Very nappy

#1A · 05-18-2007, 02:26 PM

I am looking for some more ideas on how to deal with a nappy 6 yr old TB gelding.
He is very green, and gets quite frantic when touched or heaven forbid, smacked with a whip.

At certain moments he will just refuse to go forward, or will just start going backwards. He will also spin, and pull away in his preferred direction.My initial reaction was to smack him when he did this, but the reaction he gives to a whip is so OTT that I would prefer to go another route. I am down to thinking that this is a respect issue. Any thoughts?

I should probably mention that his owner is becoming completely unnerved by his behavior, and I can't ride at the moment. That's why I need a less confrontational approach.

tbtrainer · 05-19-2007, 05:26 AM

First I have a question... was this horse raced?

Lou3 · 05-19-2007, 05:39 AM

Distractions. If he starts to be stupid immediately start asking him to do something else. Turn him in circles, ASK him to back up, do anything to get his attention back on you and doing what YOU ask him to. Make sure you work on plenty of transitions, leg yeilding and rein backs. If backwards and sideways is just another direction you can ask him to go then he has no where left to run to. Distraction therapy works wonders with a lot of nappy horses but you have to have good timing so you can hopefully start the distraction a split second BEFORE he decides he's going to stop and be an idiot.

harli36 · 05-19-2007, 06:20 AM

I don't think this horse sounds nappy or lazy he sounds spooky to me. Like Lou said distractions work great to keep them from looking at or noticing the scary thing. But when the distraction doesn't work then I find that working little by little towards the scary thing works well. So say for instance, your horse see's a scary looking mud puddle that they don't want to go near and the distractions didn't work. Then get as close to the puddle as your horse will go without stopping or backing up. Stand there for a few seconds and then turn around and go back the way you came until the horse can relax completely. Stop again and go back towards the puddle with the idea that you will get just a step or two closer (more of course if the horse will let you) and then repeat. It's also better to not go right at the object if you can, try going to the side of it.

JBandRio · 05-19-2007, 06:56 AM

First, desensitize him to anything that looks like a whip. He really needs to learn that a whip is just an extension of your arm, and that's how you need to use it.

When he starts getting frantic, the last thing you want to do is smack him because that's just giving validation to his issues.

PaintedQH · 05-19-2007, 08:36 AM

I think this horse is just disrespectful and needs a lot more ground work to get him using the thinking side of his brain.

#1A · 05-19-2007, 10:18 AM

Thanks for the input.
Yes, he was raced, but only once, about 2 years ago. I'm quite sure that's the root of the problem.Although I used to own his half brother, who was very much the same, so maybe it's also a bit genetic (he turned out FAB, BTW!!)
No, he is not really spooky - it is absolutely attitude, not fear. I know the difference. I've worked with loads of horses off the track - that's mostly what we have to work with in South Africa.It's sort of a specialty of mine. And he is very forward going, when he does work, so I wouldn't say he is lazy.
I agree with the distractions, and essentially putting him to work, keeping him focused, reining back, small circles etc. That is exactly what I have been doing with him. It does seem to help - I will persevere.
I have told the owners to make a lunge ring so I can do some ground work with him, but that is going to take a bit of time. Ultimately, though, I think that will be the answer.That is my gut feeling.
I have also been working on getting him used to the stick, which is also why I don't really want to use it on him.
Well ladies, it looks like we are all on the same page.
Thanks for the backup.
I'll keep you posted.

cassidy · 05-19-2007, 10:55 AM

sounds to me like he may need to go right back from the beggining an learn a few things

BlingRacer · 05-19-2007, 03:48 PM

What the heck does nappy mean? Never heard that phrase!

Chelle2005 · 05-19-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlingRacer

What the heck does nappy mean? Never heard that phrase!

I was wondering what that meant also

05-19-2007, 05:26 AM	#2
tbtrainer Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 6,399 Images: 354	First I have a question... was this horse raced? __________________ Guess What??? SPLAT! you have just been snowballed! More than once even... I have been NOEL'ed and Blessed In His Name "I've been Goosed!" Splatted, Goosed and Noeled, oh my! *In my experience, the best way to slow down a runaway horse is to bet on it...*

05-19-2007, 05:39 AM	#3
Lou3 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: england Posts: 7,530 Images: 32 Blog Entries: 1	Distractions. If he starts to be stupid immediately start asking him to do something else. Turn him in circles, ASK him to back up, do anything to get his attention back on you and doing what YOU ask him to. Make sure you work on plenty of transitions, leg yeilding and rein backs. If backwards and sideways is just another direction you can ask him to go then he has no where left to run to. Distraction therapy works wonders with a lot of nappy horses but you have to have good timing so you can hopefully start the distraction a split second BEFORE he decides he's going to stop and be an idiot. __________________ Save the Earth . . . it's the only planet with chocolate FFFL

05-19-2007, 06:20 AM	#4
harli36 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: northeastern Pa Posts: 4,551 Images: 43	I don't think this horse sounds nappy or lazy he sounds spooky to me. Like Lou said distractions work great to keep them from looking at or noticing the scary thing. But when the distraction doesn't work then I find that working little by little towards the scary thing works well. So say for instance, your horse see's a scary looking mud puddle that they don't want to go near and the distractions didn't work. Then get as close to the puddle as your horse will go without stopping or backing up. Stand there for a few seconds and then turn around and go back the way you came until the horse can relax completely. Stop again and go back towards the puddle with the idea that you will get just a step or two closer (more of course if the horse will let you) and then repeat. It's also better to not go right at the object if you can, try going to the side of it. __________________ The Morgan Horse! Everything else is just a horse. http://www.morganhorse.com/ “I have been NOEL’ed and Blessed In His Name” It's all fun and games until someone looses an eye *Splat I've been snowballed!!!!!!!!*

05-19-2007, 06:56 AM	#5
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,721 Images: 145 Blog Entries: 12	First, desensitize him to anything that looks like a whip. He really needs to learn that a whip is just an extension of your arm, and that's how you need to use it. When he starts getting frantic, the last thing you want to do is smack him because that's just giving validation to his issues. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - You can't hit me with all those snowballs!

05-19-2007, 10:55 AM	#8
cassidy Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: england - its sunny sometimes honest! Posts: 21,575 Images: 820	sounds to me like he may need to go right back from the beggining an learn a few things __________________ ive been snowballed... May your life be like toilet paper - Long and useful A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care. - Pat Parelli http://www.freewebs.com/linz88055/myprofile.htm

05-18-2007, 02:26 PM	#1
#1A Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 307	Very nappy I am looking for some more ideas on how to deal with a nappy 6 yr old TB gelding. He is very green, and gets quite frantic when touched or heaven forbid, smacked with a whip. At certain moments he will just refuse to go forward, or will just start going backwards. He will also spin, and pull away in his preferred direction.My initial reaction was to smack him when he did this, but the reaction he gives to a whip is so OTT that I would prefer to go another route. I am down to thinking that this is a respect issue. Any thoughts? I should probably mention that his owner is becoming completely unnerved by his behavior, and I can't ride at the moment. That's why I need a less confrontational approach.

05-19-2007, 08:36 AM	#6
PaintedQH Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 355 Images: 10	I think this horse is just disrespectful and needs a lot more ground work to get him using the thinking side of his brain.

05-19-2007, 10:18 AM	#7
#1A Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 307	Thanks for the input. Yes, he was raced, but only once, about 2 years ago. I'm quite sure that's the root of the problem.Although I used to own his half brother, who was very much the same, so maybe it's also a bit genetic (he turned out FAB, BTW!!) No, he is not really spooky - it is absolutely attitude, not fear. I know the difference. I've worked with loads of horses off the track - that's mostly what we have to work with in South Africa.It's sort of a specialty of mine. And he is very forward going, when he does work, so I wouldn't say he is lazy. I agree with the distractions, and essentially putting him to work, keeping him focused, reining back, small circles etc. That is exactly what I have been doing with him. It does seem to help - I will persevere. I have told the owners to make a lunge ring so I can do some ground work with him, but that is going to take a bit of time. Ultimately, though, I think that will be the answer.That is my gut feeling. I have also been working on getting him used to the stick, which is also why I don't really want to use it on him. Well ladies, it looks like we are all on the same page. Thanks for the backup. I'll keep you posted.

05-19-2007, 03:48 PM	#9
BlingRacer Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Springtown, TX Posts: 839 Images: 243	What the heck does nappy mean? Never heard that phrase!

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