Getting past scary objects on a hack

rabbit · #1 23rd Apr 2005, 07:10 AM

Today i took Merlin out for a ridden walk. Normally we ride in the arena or in the paddocks.

Ive taken him out once before and he played up, refusing to go forward. I was told that it was due to my insecurity and being anxious. Merlin has done road work before and normally he is quite a relaxed horse.

Ive worked on being a more confident rider in the last few months, so decided to go out for a walk today.

It took much encouraging and squeezing with my legs to get him to walk. The whole time he had his head right up, ears forward and was looking everywhere.

He kept trying to stop and go back, but I pushed him on.

We got to a road speed sign and Merlin decided it was too scary. It was at least 2 metres to the left of where we were going. I pushed him forwards with my legs, but he backed up. He kept walking backwards.

I got him to go forward one more step, then he started backing up and napping to the point where I thought he would start bucking. I got quite scared at this point.

I got 2 more steps forward, then I turned him around and went back home.

He tried to jog back, but I kept slowing him back to a walk.

Tomorrow I will go and lead him past the scary sign, and force him to go past it. I think he was just using it as an excuse to play up.

Any advice? Would it be giving into him if I got off and walked him past the scary object? I dont think I will be able to get back on again due to him trying to rush home.

I want to be able to ride out and have fun, but at the moment its a battle and im not enjoying it at all.

xXSundanceBayXx · #2 23rd Apr 2005, 07:27 AM

just an idea but you could try leg yielding past it that way he won't see the sign.

Drummers mum · #3 23rd Apr 2005, 07:54 AM

If you think he will go past the sign then get off and lead him. Don't put yourself in a dangerous and scary situation, its not worth it. Riding is supposed to be fun!

You could try just going out for a few walks in hand to give you both more confidence.

Also have you tried singing to calm your nerves, it works brill for me. If I see something pony eating, I concentrate an a point past it, keep riding as normal and sing!

Loopslou · #4 23rd Apr 2005, 10:30 AM

everytime I decide on a new hacking route either with Amber the baby or Flash the golden oldie I walk them out in hand around the route for a week or so before hand and it helps me no problem. If you feel more secure leading your horse past a scary object then DO get off, I do it and feel much more in control sometimes than I do when on board especially if there is traffic around.

Do you have a companion who could give you a lead for a few weeks taking it in turns during the hack to go in front?

rabbit · #5 23rd Apr 2005, 10:49 AM

Thanks for all the advice..

I have organised to go out with a friend in a days time and I'll see if it makes a difference.

Tommorow I"ll lead him along the same route, but I imagine that he will be fine as long as I'm leading him.

But when I"m up on his back, he will get anxious and start playing up. I do talk to Merlin and try to reassure him, but I guess he still feels like he is on his own.

Dales_Lover · #6 23rd Apr 2005, 09:21 PM

Go out with someone you trust and a bombproof-as-you-can-get horse - let them go infront, so he can see the other horse not bothered by it. If he is still silly, push him past it, but don't make a big deal out of it - he'll think it is one too then! If he is still being a scaredy cat jump off and lead him past it as if its nothing - he'll be thankful for you showing him the way past!

Loopslou · #7 24th Apr 2005, 10:04 AM

also, try not to think about what could be scary out on the hack (eg. if there is a dog behind a wall at the house up the road, don't think that your horse might jump)because that will make you more tense coming up to that house and your horse will then start worrying that something is wrong!

If you feel your horse get tense, make sure you aren't tensing up yourself, breathe deeply and evenly. I even sing out loud and that keeps my mind off things happening around me and that seems to settle Amber right down.

Sometimes we can have more of an effect on our horses jitters than we realise.

Good luck!

dancing-horse · #8 24th Apr 2005, 02:17 PM

Don't let him get away with it, eventually it will get worst. You should have defintely made him walk right past that sign, no matter if he was scared or not. I realize though that you were by yourself and if you had walked past it and something had happened, it would have been very dangerous. I would defintely recommend leading him past it tommorow and letting him come up and sniff it, showing him there is nothing at all to be afraid of. Then, after that, take someone else with you on the trail (just for extra safety) and ride him past the sign, praising him when he does well.

rabbit · #9 25th Apr 2005, 08:37 AM

I lead merlin past the sign yesterday and he was not bothered in the slightest.

Today I got a more experienced rider to take him out on the same trail, and he cantered past the sign without a problem.

GGRRRRRrrr.

The problem lies in my riding :-(

I must be somehow telling him that I am scared, so he starts getting scared too.

I have arranged to go out with a confident rider and horse next weekend and hopefully this will help me. I do seem to relax a lot more when I'm with another person.

I know I shouldnt have given in the first time , but I'm not prepared to deal with bucking at the moment. My instructor has been riding Merlin in my lessons as he is using bucking as an evasion tactic, which is getting dangerous. No idea why - his back, teeth and tack are all OK, and nothing else has changed. I suspect he is just objecting to working, as we are asking him to become more round and soften on to the bit.

Loopslou · #10 25th Apr 2005, 03:15 PM

check what you are feeding him too, Amber was bucking me a little and I cut back her "cool mix!!!" and she's fine now.

Its normal to be more relaxed with out in company especially if its someone who has a really quiet horse. I hacked my older horse Flash out on my own on Saturday evening and that was the first hack out I'd done on my own in a long time and I was quite nervy too.

As I said before, I whistle and sing out and that keeps my mind off things (do get strange looks from people out for walks though

)

It will get better so long as you stay positive and set yourself small targets to achieve. Eventually all the small targets will become one big target which has been achieved succesfully.

Now, I will be starting to hack Amber out on her own in the next month or so so I expect alot of encouraging words from you right back at me and all your little success stories to boot!!!

Dales_Lover · #11 25th Apr 2005, 03:49 PM

At least you know now what it is - I have the same problem. Today I took the approach of 'Yeah, we can do it' and Ebby didn't put a foot wrong and didn't shy at anything.

Loopslou · #12 25th Apr 2005, 03:57 PM

that was like me yesterday, mind over matter!

Moomin · #13 25th Apr 2005, 06:49 PM

If I think horse is genuinely scared I would lead past as trying to ride past could be dangerous for the rider and probably not constructive for the horse - especially if on the road.

If I think horse is messing about - I make her go backwards past it - and she will soon decide forwards is easier and choose that.

Make sure you are in control of backwards and sideways and not the horse because a horse will often try and use them against you if you are not.

My little darling decided she was going to try napping a month or so ago. Everything was suddenly scary. I actually hacked her halfway around the block backwards one day, and sideways for a good deal of the rest of the way!

notpoodle · #14 25th Apr 2005, 07:19 PM

nothing wrong with getting off and leading, especially when its on the road! i dont think its 'giving in' either, as the horse will be lead past the scary thing eventually and IF merely remaining on the horse was a 'battle', the horse would have 'won' (ie, disposed of you) by itself

good lucK! and it always helps to take a bombproof horse with you!! my pony often 'helps' my friends share horse walking past scary things like roadblocks, over speed bumps etc.

julia
x

horsemad · #15 25th Apr 2005, 08:00 PM

I do sympathise - I've been there! This is such a difficult one - you know if you aren't confident, your horse will act up. But then HOW can you be confident if you are expecting him to do something scary?

I am usualy ok hacking with (sensible!) company, but I just don't hack on my own any more because of several spooking and taking off 'incidents' that happened when I did try to go on my own. I only ever hacked her on my own about 10 times - and I think she took off with me 5 of those times. After the last time, when she was cantering downhill on the road, slipping and sliding on the tarmac, I decided I was NEVER going to hack her on my own again. I think my confidence has grown since then, but I'm still not going to risk hacking alone - the very thought of it makes me feel quite ill!

Hopefully Merlin will settle if he has company and you can enjoy your next hack

He sounds like quite a cheeky wee character

Loopslou · #16 25th Apr 2005, 08:21 PM

we could all always try copious amounts of alcohol to calm our nerves

I wonder can you be "done" for being drunken charge of a horse

Miamad · #17 27th Apr 2005, 09:07 PM

It's alot about knowing and trusting your horse and if you're riding a green horse then it's going to be more challenging as well because they'll need to get their confidence from you. . i.e. if my horse Mia gets a bit silly and starts backing up, then I know I can have a battle of wills with her and she won't rear or try and buck or bolt. Because of this we'll get past whatever, mainly because I'm quiet happy to stay in one spot (i.e. wait it out) until she realises the way forward is the only way! And to be honest she hasn't done it for ages (touch wood), think she got bored of all the waiting on hacks!

Though having a battle of wills isn't always easy if you're not in a convient location i.e. middle of the road! then if it's safer option to I would get off and lead past because at least that way we're still going forward

. I don't shout and flap around coz that only winds her up more, worse comes to worse then I would get off and lead her past something rather than turn around as I think turning round and never actually getting past the problem can lead to further trouble along the line. Normally Mia will stop, have a look, go to walk backwards, I'll wrap my legs around her and use my voice (it's amazing how you can calm yourself by hearing your own voice being strong as well) and she'll stop then sometimes she walk straight on again and other times it make take a few minutes. But then I know she would never rear or buck with me, even when she gets really wound up or excited for which I'm soooo grateful!

One of my friends got in a predicament with her horse, used to get to one spot, have a spook and then start playing up. The first time he did it she got scared and turned around back home, second time the same, eventually the horse got wise that if he messed around then he knew he'd be turned back for home which isn't what you want to happen.

I think what everyone else has suggested is right, try hacking out with a steady eddy type horse or have someone walk on foot with you that can help you or talk you through if you hit a problem. My friend rode out in company a couple of times and then I walked out with her. The horse was more relaxed but still tried to nap and spook at something and wouldn't go forward but because I was with her (though I didn't grab the horse and lead it) I stood by the side and that was enough for my friend to gain confidence and she got the horse past by herself . Next time she went out I followed about 20 metres behind and the horse had a spook but she got her past and from then has not had a problem because she knows she can do it herself now.

We've all been there, so don't feel disheartened. Everything will come together with trust and confidence between you and your horsey, wish you lots of luck and update us how your hacking out is going

casey · #18 27th Apr 2005, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbit

I know I shouldnt have given in the first time , but I'm not prepared to deal with bucking at the moment.

One of the best pieces of advice I recieved for my once very nappy pony. Was "dont start a war, unless you have all your ammo." I wholeheartedly believe if you take a horse on, in a battle of wills, you must be prepared to go to the end.

But until then, choose the ones you can win. Whether it be gound work or in saddle.

BackintheSaddle · #19 27th Apr 2005, 10:11 PM

My pony naps so bad she can back herself all the way home while I'm asking her to move forward! She's all head up, ears up, on her toes. I've tried asking for a circle towards home, then setting off on the trail again. The only thing that really keeps her from napping on a hack is if I do some ground work before we go out and really establish myself. If I can get her moving all her feet and going backwards and sideways well on the ground, she remembers that I'm the boss and is an effortless hack. If I skip the groundwork, its all "Oh mummy, I'm scared. Oh mummy, I don't want to go. Let's just back up all the way back to the barn!" If I have time when she's napping, I hop off and do the ground work right there. If she wants to play up she can do some work! Then it's back on and she's usually a star after that. For such a tiny pony, she definitely has delusions of grandeur - she's the princess!

Lainee · #20 18th May 2005, 01:55 AM

I love reading all the threads as makes me feel I am not alone in the world of being so nervous. After 24 years of not riding and my last horse being a ex-racehorse that planted me firmly on the bitumen with a broken tailbone, I decided before I get too old.... yes I am getting there at 48, that I would jump off the fence.... mind you at my age I need the fence to get on the horse (lol - no really). I bought myself an aged standardbred Kahn,that was 15 years when I bought him but has aged to 19 years with a background check from his brand. So off I go with my mate on her arab and we are too very keen but not too brave riders... This horse of mine has been great, lovely temperament, lovely too ride... but he is only getting fed lucerne hay and plenty of apples and carrots from all who pat him so I am not feeding him grain, he is putting on condition and feeling a bit better about himself. The other day we were out riding and met a flock of sheep who promptly chased us baa-ing the blessed heads off. Horses swung round and Kahn started pigrooting, holly moley scared me I can tell you. He calmed down after that.
So figured out make sure we don't go riding near sheep. Yesterday we go past a particularly scarey power pole lying down in grass with yellow fence tape flapping in breeze.. here we go again. I thought If I don't get past this and have to go home I will be a mess confidence wise. So we gave both horses a good look said a few prayers and finally we got these horses past and we felt good.
So we figure no matter what even if we have to get off we are going out for a long long ride and take it as it comes.. hopefully there will be logs or hollow ground for me to be able to climb on board again....
Only problem now is the thought of our ride today, but we would never go out without each other my mate and I, and no riding schools or such where we live in australia... My main thing will be is not knowing the horse I don't know what he is capable of. I emailed the lady who put me on to the horse and she told me to keep away from donkeys too, he is not too fond of them.
Everyone says get up him but these people with there feet firmly on ground, well it is easy for them to talk... anyway hopefully todays ride will be good......................... hopefully...

I often read threads and people say they are old and they are only in there 30's so please lets hear from seniors like myself.....