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You are in... Forums > Riding and Training > General > Should I give up?

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Faron

Joined:

Feb 07

Posts: 491

Faron says:

Should I give up?

Hello. I have just got back from another aweful ride on my horse Konner. I get an instructor once a week who is amazing. My main problem is when we are out hacking, he starts fliping round or going sideways into ditches (one occasion he fell in). My instructor has taught me how to stop him doing it, use inside leg and hand, put whipp into inside hand, think forward, stay in the middle of the road and it works for a short time when she is there but every single time I go out on my own he does it without fail. I have totally changed who I am arond him so that I can cope because I'm not a naturally dominant person but I am around him and he is submissive on the ground. Saying that today he kept trying to kick me in the field.

Sorry for the length of this but I am ready to give up, there is never improvement and I feel there's a brick wall in the way. I know it's me that's the problem but I don't know what to do. He is becoming dangerous when he does do all that on the road. Can anyone help?

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  • Posted 5 years ago (07 January 2009 16:20)
gypsydew

Joined:

Sep 05

Posts: 813

gypsydew says:

Re: Should I give up?

Now that is some very naughty napping to intimidate you.

 

Whats he like when you hack out with others?

 

MIght be worth taking him back to basics and with your instructor and an experienced friend another time take him out in long lines and see if he goes forward quietly.

 

I know this bit will sound a bit harsh but at the end of the day as much as you love him to bits he may not be the horse for you and your safety is paramount. It is a very hard descion to make but there is someone out there who will love him just as much as you and who will take this problem and be confident enough to handle/sort it. 

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  • Posted 5 years ago (07 January 2009 16:33)
jackysian

Joined:

May 06

Posts: 264

jackysian says:

Re: Should I give up?

Only you know if you are truly over horsed. That said don't give up yet! I would definately go back to basic's. You need a good safe horse to hack out with, one that will give your boy the right signals and let him know what is acceptable and what is not.  

In the meantime what is he like to lead out? I had to do this with my boy for the first year (he was young and partically sighted so I decided to give him a year off and re-back him). I found walking in hand invaluable, it gives you a bonding experience and increases your horses trust. He does sound like he's taking the p*ss big time and you need to nip it in the bud. Obviously I'd lead him in his bridle so you have some control.  I would suggest too if you have a friend with a school master that would allow you to ride? I took on a loan horse while Kane was being sorted out and the loan was Mr Perfect!!! He gave me masses of confidence so when the time came to tackle Kane and his major issues I was more prepared and more confident in my abilities.

 

I totally understand where you are coming from, it's 2 steps forward and 1 back but I promise it's worth giving him some more time.

When you're young and you fall off a horse, you may break something. When you're my age, you splatter. ~Roy Rogers

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  • Posted 5 years ago (07 January 2009 16:43)
Cocosmom

Joined:

Jan 09

Posts: 2542

Cocosmom says:

Re: Should I give up?

I totally agree with jackiesian above, my boy was a terrible napper and i realised it all came down to his lack of confidence when he was out on his own, so i took to taking him out on the lead rein every day, sometimes we'd walk along way, sometimes just a few minutes down the road, i'd let coco munch on the verge as well so he realised being out on his own wasn't such a bad experience! He started to trust me more and more and hardly ever naps. When he does just try and keep calm and try not to get into a fight with him as he will associate going out with fighting with u! Whenever he does the right thing give him loads of praise and encouragement even if it is only one step in the right direction! Keep trying, its such am amazing feeling when u turn a difficult horse around! U just need to convince him going out is fun and u will protect him. It'll take a while but u will get there! Good luck!

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  • Posted 5 years ago (07 January 2009 17:54)
Vik1

Joined:

Aug 08

Posts: 3200

Vik1 says:

Re: Should I give up?

Have you ever thought about moving yards?

 

My first pony napped and it was largely because there were no circuits, we always had to turn round and come back the way we came.  She also did it more out on my own.  I moved yards to somewhere that you never doubled back and there were more people to hack out with as well.  There were also more places to hack, so it was different ways each day.She didnt nap once after I moved her. 

Some points to consider are, are you doubling back?  Are you limited to one or two roads/tracks?  Whats he like with another horse?  Are there any yards with better hacking?  Yards with hacking where your not on roads with ditches? (Hate ditches, I have a v spooky horse and her spokking I can cope with, its the thought of falling in one!)

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  • Posted 5 years ago (07 January 2009 17:57)
Faron

Joined:

Feb 07

Posts: 491

Faron says:

Re: Should I give up?

Vik1 said:

Have you ever thought about moving yards?

 

My first pony napped and it was largely because there were no circuits, we always had to turn round and come back the way we came.  She also did it more out on my own.  I moved yards to somewhere that you never doubled back and there were more people to hack out with as well.  There were also more places to hack, so it was different ways each day.She didnt nap once after I moved her. 

Some points to consider are, are you doubling back?  Are you limited to one or two roads/tracks?  Whats he like with another horse?  Are there any yards with better hacking?  Yards with hacking where your not on roads with ditches? (Hate ditches, I have a v spooky horse and her spokking I can cope with, its the thought of falling in one!)


He lives at home with me. I'm very fortunate i can see my horses from my kitchen and bedroom. I have a choice of two roads to go down, one leading to a massive wood which we went to with my friend and her very nappy horse and that was aweful! I gave in and lead him home which I know is a bad thing to do but he was happy and calm and so was I. My instructor wasn't impressed! Leading him is a great suggestion though. I am defnitly going to try that.

I know it is me who is the problem and I'm sure he knows how to get around me. Do you think letting my instructor ride him and have me on my schoolmistress help? My instructor -caroline- thinks she's too heavy for my other horse so it would have to be me on my other horse.
 

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  • Posted 5 years ago (07 January 2009 20:07)
Faron

Joined:

Feb 07

Posts: 491

Faron says:

Re: Should I give up?

Would lunging help?

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  • Posted 5 years ago (07 January 2009 20:48)
Vanessa24

Joined:

Jul 08

Posts: 43

Vanessa24 says:

Re: Should I give up?

My horse went through a stage a couple of years ago of napping and behaving like this as well due to my lack of confidence. It got to the stage where he wouldnt even move a couple of steps with anyone on him and he keep trying to buck them off. I managed to get a confident friend to lunge him every day and within a few weeks there was lots of improvement and he rides ok now but obviously all horses are different so i'm not sure if lunging would have the same effect on your horse. Hope you find something that works.

To ride a horse is to ride the sky.

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  • Posted 5 years ago (07 January 2009 21:03)
Ben's Mum

Joined:

Sep 08

Posts: 1113

Ben's Mum says:

Re: Should I give up?

Owning a horse is never going to be a bed of roses.  I've had my times in the last year since i owned Ben that I have thought I really didn't want him any more because he takes the mickey out of me and due to my inexperience I haven't known how to deal with it.  I'm lucky with the support I have that I've managed to get through it.  I've firmly got fixed in my mind that I will do absolutely everything I can with Ben to sort things out before parting with him.

I really hope that this is just one of those bad times and that you can look back at it and be proud of what you have achieved.  A suggestion that has been made to me, which I find does help is to write a diary every day so that when you feel down you can look back at what you've achieved.

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~ Sir Winston Churchill

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  • Posted 5 years ago (07 January 2009 21:07)
jackysian

Joined:

May 06

Posts: 264

jackysian says:

Re: Should I give up?

Faron said:

I know it is me who is the problem and I'm sure he knows how to get around me. Do you think letting my instructor ride him and have me on my schoolmistress help? My instructor -caroline- thinks she's too heavy for my other horse so it would have to be me on my other horse.
 


------ End Quote ------

 

Not being rude but you are right, you are the problem!! I know because I too am my horse's worse enemy!! Since moving yards I've had alot more experienced people around me to help me out and they've pointed out my failings!! Its all been for the good of me and Kane so I don't mind!

 

I think having your instructor ride him and you take your other horse is a brilliant idea!! You can hack together the first ride, next ride make your boy lead the whole way, next ride increase the distance between the horses, next ride you turn back before your instructor so he has to come back alone...etc etc!! This is how I dealt with Kane's napping and it really helped! I'm not saying Kane is cured completely and he does have some silly napping but it's less extreame and I can sort it in seconds rather than hours at it used to be!!

 

And yes you are VERY lucky to have your horse at home..I'm very jealous, but it could also explain his napping. It might be worth considering moving him to a livery just for a month or so, give him a bit of a jolt and remind him YOU are in charge of his life so you decide where he goes and when?

 

When you're young and you fall off a horse, you may break something. When you're my age, you splatter. ~Roy Rogers

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  • Posted 5 years ago (08 January 2009 09:31)
P44 apollo

Joined:

Sep 05

Posts: 69

P44 apollo says:

Re: Should I give up?

Never give up on any horse. I takes months to built up a bond with a horse even years if your willing to put the time in.How long have you had him? Its all down to trust, if a horse trusts you he will do anything for you.

I love problem horses. My aim this year is to start working with as many problem horses that i can. My horse a tb ex racer, was a nightmare, head shy, terrified of being lunged or touched. I've had him 7 years july and i have never looked back, we now compete and he lets me do anything with him.

One other thing, I have never needed to use a whip, i've seen people use them on so called naughty horses and its made them worse!!

 

 

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  • Posted 5 years ago (08 January 2009 10:03)

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