Spooky

[Merrybridge]

What's the best thing to do with a horse who is spooky when out hacking? Would it be better to start off long-reining on quiet roads and then progress accompanied by a bombproof horse?:confused:

[Rabo]

There is a lot to see when hacking out and it is supposed to be relaxing for both of you. Your idea to long rein him is a good idea so long as he doesn't spook himself, become entangled and scare himself even more.
Your safest option is to lead him out in hand - perhaps progressing to a bicycle when he's used to it or to hack with a nice sensible horse until he's ready to go it alone.

[Rabo]

Another thought. Do some work using Natural Horsemanship techniques - basically rubbing him all over his body with all sorts of scary things (obviously pushing him beyond his comfort zone temporarily) such as plastic bags, crisp packets, plastic cups, magazines, leafy branches . . . This will help to desensitise him to the distractions of hacking.
My friend also hangs rhythm bells around her horses neck (drives me nuts, but she swears by them).

[Joyscarer]

It really depends on the horse.

With Joy I would hack in company but couldn't hack solo. So what I would do is take her out in hand for grazing opportunities. She was happier with me on the ground and this was for 2 reasons: I am more confident on the ground and also she could see me and if she didn't like something I would hold the end of the lead rope and go up to the offending item and tell it how gorgeous it was whilst stroking it. I'd funny looks from passers by but a conbination of jealousy and curiosity would get Joy over to have a look and snort at it :p

I personally wouldn't have long reined for 3 reasons: Joy wasn't used to it, I wasn't used to it and she wouldn't have had my lead to show it was ok as I would be following. :)

Once the in hand hacks went ok I would hop on to come home again and then hop on on the way out and eventually go out and come back.

I have never been one of those that wouldn't get off if she was truly frightend as she is still happier with me on the ground as am I. I hadn't had to do that for a good 8 months though until this morning. I deliberately took her past 3 pigs. I knew they were there from a previous ride but last time they were all in and sleeping. This time they were all out and snorting. Joy was obviously upset way before we got there so I got off and led her. I'll will make sure that I got that way a few times next week too. I'm evil like that, if I find a spooky weekness I make a point of seeking it out (but not every time) and dealing with it :)

[AengusOg]

If you have long-reined before, and feel comfortable doing it, then it's an excellent way to encourage a horse to be brave.

If you've not done it before there are probably a few things you should learn from someone who is good at it, before you try.

It's sometimes not the easiest thing to get a young/green horse to long-rein without some preliminary training first, as well as some knowledge of what can go wrong, and how to cope with that.

[LindaAd]

I've read - sorry, I can't remember where now - that it's dangeros to long-rein on the roads. I know lots of people seem to do it, but I think you'd have less control long-reining than either riding or leading, and if the horse gets scared and decides to gallop home it could be dangerous.

I think my option would be riding out with a steady horse, then gradually ask him to go ahead of the other horse, or to wait while the other horse goes ahead (just a few steps at first), then to go in different directions for a little way, and so on.

[Merrybridge]

Thanks guys

It's a little horse I'm thinking about buying - he's been out on the road a couple of times and is ok with cars. On one occasion he did also meet a coach and a tractor with a silage trailer on the back and although his eyes were popping out of his head he did walk pas them. He seems to be the sort of horse who once he's seen something once he's ok. I think the best thing would be to lead him out a few times for grazing after exercise. I'm hoping to stable him at a private yard and the lady there has two or three of her own horses so I might be able to go out with her as well.;)

[puzzles]

Perhaps you could ireplicate 'roads' in the menage, yard and/or field by placing vehicles, building work cones and signs, have people drive slowly past you ... before actually going on to the roads, as you can have absolute control over the situation 9i.e. if your horse panics etc).

Good luck!

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