wont go out alone!!

[*taz*]

my 7 year old cob will not go anywhere on his own! he seems to be very dependant on his field mate! which can be slightly anoying because he just hates to be parted from him! i would love to go out on a hack on my own maybe not very often but just so i can have the choice if no one else is riding! (as i am at a very small yard and people cant always ride very often!) you start going down the road and he just turns!! he wont walk forward he doesnt buck or rear though so that is ok! but he will turn in front of cars he doesnt care as long as he gets home! and its starting to get me down because i would like to go out more often!

does anyone have any suggestions of getting him used to going on his own!:o

please help!

[HorseManiac]

I had/still have this problem, Percy used to pop, so I used to be scared, but I dont know, Im fearless now :o I know I have to be like that otherwise me and Percy relationship will end.

Percy still pops, but occasionly(like last night) didnt do a full rear, but enough to make me unseated, but usually I would of cryed and got off, no he got spun around.

so, think of it you havent got a nice whopping springy 16.2 on you hands:p

- Start of just on country hacking if possible. Everytime he turns around, turn him in the other direction you where going, stay there for 10 or so seconds and ask for walk on. If he starts reversing or spun round again, do the same but extend the time until he gets bored and walks on. When he does praise him like you have just won the olympics:)

[coyote]

have you tried leading him out in hand??
get him used to going out on his own in hand,that way you have more control,about where you want to go.
He is obviously getting away with it when your riding him,
once he knows he cannot get away with it with you, then he wont do it anymore.;)
It sounds like he is taking the mick tbh and I think you need to be firmer with him.;)

[*taz*]

have you tried leading him out in hand??
get him used to going out on his own in hand,that way you have more control,about where you want to go.
He is obviously getting away with it when your riding him,
once he knows he cannot get away with it with you, then he wont do it anymore.;)
It sounds like he is taking the mick tbh and I think you need to be firmer with him.;)

i will try taking him out in hand in a bridle because he just kept turning around when he wanted in a headcollar! this was when i was moving him to a different field! but usually he is perfect to lead!
i think he is taking the mick as well but im not 100% confident on him! as i have fallen off quite a few times!

i know he will go out on his own because i took him to my friends farm for a holiday! we rode every day and he would lead and go anywhere he had never been before he was perfect! very surefooted but he is just totally different at home!

[*taz*]

I had/still have this problem, Percy used to pop, so I used to be scared, but I dont know, Im fearless now :o I know I have to be like that otherwise me and Percy relationship will end.

Percy still pops, but occasionly(like last night) didnt do a full rear, but enough to make me unseated, but usually I would of cryed and got off, no he got spun around.

so, think of it you havent got a nice whopping springy 16.2 on you hands:p

- Start of just on country hacking if possible. Everytime he turns around, turn him in the other direction you where going, stay there for 10 or so seconds and ask for walk on. If he starts reversing or spun round again, do the same but extend the time until he gets bored and walks on. When he does praise him like you have just won the olympics:)

i am the same as you used to be a get really nervous when he starts to mess about as i have fallen a few times!

also my yard is on a road not a main one but we have a few cars! but yea i agree ive just got to keep turning him around untill he gives up because i used to have this problem when we went of a bridge over a main road and i just kept turning him and my friend just waited!(i was in company ) and he finally gave up but it did take a while!! so think i will try in hand walking and then see if he will go out if he turns i will persist!!

Thanks1

[scarymary]

i had this problem with mary when i first got her. she still doesnt like going on her own and she cries out for other horses when we do go alone, but at least we can go. When she spun for home i just made sure i was ready for it ( you can usually feel the change and be ready) if she turned to the left for home i just held the left rein and pulled her all the way round in a full circle till she was still facing the same way ( away from home) then i would try and make her walk on. She then usually would 'plant' for a few seconds then try turning for home again. again i did the same as before and just turned in a full circle. Eventually she got fed up ( and dizzy :D) of going round in circles and just gave in and went forward. I also changed bits for a while to a vulcanite pelham with 2 sets of reins for extra help. She is now hacking out alone or in company in a staright bar happy mouth snaffle. Good luck hun. x

i also did walking in hand too just letting her follow behind me to gain her trust.

[tazzybear]

I started leading Tawny out in hand at first just getting her used to leaving her friends and going it alone. Then I would lead for a bit, get on when I felt confident and ride a bit etc. My mum gave me a little strap (not sure of proper name!) that attaches from D ring to D ring on my saddle. If I feel I need a bit of extra security I grab hold of that. Although most of the time I forget it's there until after the incident!
I also made going out alone fun for her so I would lead her out, then let her have a little graze somewhere and then hop on.
I get nervous too but i've learnt that you need to be firm with them sometimes or they will just take the mick! Good luck:)

[LeftBrainer]

As coyote said, try leading out in hand - in a bridle or dually headcollar. I've used either in the past but always with a lunge line rather than a lead rope - more to hold on to if you end up having a "discussion." Try riding out with someone walking - or cycling. Take that same person out with you when leading as well. Company that makes you more confident can only help:)

Also (sorry if you've heard this one before) when hacking with others lead the ride for a while and extend the distance, try the same exercise in reverse - drop back further and further.

The more often you're out together on your own the easier it gets:)

[montys helper]

i use to have the same prob and still do with my other one, its just a case of riding it out, if need be when he turns to go home just turn him a few times in a cirlce to confuse him and then walk on,the more u let him get away with it and go home the more he will do it as he will know he has the upper hand. good luck and i hope u get it sorted x

[Gemmahorselover]

I have this problem too with my 5 year old mare but her stunt is to back up like the speed of lightning and I am scared to go anywhere on my own that has a ditch either side of the road or path incase she injures herself and we have an accident. She also turns round to head home but I do fully turn her round the the same way I want to go. Her main trick is just purely planting herself and refusing to go forwards no matter what I do or reverse at a ridiculous speed. Any suggestions???

[kestrel]

as coyote says lead him out. the bridle will give you extra control - use a lunge line rather than a rope. finally think positively. i'm sure that you will overcome this, it'll just take time. visualise hacking him out alone a lot. you'll get there eventually! :D