Riding alone

[Stella2]

I've recently moved to a very nice, but very quiet yard. Even though its easy to be complacent when riding your own horse, common sense, together with the odd scare story and his occasional green over-reaction, tells me that it is not really sensible to ride when no-one is around or even knows you're there, particularly when riding out. I'm dealing with this by dragging reluctant hubby down to watch and wait whilst I go for a solo hack on Sunday and if really no-one will be around on other ocassions, I guess I'll ring a friend to tell them what I'm doing and that I'll ring again in x time when I've finished! I just wondered what others here do?

[Ryoko]

lol wow ! quiet sounding Oo. i ride out alone alot i prefer it. (the other options is usually going with my sister who likes walking and going uphill ... not my kinda thing :rolleyes: ) but i do always tell my parent where i'm going and i put on my bodyprotector which i wear all the time now...also not forgetting my safety tabbards :D i've never heard of a yard with little activity. wow :D. its a good idea to take your husband along just so some one know u r out and when to expect u. hehe :D

[chapsi]

Here in the country you are only considered a proper rider from the moment you venture alone.
As far I am concerned, it will be a long time before I can do this.

[HairyCob]

I keep HC at a very small yard where most of the time I seem to be there alone, riding out alone, coming back to an empty barn/field (human wise!) though I sometimes find a note on the message board or some other indication that someone has been there while I was out!

Much as I love the fact that I get to spend time with my horse alone (bliss!) and that I get to ride out in peace (my dream come true!) I still worry a bit about safety!

When I first had HC and he was very green and I was very unsure, I wouldn't ride out alone, so always dragged someone along with me, if only to sit at the yard and await my return.

Then I moved on to telling someone exactly what time I was going out, what route I intended to take and what time to panic if I wasn't back!

I moved on from that stage when I was sure enough of HC for that amount of structure to interfere with my enjoyment of our ride- I'd find a new bridleway or path and find myself straying off the agreed route to explore it, or being faintly p'd off cause I couldn't cause it was 'off route'!

Now I always tell someone that i am going riding, rarely say where I am going, unless he is very fresh and I'm expecting problems, and give a realistic time to worry (taking into account those extra minutes spent grooming cause he's enjoying it, the extra time it takes to have a coffee at the yard if I feel like it, the extra half hour/hour hacking should I decide to go further than planned!)

For example, if planning an hour's hack, I'll say don't panic til I've been gone longer than four hours- thats 20 mins to get there, 20 mins back, 20 mins to catch and groom, up to two hours riding, half an hour to get him settled once I get back to the yard and half an hour in hand for scenery-gazing, taking photos, watching him in the field or any other activity that takes up time!

Sounds to me like you are being sensible taking into account your new surroundings and sometimes green-acting horsey!

I have no doubt however, that as you both get more confident on your 'new ground' , like me, your safety-net will stretch.

Having said that, I don't think it is ever sensible to go out for a ride if no one knows that is what you are doing- even now if I decide to go for an impromtu ride, I phone someone to let them know what I'm doing. (usually my long suffering mother who I know can be relied upon to worry the whole time and therefore not be late raising the alarm if necessary!)

Good luck with settling into your new yard- sounds like a great place if it's that quiet!:D

[virtuallyhorses]

Hmmn no sensible plan here - I just do it. I'm often the only one at the barn or using the arena at the moment and am just as likely to ride into the forest or at the beach on my own and usually don't even take a cellphone with me - certainly not on the ride. I think having faced a life threatening situation before on my own has made me a little confident that I can survive again if the worst occurs but more than anything else there's also the 'no other choice' factor.

[Kylie Chamberlain]

.,.

[G.Gracious]

Riding along really relaxes me! I love going out on a long walk around the countryside without a rein contact, just having a nice wander. It's lovely :D Can't think of anything better! If i come home after school and find out everyone at home is in a bad mood i just get on my bike, go to the yard and go on a nice calm hack, just me and my horsey!!

If you're planning on going on a fast hack or along roads i would recommend having someone with you though. Even if you have the most bombproof horse in the world you never know, you could come across something he's never seen before and if he gets scared he can get reassurance from the other horse and if anything happens there's someone to help.

But on calm hacks (walk/trot, maybe a canter) you should fine on your own :)

[Bebe]

I ride alone quite often, simply because I like to ride quite early and it's hard to convince other people to do the same!

I always take my mobile phone with me and make sure it's charged up, it goes in an inside pocket or in a small bag that fastens around my waist. I tell my husband where I'm planning on going for my ride and how long I should be, and that he should panic if I'm more than 30 mins later than this (I always run a bit late). If I'm planning on being out for longer than an hour, or riding in the dark (sometimes do at the moment) I tell someone on the yard where I'm going and when to expect me or to start panicking. I always wear my body protector too.

I also tend not to venture too far afield if I'm on my own and stick to the rides that I know well. I'm lucky though as this means I can do up to 2 hours without really going very far from the yard at all as most of our rides link up to each other in some way.

I don't really worry about riding in the school if there's no-one around. The yard owner lives on site and is within shouting distance if anything happens.

[Bel]

I don't ride alone yet but i will be on sunday, now that jack has goten used to his new place and his new gear i'm looking forward to going for a bit of a run along some of the sand tracks. Luckyly i know that if anything happens and i do come off Jack won't go far, last time he stood over me and did the whole what are you doing down there mum? bit. and if he does he knows the way hame and the YO will come looking for me. Either way i always let Tony the YO know if i am going out and i have a phone around my neck too

[Lucy J]

i must admit, although ciara is a nightmare to school, she loves her hacks and we always go alone, well, we sometimes go out with one other if I am trying a new route and don't know what monsters might be lurking.

i much prefer riding out alone, she hates being behind another horse and has such a long stride that we always leave the other horse behind unless it is the 18.2hh TB we go out with!

i like the time to think and just get away from it all, but i always wear hi viz gear and always tell the yard manager roughly where i'm going and roughly when I'll be back..

i don't like jumping in the school when there is no one around though.

[Big Ears]

I keep my horses at home and until recently had two to go out so someone rode second horse but she has been retired.

I used to ride Molly alone before Rosie came. Molly is very energetic and spooks for England but she was good fun.

Rosie was the reluctant heroine, would not go out alone, so we had the short spell while Molly was well with both of them going out together. Rosie now goes out alone. she is excellent in traffic, but very slow for the first 20 minutes - crawls along - then she decides ok let's enjoy it since we are out. She is much more alert when on her own, more lights on, but very good.

I enjoyed riding out with company but 90% of my hacks have been alone. there are certain precautions you could take - have a mobile phone with you, ride with a neck strap, never be afraid to get off and lead the horse if it's the sensible thing to do, don't be too macho and force issues. You can also join ESA Equine Support services which is an equine relay home service - it works for trailers, but they may have a scheme whereby if you got injured and your horse got loose, they would track it down - you have an id bracelet. If you don't use them, then have some id on you and your horse for extra safety.

I enjoy the peace of going on my own and just going as far as I feel I want to - I think you get to know the horse more as it has to concentrat on you.

[horsemad]

I'm only happy riding in the indoor school by myself (although this happens very rarely!) I have ridden in the outdoor school by myself, but I'm not really happy about this because it is further away from the yard. As for hacking alone - I just don't do it at all now. I used to take my horse on short hacks alone, but after a few takey-offy incidents, I decided it just wasn't worth the risk.

Yes, I am a nervous rider!:o

[Lovecat]

Our yard insists that you tell them where you're going before you set off and if no-one's around then you are supposed to write it down in the office. There are really only 4 main places for a hack nearby so it's usually quite easy to judge how long you're likely to be gone from your destination! We are also encouraged to take mobiles out with us - those fixafone deelys are very handy.

I've yet to pluck up the courage to go it alone, but I know that when one lady at our yard did it for the first time on her new pony, she got her husband to walk alongside her on a little half hour circuit, then when she got a little more confidence and wanted to trot and canter, he came with her on his mountain bike and rode alongside her - so if your OH likes to cycle it might save him having to wait around!

[entreat]

ARE YOU MAD????
I've only ridden once on my own, and it wasn't really on my own 'cause my BF was walking a coliccy horse around the farm at the same time, so I ran in to him alot.

But anyway, it was horrible! My horse was (is) buddy sour, and could not trot in a straight line to save himself! Then there was cantering off up hills & embankments, and a distinct loss of breaks. Yes - it was a bonding experience with Cody, and it did improve my confidence (I know exactly what control I have when he's not listening), but would I do it again? Not anytime soon!!

I'm glad there are braver people than me out there, but I'm too much of a chicken & a worry-wart to go on my own!

[DITZ]

I always ride alone, a good 4 times a week at least and alot of the time its in places where I dont see any other people but I always carry a mobile on me should anything happen. I know thats not going to compensate if I were to be knocked unconcious but you cant cover all aspects can you.

The only time I ever had an accident I didnt have my mobile on me and had to wait for someone to come past (couldnt walk - broken pelvis). I'd never ride without it again (phone not pelvis:D )

[Tootsie4U]

I was in that situation, and I got myself the heck outta there! It didnt work for me as I was trying to start my young horse and it was horrible for my confidence. I couldnt confront or push him when he protested because I was always afraid if something happened, no one was there to help.

[emma314]

I almost always ride alone as well. I absolutely love it and definitely feel more "in tune" with my horse out hacking than in a stressful lesson!! I think that you can learn a lot about your horse as well and I think that it really helps you to bond because you are both relaxed.

At one stables, there is usually somebody around who knows what time I go and expect to get back. At the other one, I write down where I've gone. I definitely think that it's a good idea to let someone know what time you'd expect to be back, just in case.

As long as you take it slowly with your horse and start off with just short, very quiet hacks, then I'm sure you'll both have a great time. You could also practise some things in the school. For example, you could get some traffic cones, plastic bags, etc so he won't spook if he sees them on the roads.

[Lucy J]

ever since ciara was backed I've made sure she does hack out alone so she doesn't become 'buddy sour' sometimes she doesn't want to leave the yard, but once she's out she enjoys herself!

[Stella2]

Its really interesting reading about all your different experiences and approaches. I've already taken Patrick out accompanied by the walking human and then with the walking human keeping well behind. Before moving yards, I also took him for a short hack with someone kind of waiting at the yard gate. Oddly, his biggest spooks (now I don't want to tempt fate here) of the 's** that, I'm off' variety, have been when he's been out with other horses (on these occasions, the other horses have been unfazed by the horse scaring object!). I like to think that this may not just be coincidence but more his way of telling the herd "come on lads ...", where when we are out alone I'm the only member of the herd available and I'm saying "no, lets not s** off for the hills"! Am I being naieve about that? How do your horses differ in behaviour when out alone or in company?

[rezbeck]

i can completely understand where ** coming from, i have only just started riding jack again after 3 weeks, and my hubbys neice was with me and i am glad she was cos he was very fresh. but she was only visiting and i wont ride unless my hubby is around, at least until i get my confidence back again.

[H & Bailey]

Hi always rode out on my own but now i have 2 rideable horses I tend to ride on a weekend with my sister.
Bailey has a very forward looking 'brave ' attitude and think he is like that due to me riding out on my own.When i got him he had just been ridden by kids/gypsys in a headcollar.So i started from scratch breaking him.i did ride out with a couple of people just to see how he was in traffic but found he ignored me and was desperate to impress the other horses.
So we hacked out alone and is much better behaved and listens more.
Rose on the other hand has only been babyed out with other horses or taken out by nervous riders who just turned her round when she had a wobbly.
I and my sister are now trying to sort her out;) She is getting there but slowly.
Rose is better in company but Bailey isnt unless he is in the front!Then if he sees another horse we have the showing off and he thinks he has to go and see them!
I tend to take my mobile phone so as someone can contact me if they are worried.
Can you not leave a note for someone on the yard to give you a ring when they are riding and tag along?Im sure they wont mind?
Or if you are out if you see someone ask if you can join them most people dont say no even if they did mind......I do it all the time.....they must think little Bailey is funny prancing.

[Stella2]

I can and do arrange to meet up with others to ride out, but I also want to ride alone and I want to make a good start now before he gets older. I just hope I can deal with him having a wobble without either becoming nervious or really finding it too much and just turning around and letting him go home. Since I know if I do that I'll need more bottle to undue it subsequently! Any tips for dealing with the horsey wobbly when riding alone as a novice.

[emma314]

It is funny how differently horses behave when they are in company/alone. Ahab is really good when we are hacking out alone. He is great in traffic, quiet, calm and is generally relaxed and chilled out. However, as soon as we take him out with Wispy, they both really wind each other up. They act as though they are a couple of three year olds and they both end up prancing all the way home!!!

As for dealing with horse wobblys, I think the only thing you can do is stay calm and quiet (easier said than done!) and just wait until the horse realises that he's only wasting his energy. Stay on quiet roads where you are unlikely to meet any horse eating things and just try to be as confident as you can. If you are really nervous, the horse will pick up on it and will be nervous too. I don't think there is anything wrong with turning around and coming home if he's being really difficult. Just make sure it's on your terms and then try to go a bit further next time.

Hope you have an easy stress-free ride :D

[HairyCob]

Thinking back to when I first had HC, if i couldn't get anyone to come out with us, or wait at the yard, I just tacked him up and led him everywhere!

This did lead to some "funny" comments about having a large dog, generally from the teenage witch contingent around our way, but also led to him trusting me totally from the ground- now on the odd occasion that we meet something really scary, i know that if necessary I can hop off and he will trust my judgement.

It also meant that when i did ride him, he had probably done the route before with me on foot, so knew where he was going.

If you aren't confident enough to ride out alone just yet, try leading- good excersise for you both, and if you tack up and take your helmet, you can hop on if you feel like it!:D

[G.Gracious]

HairyCob, i do that too :D I used to get very funny looks when i took the horse that i used to loan on walks :p It wasn't so bad when i was in jodhs, boots, etc. but sometimes i just took her on a walk wearing my jeans, trainers, etc. and people got a little confused...

[HairyCob]

It is so worth it in the long run tho G.Gracious- one of the 'witches'who made fun of me with my "oversized dog" was coming towards HC and I whilst out on a hack a little while ago.... there we were, on a quiet lane about half a mile apart, coming towards each other, both horses behaving themselves... I had spotted her over the hedge, and thought, oh, god, what funny comment am I going to get today?

Anyway, to cut a long story short, as we got nearer to each other, I saw her get off her horse, as I rounded the bend, I saw why... large tractor with trailer full of big round bales on the back and one of those spikes with a round bale on it sticking out of its nose- a true horse eating monstrosoty!

I asked HC to halt just before it, which he happily did, so she could come past it and we wouldn't meet in the middle- there she is on foot, fighting like heck to get her horse past. Gets past it eventually and I start riding towards it "You're never going to get him past that unless you get off" she says.....

"oh, really?" I reply- "that's where you're wrong- I did the groundwork with my dog, remember?"

Needless to say, HC and I calmly walked past the horse eating monstrosity, and left her hopping about on the road, trying to get back on her horse!

Oh, how I laughed!;) :D ;)

[Ryoko]

lol! well done hairycob! i should take cracker out for 'walkies' but i live in welsh farming country and i feel i can control him better while i am on his back. and i always try to meet a tractor where there is a nice big laybe or grassy bank i can hop onto (distract him with grass lol) i think cracker behaves better when he is out on his own because he has to think of what he is doing and where he is going whereas when i take him out with my sister he likes to prance about because he doesnt have to do anything but watch the horse infront. but the reason i take him out on his own is because my sister isnt to confident but is getting there and doesnt like going out as often as i do and also because all she does is walk:eek: how can u ride a horse and only walk!!! i cant ...maybe thats just my adrenaline talking :rolleyes:

[H & Bailey]

Stella2 ...my best tips are probably always ride with a schooling type whip so you can back up your aids whilst having both hands on the reins...plus you can stick it out to keep traffic nice and wide. ;)
Both my horses are only just 5 years..I have had bailey from 3 yrs and have just got rose who has just sat in a field most of her life with the odd hack so i know it can be daunting to go on your own!
Alot also depends on your horses attitude to work..Bailey is quite nosy and brave but if he is bothered by something Im best letting him go and see in his own time,Once he has figured out its not going to eat him he will walk up have a sniff and be ok.If I try and bully him it just doesnt help at all!
Rose is very timid and nervous ...if you let her take her time she scoots backwards or spins so Ive found it best to be extra positive...slow down scary traffic in advance then really ride forwards and go for it.lots of voice aids and praise.
If you think you may have to jump off and lead past things its best to tie a lead rope round your horses neck so your prepared.
Its best to lead past than to turn round and go the other way!
Be nice and positive as your horse can pick up if you start worrying!

[jUmPingIsLifE]

I ride out all alone all the time with Autumn, its so much fun too! i can do whatever i want, whereas when im with my mom i can't go to fast or do any trails that make her nervous...

I do try to avoid taking Tahoe out alone as he is only three and i don't really feel comfy taking him out, you never know what could happen with him. My mom usually watches me ride him and comes along on the trail.

[kirrel]

I used to share a big tb x id called Shamus and all we were able to do was hack out. I never rode him out alone mainly because he was so unpredictable - I always took my dad along, sometimes with shamus' companion in hand to get past the scary things!

I rarely felt safe to go faster than a walk - on one occasion I was trotting him down the grass verge quite happily and I thought he was relaxing when suddenly he spooked sideways and then started to nap quite badly right in front of a car which had just come round the corner.

On another occasion he practically reared with me when I wouldnt let him canter up a nice hill because I wanted to get home again (down the road). Everytime I asked him to move on he would tense up further, nap etc and try and turn with me if I tried to ride him the way I wanted to go - he even started snorting and pawing the ground with annoyance. I was very lucky to have my dad with me because I then tried getting him to lead shamus forwards with myself using a gentle rein contact but the minute we tried the silly horse plunged forwards and if I'd been on my own I think I'd have been disappearing over the horizon in a flash! In the end I made him stand for a bit and then dismounted to lead him home.

However - i do have dreams about riding on my own through the countryside and I'd do it happily with the right horse (and a mobile phone!).