I've been trying to get back into hacking Cocaïne since work commitments kept me from doing it for a few weeks. Before I start - its never been my strong point
So I've always been hacking with a mix of on foot and in saddle, mixing it up to get her through the difficult spots as well as for no good reason. But I hit an issue this week that I can't seem to get around -
When I jump off and walk along in hand then get back on she won't move forward, when I insist she starts spinning and reversing I initially thought getting off walking a bit then jumping back on would solve the issue and she'd forget about it. Unfortunately its turning into a very persistent habit
Yesterday I got so fed up and angry (with myself) - I'd tried all my aids, lateral, rein, voice, growling, tap of the crop , the whole of my toolbox basically but she just wouldn't go forwards. In exasperation I dropped the reins and sat there trying to think of a solution. We sat like that for some time, I sighed , she sighed, I thought about selling her, I picked up the reins again and tried the gentle nonchalant walk on signals, nothing. I then thought well its another "do or die" moment and cropped her on the shoulders repeatedly until we finally got off in the right direction I wasn't sure if she just explode upwards in the air, fortunately not.
The problem I 'm left with is I don't want to have to do this again, I'm not into whipping a horse into submission, I want us to be team but I don't know how to get over this next time.
For added info I do regularly give her random bits of carrot on route from the saddle, we mostly have to hack alone as I'm on a private mostly retired yard, my hacking buddies are 1) current lame and pregnant horse 2) instructor grounded with hand injury for 3 months. In company she hacks better but I'm not going to be able to do that for a good while yet. By the way she's a 4 and a half year old Connemara
Please any help or inspiration welcome..................
So I've always been hacking with a mix of on foot and in saddle, mixing it up to get her through the difficult spots as well as for no good reason. But I hit an issue this week that I can't seem to get around -
When I jump off and walk along in hand then get back on she won't move forward, when I insist she starts spinning and reversing I initially thought getting off walking a bit then jumping back on would solve the issue and she'd forget about it. Unfortunately its turning into a very persistent habit
Yesterday I got so fed up and angry (with myself) - I'd tried all my aids, lateral, rein, voice, growling, tap of the crop , the whole of my toolbox basically but she just wouldn't go forwards. In exasperation I dropped the reins and sat there trying to think of a solution. We sat like that for some time, I sighed , she sighed, I thought about selling her, I picked up the reins again and tried the gentle nonchalant walk on signals, nothing. I then thought well its another "do or die" moment and cropped her on the shoulders repeatedly until we finally got off in the right direction I wasn't sure if she just explode upwards in the air, fortunately not.
The problem I 'm left with is I don't want to have to do this again, I'm not into whipping a horse into submission, I want us to be team but I don't know how to get over this next time.
For added info I do regularly give her random bits of carrot on route from the saddle, we mostly have to hack alone as I'm on a private mostly retired yard, my hacking buddies are 1) current lame and pregnant horse 2) instructor grounded with hand injury for 3 months. In company she hacks better but I'm not going to be able to do that for a good while yet. By the way she's a 4 and a half year old Connemara
Please any help or inspiration welcome..................