"Hi, I have recently been experiencing some problems with my horse in the cross country phase which I would love some advice on. She is a 17hh, 12-year-old Warmblood x TB who has evented to pre-novice level with a good record, but recently she has been causing me trouble in the cross country by stopping between fences and becoming really hard to get going again, often resulting in a loss of energy at the fences which means a stop. She goes brilliantly in both the first phases and warms up fine for the cross country and goes into the start box and comes out fine, clearing the first couple of fences well. She seems to start this slowing when she leaves the area where the lorries are or as she goes in a direction away from everything so we have come to the conclusion that she may be napping. Though she never does this when we take her XC schooling anywhere or when she jumps at home, and in her general day to day routine she doesn't nap at all e.g. when hacking or when I take her cantering across fields away from the yard.

We have had everything checked e.g. back, tack etc and have no reason to believe she is pain or discomfort so we can only assume she's napping. I have been advised to take her hunting and to hunter trials over the winter to try and resolve the problem. Is this the right thing to do and can you advise anything else I can try to get over this problem?" Emma

H&C blogger and Olympic eventer Sharon Hunt replies: "Hi Emma, yes - I think hunting would be a good idea, anything to get her going. I think you have to be so careful with mares not to put too much pressure on them. I have one quite similar and have to kid her along by never using too much leg and would NEVER hit her. She would not stand for it at all. I try using my seat when in situations as they can't object so much to this as the leg. I would also not put too much pressure on her on the flat or jumping and be very tactful and try to get her to enjoy life again. Similarly out hacking, I always follow as this avoids confrontation and would rather pat her when she stops than be forceful. It is hard without seeing her but certainly my mare needs no pressure as she will shut down otherwise, but doing things she enjoys makes her better at the competitions and more willing to work with me. I hope this helps!

Sharon."