hacking alone- advice needed

Thank you all!

Hi!

Thankyou everyone for your congratulations!

I didn't manage to ride yesterday because it was lashing down with rain and blowing a gale by the time I finnished work- and no, I'm not a 'fair weather rider', but he was spooky in the field and I didn't feel comfortable about riding in that!

Haven't ridden today either because I had a job interview and I'm going out this evening for my friends birthday...tomorrow is looking promising!

Moli- I'm not surprised you are cheesed off! I would be too! Good luck with getting your girl out on her own, but take it slowly and at a pace you are both comfortable with- I wouldn't have dared take Pageant out when I'd only had him 4 months, it's taken me nearly a year! You are obviously much braver than I am!
Foot and mouth and 'new' horses was such a pain, wasn't it? Now, nobody get me wrong- I followed the guidelines and did everything I could to help, but it was so frustrating having a 'new' horse and not being able to get out and ride!
(I know it myst have been very frustrating for everyone else too!)

Anyway, good luck Moli, keep us posted!
 
I tried my mare out on her own last night but I cheated and got my instructor to walk with me on a lead rope. We got a few looks from passers by but it gave me the added confidence.

She was as good as gold - very slow away from field but quick march on the way back. She was very alert and had a good look at a couple of things that she would normally not look twice at but other than that I was very pleased.

Next time, my instructor is going to walk at the side with no rope and then I will gradually build up to going on my own.

Just wanted to let you all know - big achievement for me.
moli
 
OK so you lot are making me feel left out. The biggest problem apart being scared is that Rhi has days when she will not stop at any junctions and just goes straight out. I sometimes have problems asking her to stop as she just trots or walks off. any suggestions. If I can conquer this one then maybe I could try conquering going it alone. She is sometimes spooky when we are out but I have only had her run off three times with me when we were out with other horses. Two of these were on the road.

Problem with taking her out with others at the moment is that no one seems to be riding due to work commitments.


Miriam
 
ride you hrose aroudn the yard askign her to stop using both your noraml riding aids PLUS your voice..i.e say 'ho' or something and then once the horse is stopped make him/her stand for a a coutn of so many seconds using your voice aswell i.e 'stay' and then askt the horse to 'walk on' and once the horse is wlkaing again AFTER listenign to you properlypraise it!
one thing i did with my haflinger is i taught her to turn her head to my foot for a treat whilst riding...because she would not stop whatsoeve...so i wore a jacket that had velcro on the pockets so she could hear me opening the pocket to get a treat and then i would hold the treat down by my leg whilst maintaing my normal riding postion and i said'ho' and at the same time offered her the treat...this got her stopping dead in her tracks quick because she would satrt listneing to me when i opened my pocket and when i lowered my hand she would stop and sometimes i gave her a treat and sometimes i didnt..and once she listened to me i stopped giving her treats altogether and she would stop for me and wlak on when i asked her..
i woudl use the treat system as a last resort because afterwards you gotta encourage the horse that when you flop your hand to your side that you have no treat in your hand and so the horse should walk on.
if you get me..i got a plane to catch so if im a bit muddled im sorry!
good luck anyway
 
Hi everyone!

I'm glad I started this thread as it seems to be helping others too!

Moli-

That's not cheating, it's being sensible! Well done!

Only ever go at a pace you and your horse are comfortable with- and stuff the passers-by and their funny looks- I bet none of them could even ride!

I get funny looks every time I ride 'cause I always wear a body protector and flourescents- I've even had some comments about being a scaredy-cat, but I just smile and remember which I prefer- being called a scaredy-cat and knowing I am doing everything I can to protect myself and increase my confidence or ending up with a horrible long term injury if I came off without my protective gear!

I rode Pageant out lots of times with someone walking with me before I finally got the courage and confidence to give it a go alone- it takes time, but it's so much better to do it slowly and build up both of you's confidence than to rush it and set yourselve's back!

Keep up the good work, and keep us informed!

Miriam-
Not surprised you don't fancy going it alone just yet- I wouldn't either! Have you tried voice training or clicker training or a combination of the two?

Pageant had no idea what I was asking him to do when I first got him and just used the traditional aids- I think he had only just been barely broken ( or to be politically correct- 'started', tho I suspect Pageant was in fact 'broken' in the worst sense of the word). I used clicker and voice training in conjunction with the traditional aids (and treats!) and now he knows exactly what I am asking him to do. In fact if I just use my voice and 'sit there' he will 'walk on', 'trot on', 'and walk', & 'stand' without me using my legs or hands. I do try to use the correct aids too- so that if anyone else ever rides him he will understand them too!
Good luck with solving your 'stopping' problem!
 
Hi Claireh,

I use voice on her all the time both whilst out riding and when I take her out with my litttle girl riding her. I have not tried Clicker training. I have heard a lot about it but as of yet have not tried it.


Floppy,

Yes I have rode her round the yard using the voice commands as when I first bought her she did not know what standing still was. Even if I tried to mount she would walk away. There are occassional days when she will do it lovely and then there are the days when it all seems to have gone out of the window :(


Miriam
 
There is nothing wrong with being afraid. The trick is to conquer that fear instead of letting it conquer you. Shove it to the back of your mind and do what you desire. When riding alone, something I usually do myself, always tell someone where you are going and how long you expect to be gone. In case something does happen, they can come looking for you. About a month ago now, Bob the Wonder Beast decided that he didn't want to play anymore, and while we were out riding on the far side of 100 acres, he decided that my rump should be on the ground instead of his back. He then proceeded to run back to the barn. Luckily, some folks saw him coming without me and gathered him up and walked back out to look for me. Met them about half way back, sore, but not injured. The moral of the story is to let someone know so they can come looking for you if you need it. Good luck, congrats on conquering your fears and Happy Trails! There is no greater and more peaceful solitude than riding alone on your horse!
 
Stampeeding Bullocks!

Hi everyone!

A progress report on Pageant and I hacking alone ...

Went out today, feeling very brave and much more confident after our 'first time' success! Told my Mum where I was going, what time I'd be back etc, took my mobile (attatched to me , not him!), talked to him the whole time & all the other things I'd been advised!

Anyway, we took a route he's done with company loads of times, and he was as good as gold, apart from going sideways round drains! ( The lanes are very quiet and I always stop him before we get to a drain if theres traffic! We're working on going round them straight!)

Left the lanes behind and got onto the bridleway, where we both relaxed and were thouroughly enjoying ourselves, until....

Pageant spotted a herd of young cattle in an adjoining field and stopped dead to look at them. I think it was his snorting that attracted their attention to him.....and they decided to run like hell across the field to get a closer look!

I was very glad he had stopped to look at them at that point, as I managed to react marginaly faster than him to their sudden interest and got off (not very gracefully!) just before he decided to try to bolt!

To cut a long story short, as some of you know I've done loads of ground work with him and he listens to me totally from the ground so I managed to persuade him that bolting wasn't such a good idea and led him fairly quietly past.

Once we were past I talked to him and made a fuss of him until he stopped snorting and calmed down, got back on and we completed our ride with no further problems!

My question is, this, did I do the right thing getting off, or will he forever more think there's something really, really scary at that point on the bridle way, even once the cattle are gone?

Also, as the rest of that ride is mainly off road and feels very safe for both of us, if I ride it again before the cattle are moved should I get off and lead him past before they have a chance to spook him? Or will that compund his idea that that bit of the trail is terrible?

Hope everyone is O.K, sorry for another 'too long' post!
 
Hi Claire

Don't worry about it, water under the bridge. But if you think he's going to dash off it's probably easier to keep up with him if you stay on board, and I daresay he wouldn't go very far anyway if he's like most young horses I've ridden.

I like to think of hacking out a young horse in the same way as taking a child for a walk. You don't expect it to be scared of every new sight it sees, and if it does get scared you reassure it and carry on. It feels safe with Mum. (Yeh, I know you're sitting on top of your horse, but it helps to put things in perspective!)

Don't make the mistake of riding on a short rein, either. Horses feel safer if they have freedom to look at things; and remember if he suddenly spooks sideways at something he may well just be trying to get himself in a better position to focus on it - it doesn't mean he's going to run off. Give him the benefit of the doubt. If you want him to trust you, you have to trust him back a little bit (without being lax, of course). If you don't make a mountain out of a molehill, he won't either.

One other thing - I've got a jumpy five-year old and I prefer riding him alone because I can let him stop and look at strange sights without having to worry about holding other people up! That way I can wait as long as it takes for him to make the decision himself to go on, which he always does in the end. He's getting much better these days.

Happy hacking!
 
Thanks for your reply Ros!

I hacked him out with company yesterday and it was a nightmare! Both of them were spooky and my friends mare ( who we think may be coming into season!) was having an 'I'm stopping here and not walking another pace......or maybe I'll just bolt' sort of day!

Still, we had a ride, no one got hurt and I didn't feel the need to get off Pageant, so it wasn't all bad!

Must remember your advice re: long reins- I know I have a tendency to gather them up so I feel like I have more control if hes a bit spooky, but what you said makes sense so i'll try to stop it!
 
Claire well done

So sorry I owe you a proper email. I had hoped to do it last week but it's been manic at work for weeks! Promise I'll catch up with you soon.

Best wishes

Sally
 
Well done - I hope things are still going well.

I just wanted to share the fact that I use a 'bum bag' when I hack out alone (and in company). In it I have my mobile phone and a whistle and you can fit other bits and bobs in too. It's also a good idea to have a 'tag' on your horse's bridle with contact details should you part company (put in underneath the noseband right out of the way).
 
Wow!

Not even a car.....had to be a coach didn't it?? Good for you, and your baby! Wot a brave person!! Hat off to you!
 
Hi everyone, thanks for your replies!

Georgie B-
How odd that I should come home to your post about bum-bags today- I bought one this morning! Excellent idea to put contact details on the horse too- hadn't thought of that! I have put a piece of paper in my bum-bag with details for who to contact in an emergency, and the number of our vet- but thats not a lot of use if Pageant happens to be a mile away! Good idea- I'm off to attatch his details to his tack any minute!

Sally -
Hi there! Don't worry- I know how it is, I've been meaning to e-mail you for weeks but I've been busy too! I did get round to sending you a private message on the board, did you get it? Will catch up soon!

Gwenillian-

Thankyou for your congratulations! What I haven't told you all is that a moving coach too close behind is absoulutley fine with Pageant, but ask him to walk past a parked car...! For some reason he hates stationary vehicles! Imagine the looks I get when I say to drivers ' thankyou so much for stopping, but he wont go past if you stay still, would you mind driving on?'!!
Glad to read that you had a good ride and party at the RDA on your birthday- did hubby remember eventually?!
 
Before I bought my first horse I never imagined hacking out alone would be such an issue. When I bought my pony, I hacked out in company for about 3 consecutive rides and then ventured out alone without a second thought.

My 20 year old pony turned out to be very nervous on his own and thus turned me into a scaredy cat as well!! He's looking out for beasties and I'm waiting for him to spook!! So now we're using the same routes and alternating between accompanied and lone hacks, and he's getting a bit braver, but I definitely think his attitiude is majorly affected by mine. And if I'm relaxed, he spooks less.

It's amazing how horses don't look twice at anything when in company but shy a every leaf when out there alone. I agree with the advice that you have to take on the role of "mum" so the horse looks to you for reassurance. Some people think horses who are spooky should be told off, but this just reinforces their negative feelings about the experience. Carrying a whip though, I think helps to back up your leg if necessary which is your communication to the horse, and that's vital.

This isn't really any help to your problems, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one with these types of worries! Thanks!
 
Hi Emma

Don't worry - your horse will settle and so will you. It doesn't matter how old a new horse is, there's always that element of "who are you, where are we, is it safe, who's in charge here?" don't you think?

Merlin was just the same when I first got him and he was supposed to be bomb-proof. It was one step forwards and three back for the first few rides. I agree, hitting scared horses is dumb and just makes things worse; however, I admit there have been a couple of occasions when I've weighed things up very carefully, decided Master Merlin really was just having a laugh, and smacked his bottom for him - just one short sharp shock to let him know I don't approve of jokes like that, and it did the trick. I certainly wouldn't do it unless I was absolutely sure he was messing about. If you're in any doubt it's much better to sit still and ride it through quietly. Trying to push them on doesn't always work very well, but you can usually stop them from opting out, and it's so much better if the horse makes the decision himself to go past something scary, which he nearly always will if we have the patience!

My sister-in law had a young TB on loan and she took him out one day over the flyover near home. He'd crossed it a few times with Merlin & been fine, so she tried it alone. She was on her work break so she didn't have time to spare. (Yes, fatal...!) He went out fine, but they got stuck on the way back - not because he was scared of the traffic underneath or anything, but because there was a strip of different tarmac at the other side of the bridge and the light shone differently on it from the other side. She had to flag down a passing motorist to call in at home and tell her dad what had happened (didn't have her phone with her !!!!!) and they had to take the trailer up the road and bring him back so she could get back to work. Not a successful or well-planned ride, you might say. It would have been a much better idea for someone to have grabbed Merlin out of the field and led him up there to escort Chico back, but I was at work and they didn't want to do it without my being there. Don't blame them really.

Sorry to ramble on...
 
Ros: Olly (my new pony) is much more relaxed now he knows the route (and me and his new home of course!), but I have realised he is generally a wimp! It's something that is making me work on positive riding, so I can improve him too. I'm in love with him now anyway, so I'll just have to try to make him a bit braver! Thanks for your reply.

Every horse is different in every different situation, you just have to take it as it comes, making sure you've prepared your self for any eventuality!!
 
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