A NAPPY HORSE

Firstly, the most common reason for a nappy horse is due to them being in pain, uncomfortable, wrong tack or an underlying issue. So please do get all this checked before hand! As it could be a simple change of tack or a good physio session!

So if you've done all the checks and there is no pain and tack fits well then what do we do?

Many people's advice would be "Use a lot of leg" or "Put spurs on" Unfortunately I tried all of the above apart from the spurs, how do you think it helped? Do you think she understood what I was asking? Do you think she gave in to submission?

The answer is NO, we got stuck into a never ending argument and id like to add an argument I was never going to win! She become more tensed and stubborn, so did I. It was catch 22. So as you could you imagine I felt defeated and I was in tears!

I eventually decided I was going to stick to my gut, I know my horse and I know how she learns. So I'll take it and run with it!

So what did I do?

It's actually VERY simple, however when your in that situation it isn't so simple. As you end up bringing all different kinds of emotions into the situation. So first let's try get rid of our emotions and let's just focus on the task we are trying to do! Get our horse to go forward willingly!

So the typical behaviour of blue would be, I'll get on, her back will be up, she'll become tense I her neck and spin round. She will refuse to walk forward and plant her feet. When Blue would turn she would mostly turn to the left, so instead of becoming frustrated and get angry I would quickly turn her to the right. I would NOT let her turn around in a circle, I would turn her back to the spot I want her facing and make her stand there. Once she stood there quietly I would give her a little scratch on the neck to tell her it's ok, I then asked her to walk on.

She isn't a robot so this took a couple of tries but eventually she walked off the yard! All by herself to go on a hack, we did this procedure every time blue decided she did not want to hack. Until eventually she stopped doing it!

Horse's are individuals and some do need different teaching approaches, however ALL horse's learn the same reputation and consistency.

DON'T GIVE UP! #THEFEARFULRIDER