure comes off. Definately do not give in and let her go home.
She does sound like she's well and truly taking the pee!!

[spotti]

Scatty, that's what I think. We've ruled out all possible pains and now shes just being a monkey. The thing that kind of ruins her plan of acting scared/crippled is that when we head home (never the same way we came if we can help it) she strides right out, marching along the road, and should we come across something she spooked at/stopped at on the way out, she doesn't even glance at it - rumbled! Silly old pony .

I'll try the crop-on-boot technique Fi but I fear she may react more as its whip-shaped...but we'll give it a go, and I'll do it without expecting her to be daft so she can't pick up on me being negative.

Other than that, I think we'll just have to continue in-hand towing along and then ride that same route the next day. In fact, we're going to walk a route in-hand and then ride it day after day after day until she is fab.

I'll keep you posted!

[gingernut]

Sorry but agree with above that she is slightly taking the mick. My first pony was a bit like that when I rode her out. Even tried backing her up the road at one point (i was 13 though so might be forgiven for that one), she would literally sit down like a dog sometimes!! I also used to have to lead her half way round the ride until she knew she was on the way home then get back on. I ended up using spurs on her, but only turn my heels in when needed - i.e using my calves and inside of my heel and only turn the heel in and growl at her to make her walk on when she stopped. She woundn't respond to a whip so no point trying. the spurs worked well with her and eventually she gave in and away we went. She is quite forward going? you can get rubber ball ended spurs if you don't like convential ones - and if that works??

[kitcat]

Spotti, have you tried a whip-whop? I've not seen one in action but I think it is the movement of a soft piece of rope rather than the smacking action which helps to send the horse on.

[brigadier]

make a whip whop, some crinkly paper wrapped into a towel and secured with string so it forms a long sausage. then when she farts about (which she is undoubtedly doing) use it vigourously each side of her shoulder so she doesnt know whats hit her, she may spin etc but keep using it until she goes the way you want. It wont hurt her just get the attention off what she is doing.

[FirenLady]

Dunno if works when ridden, but Trav can be a lil stubborn when being led around the field. (hes fine ridden). But the saddler saw him do it and clicked his fingers behind him and ever since its been a garenteed way to get him moving again.Might be worth a try.

[mossh]

Mattie used to nap because he was just being naughty. Would walk out with other horses (sometimes!) but would always follow a person, always.
Once we knew nothing was hurting him then we just got on with it! He wouldn't stand still (he was a rearer) so if he was being particularly rude we'd go everywhere at a spanking trot!! Was too quick for him to stop and rear and his bucking I could sit too as long as he was moving forward, he got a little better as time went on as well
He naps with his new owners as well and nothing is hurting him, he just doesn't want to move!!

[rainbow]

there was a time where mattie wouldnt go down the drive at the old yard and so he started goin backwards, so mosh made him so backwards for most of the drive! it was quite a long drive but he soon learned that forward was easier.

[haffyfan]

I have used if they won't go fowards then go backwards with sucess with murph too.

I have also had to get off and tow him along when he went through his random napping phase (and been towed from Harry)....took to riding him with his rope halter on as one day pulled the bridle off...well he slipped out as I was pulling...fortunatly he was so adamant he was not moving he just stood there and let me put it back on.

I know a lot of people see getting off as a weakness/victory for the horse but if getting off and leading/towing gets you where you want/need to be how can the horse 'have got one over on you'? All i see is that you have defused and worked through a potentially 'dangerous' scenario and saved both sides getting really worked up and angry. If the horse is genuinely scared/nervous getting off will give him confidence as you are taking on the lead/protector role and putting yourself between them and the danger.

I have also resorted to using the end of my reins or a lead rope like you would use a wip wop but making sure it only ever made contact with my leg/boot...I wouldn't have lived to tell the tale otherwise! The noise/sudden motion from behind/above does tend to have a forward effect and once you get the momention going it's easier to keep. Rocking (as in getting some shoulder/neck movement firstly) is also a way i ahve used to get the motion...if you can throw their weight from side to side eventually they need to adjust their feet and once the feet are moving from side to side you can usually gain a grudging step forwards...

However my experience was not quite the same as yours as it was never in the same place twice and could be on the way out or often it the way home...he just went on strike randomly and not every time...whereas faith sounds like it's more a work avoidance tactic if it's certain routes she won't go on on a regular basis.

Fortunatly for me he seems to have hopefully *touches wood* given up his random napping as hasn't done it in over a year now. Keep at it and she will get the message.

[spotti]

Completely forgot about this thread! But thanks for all your tips Helpful as always

Ever since I posted this thread the hairy beastie has been the model pony, walking out fantastically and hasn't stopped once. Granted we've mostly been out in-hand due to having nasty fly bites under her belly/girth area but even so she's been brilliant. We've even expanded our route . We've made friends with the local kids who play out on bikes/scooters/pogo sticks and/or play football and such likes and one in particular stops us every day for a stroke and a chat - and if he doesn't stop us, Faith does!!! She loves 'chatting' to the neighbours/locals and if she could talk I'm sure she'd ask for a go on their bikes!!! O our travels we've been past 'scary' buses that don't seem so scary anymore, past tractors, been up to see an old friend (Bailey, one of Faith's close buddies who moved yards a few months ago) who gallops over to us evey time he sees us ...along with another horse from our yard who lives out with Bailey in the summer who, let's just say, doesn't like Faith much and charges at us whenever Bailey comes over. Faith, being the star that she is, doesn't flinch and just keeps chatting to her pal instead. We've been down the main road, up the main road, explored some other bits of paths etc and even got further up the only 'bridleway'/stoney dirt track than we've ever been before! Safe to say I'm rather impressed with my ponio ;D

I think it might be different when I get back onboard, but so far in-hand seems to have worked wonders in building up her confidence (which I think is the reason she naps - lack of confidence. It seems adrenaline gets her through that first time and then she gets more and more worried as we go along as she knows what to expect...we've learnt I've just got to push her a tiny bit out of her comfort zone each time until eventually she'll hack anywhere on her own without me having to lead her).

Totally agree with Haffy re:getting off isn't a way of being defeated, it simply prevents both parties getting wound up and putting everyone in potential danger.