Moving out of the arena!

[molvik@lochmabe]

I've been riding about 15 months (Always at the same safe riding school-have been on two small hacks with them) and my friend and I decided to go to a different equestrian centre for a two hour hack to try to move forward a bit and experience life outside the ring.

It was a steep learning curve but did us both a lot of good. It was just the two of us and the RI. We were on roads and bridle paths, at one point crossing a very busy road into a park. Yikes.It was all fine until the RI asked if we wanted to canter. In for a penny...

Well the horses took off like it was the Grand national (well it felt that fast-probably wasn't!) I now know that in a group, at spots where they know they usually canter, it can be like that. It was a a bit unnerving to say the least. After the first canter, the RI told me to use a half halt to slow my horse down, which I did, but I still didn't feel completely in control (do I ever I now wonder!)

Also, the ground was soft and quite muddy and my horse slipped a number of times which was also unsettling.

I just wondered if any one else has had the experience of the first outside canter being manic and also if anyone can advise me on what the best way to develop is.Obviously I want to keep going with lessons-but many of the horses at the riding school are voice activated so I often feel I'm applying the aids but is it really me in control? How do I go from this to being outside the arena in the big wide world?

Does anyone get where I'm coming from?

ER-do I need my own horse???!!!

Hope this makes some sense!

THanks

Linda

[Sherveen]

Hi there!
A few pointers. . . when going on outrides, expect the same from the horse as you would in the arena. So that there isn't problem of them being uncontrollable when hacking out. You might find yourself in the situation where the horse performs an extended canter(so it feels like youre galloping) ,although you havnt mentioned if your horse tries to be in the lead or not? I use alot of leg aids when i ride so that my horse listens to my body language, so if i'm riding to the right, i push on the girth with my inside leg(right leg) and bring my outside leg(left leg) behind the girth so that he knows he has to turn now, but if his hindquarters start falling out nudge him with the outside leg (your outside leg basically just makes sure that he doesnt step out of line, and if he does you put him back by pushing him back!). Is he working on the bit when you hack out? Half halts do work to some extent but the correct timing is needed in order for him to understand what you want. So make sure that you release the pressure when he starts slowing down, it doesnt have to be a major slowing in his speed at first, but reward him for the slightest try and he will soon catch on. Hope this helps and let me know how it goes;)

[chickyd444]

my first hacking canter was when i was about 10 and my horse went like a bleedin rocket , but i loved it :D:rolleyes: not really helping am i :o

[SpringySpring]

Wow you really jumped in at the deep end so to speak.

I learnt to ride on hacks, first on leadrein from the ground, then led from another horse and finally left to my own devices. I'll always remember my first canter off the lead rein, I was a bit too enthusiastic and we ended up bombing past all the other horses, with pony throwing in a couple a mini bucks for good measure. I was only 8 and so had no fear although my RI wasn't very pleased.

Personally I would recommend taking things a bit slower for the time being. You don't want to scare yourself. Can you go out with just a small group 2/3 horses maximum? Or perhaps just stick to walk and trot until you get to know the horse and area.

Good luck:)

[molvik@lochmabe]

Thanks everyone!
It was just a small group-3 of us! I don't really think my horse was trying to get into the lead but she was used to cantering at that spot and was raring to go! My uphill canter was brilliant with me yelling yahoo as I went-the first was on more open ground and I do think herd mentality kicked in!

It was also pointed out to me by an experienced rider friend of mine that I didn't know the horse as it wasn't our usual school and that possibly wasn't a good plan either.

Thanks for all the info about aids-I will digest it all. My friend and I were safely back in the arena on Sunday-the day after. Felt really safe! Cantering in there is not a problem!

Advice appreciated-thanks!

LInda:

[Jellybeans]

Another point is that horses shouldn't be cantered in the same place every time. Riding instructors should know this and shouldn't always let a horse canter in the same spot every time it hacks out. Otherwise as soon as you reach that place the horse will start to automatically canter off without being asked, which can be highly dangerous. It's important to canter in lots of different places, and to make sure you sometimes walk or trot where you would normally canter to make sure that you keep control.

[kusha]

Hi

Sounds as though you gained a lot of valuable experience from your hack. :D

I went out a 2 1/2 hour hack last month for the first time since I started back riding before christmas. Although I had hacked out years and years ago I forgot how different it is when you are outside.

Your hack seems very like mine (was it Ayr by any chance?). I felt I just had to put trust in the RS that they wouldn't be using horses unless they were fairly bombproof. As you say this is a RS and horse that you know nothing about.

I have also been to another RS since who do 1 hour beach rides. You still get to canter but it is at a far slower pace than my long hack. Probably ideal for gaining more experience outside without the full on canters that you had on your ride.

Does your own riding school not do a lot of hacking? If that's not possible I would try a few different places for hacks - you will gain valuable experience as well as enjoying lots of different surroundings and levels of difficulty.

Good luck

Kusha

[horseygal90]

I don't really remember my first canter on a hack, I do remember a couple that have been hair raising though!

Was hacking along in a group of four, lead horse was getting a bit antsy so we decided to have a blast up the hill (known as Happy Valley, love that name!), lead horse shot right off and bucked. Lead rider came off, horse spooked the next two horses (I was in front after my cob had a fit of speed) who bucked and chucked their riders off, I carried on oblivious and got to the top wondering why no-one else had joined me. :p

Second was on a different horse around the same place, went for a nice sedate canter going down the Valley, my horse had been pulling like a train all the way around unhappy with not being the lead! Stopped at the top to plan where we were going to go, squeezed and wooooooooosh we're off at a rate of knots, I was half halting all I could but she wouldn't slow down, eventually managed to turn her in a wide circle half way down the hill and slow her to a steady trot. Turned back and the ride leader was white as a sheet, she was petrified I'd fall off or something.

[molvik@lochmabe]

Great and reassuring repies(It is me molvik@lochmabe-just changed this ridiculous name!)

Jellybean-yes! RI said they always canter there because they know that's where they always do-duh?!! So your reasoning very sound-thanks!

Kusha-YES IT WAS AYR! Did you cross the A77 in mid hack? Still a littel pale round the gills thinking about that one! CArs crashing past-thank goodness no one came by on a Harley! Think we're giving Ayr a miss for the time being!

Horseygal-YIKES. Much, much worse than my lil ol' experience! We had a lesson at big safe usual riding school this morning but goiung elsewhere to school with bigger arena and field to work in at 4 this afternoon to be assessed for joining small group. Hope it's not a group of wildly competent, accomplished riders!

So important to find the right placxe-had a bad experience at a non BHS school on South side of Glasgow about a year ago-anyone got bells of empathy clanging?!!!!! Near a certain 'estate?::o:eek:

[molvik@lochmabe]

Sorry think this is going in twice-got confused by trying to change name-sorry!

Jellybean-yes! RI said they always canter there because they know that's where they always do-duh?!! So your reasoning very sound-thanks!

Kusha-YES IT WAS AYR! Did you cross the A77 in mid hack? Still a littel pale round the gills thinking about that one! CArs crashing past-thank goodness no one came by on a Harley! Think we're giving Ayr a miss for the time being!

Horseygal-YIKES. Much, much worse than my lil ol' experience! We had a lesson at big safe usual riding school this morning but goiung elsewhere to school with bigger arena and field to work in at 4 this afternoon to be assessed for joining small group. Hope it's not a group of wildly competent, accomplished riders!

So important to find the right placxe-had a bad experience at a non BHS school on South side of Glasgow about a year ago-anyone got bells of empathy clanging?!!!!! Near a certain 'estate?::o:eek:

[kusha]

Yeh - had to cross the A77 too although luckily was very quiet when we did. I rode Belle.

My girls were at Shanter on Tuesday and I posted pics of them at cafe area. As I said it is a much easier beach ride (1 hour) and you still get to canter if you want to. They also do a 2 hour hack through Culzean Park so think I will give that a try in a few weeks.

Not sure I'm up to Ayr for a while either although it was a fantastic day.

How did you get on today trying your new school? I tried a couple before I settled on the one I go to.

Keep us posted

Don't think your name changed worked?

[Dogrose]

Its like that here, the people who lead the hacks can't comprehend anyone wouldn't want to take off and gallop (its way faster than cantering even though they call it that) at every opportunity. I'm wary of cantering in the school but out on a hack I don't really have a choice, and everyone seems to think I'm better at riding than I am! The horses seem to be much more eager to work out in the country than when they are in the school too.
I don't worry about slipping, its scarey if you slip on muddy ground but you only have two legs, horses have four, image yourself going down a muddy slope on all fours, it doesn't seem that scarey if you think of it that way. And horses really are averse to falling over, they will do anything not to go down.

[P4TD]

Uh oh, I'm doing the three hour hack to the beach at Ayr next saturday - and I haven't ridden in eight years!!! :eek:

Forgot all about that busy road....maybe a saturday morning wasn't the best idea!

I've just booked an hour's private lesson for tomorrow to get myself used to being in the saddle - was planning to have another one in the week, maybe two will be in order reading this ;)

I have a feeling I'll be going on my bum - oh, my neice is going to be so embarrassed!

I hope she'll be ok actually - she's only 13. She does ride out quite often and has been doing some jumping in local shows, so I guess she'll be fine???

[molvik@lochmabe]

Once again everyone-thanks for all your experiences! Feel much less alone!

No Kusha-my name change didn't work! Will try again eventually! I did try another school-just for the experience-near Lochwinnoch but it was not a good experience. In fact, when I got into the car I was trying to work out the best way to tell my friend that I was throwing in my riding hat! We were put in a small group of 5 but they were intermediates and were jumping. Our RI did try to 'differentiate' the lesson for us but my problem-ain't it always the same-was that I had a very forward going horse who wanted to do the same as all the others in the arena. While I was waiting for my turn to do my novice thang, the girl in front of me was off on her intermediate jump thang and good grief did I have a problem holding him back. At one point I shouted to the RI I was having a problem but she didn't hear me.And again-the mad canter!
You think you're getting on ok and then you can't make the horse stand still-I felt completely incompetent!

One of our neighbours has two horses and gave me a wee go in her arena which got me over my unpleasant experience. It was good to practiseturns without such strict direction as you get in schools-very liberating!

Anyway, my friend booked us a couple of lessons at Ayr as our usual(nice safe!) school was packed out. I wasn't too sure but then...revelation!
Our first lesson was with an RI who was from the Czech Republic. She was brilliant-enthusiastic, encouraging-great. I had Belle (she's a sweetie Kusha!) and the combination was good for me. I've had another two lessons with the same RI since and I loved them both. Unfortunately, she goes back home next week-waaah! I had my last leeson with her yesterday on Taffy who used to be a carriage horse. She said he was quite forward going (knot in stomach) but she thought I could cope with him and dya know this? I had a brilliant time. I think her teaching and the fact she had confidence in me helped a lot. He used to be a carriage horse-what a big soul. And again-the thundering canter! But it was fine and I loved it.

Scuse me rambling but I've come to the conclusion (pretty obvious I suppose!) that the right horse and right instructor make a world of difference to your confidence.

Dogrose-a very reassuring tale-thanks!

P4TD-How did you get on at Ayr? We saw the hack going out last week-two ladies there with trainers and normal gear on. It was a monsoon.I felt for them-hope they weren't doing the A77 or catnter-yikes!

Did either of you have Echo perchance? My friend and I had problems with the neck stretching thing!

I'm off to Ingliston (Bishopton) this afternoon. Huge arena. People can have their lunch in the (rather nice)bar/restaurant and watch you.Great incentive not to fall off!

I love this forum!!!!!

[suseh97]

So important to find the right placxe-had a bad experience at a non BHS school on South side of Glasgow about a year ago-anyone got bells of empathy clanging?!!!!! Near a certain 'estate?::o:eek:

OOh I have bells of empathy clanging!!!! I feel pretty sure we are talking about a school I had a lot of problems with back in the late '70s :D

I discounted it while looking for a RS recently as even today it still gives me shivers. I had really hoped things had changed over the years :eek:

[kusha]

Are you having a lesson at Ingliston?

I enquired about lessons there at Christmas and my name was put on waiting list - still waiting!! Did enquire again casually a couple of weeks ago (my girls were trying out the horse vaulting :D) and they said there was a one year waiting list??

[Meadon]

Hi Linda!

I think booking a 2 hour hack is a really good move. I think you can learn just as much hacking as you can in the school.

Alot of riding school horses will know their canter and gallop areas and start to get excited about and then fizz up in canter. My loan horse knows her canter areas extremely well and can be a bit of a handful when being asked to walk instead. She also jumps into canter and squeals, which fizzes her up more.

I think horses tend to stretch more in canter when on a hack and it probably seems faster than what it is. My horse hates soft and muddy ground and will jump it, or either slips through :rolleyes:. Once you've done a few more hacks out you'll feel much more confident.

When slowing down just try sinking all your weight into the saddle and half-halting!

Good luck for the next one!:):)

[molvik@lochmabe]

Hi All

I know some of you live in the same area as I do-East Ren/Ren so just to warn you about what happened last week-just heard.

I live near a farm. One of their small brown elderly ponies(25!) has been on loan to someone locally. She was taken from her field last week and hasn't been seen since.

A few years ago someone was taking elderly ponies, keeping them a few days and releasing them randomly, having cut off a lock of their mane.Weird.

I've tried to post this on the general forum too but it doesn't seem to have shown up so I'm trying it here..

Any info, ideas, help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

[MassMedia]

I love it when im out a hack at exactly the same spot the horse canters up the big hill its funny as soon as they are leading up to the hill you can feel the horse just ready to go as soon as u give them the siginal lol its also fun when theres more than one of us out as one horse goes its a race to the top love it !