Advice for hacking alone...

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express_75

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I have a almost 5 yr old secion D mare who is 110% hacking in company; id even trust her with a total beginner. I want her to be 110% when i hack her alone. I did take her out on Monday, we didn't go far, just out of the yard, onto the country lane and up to the main road and back again. She was excellent but did nap once, she was no problem to walk on after that. I just want her to feel confident alone and was wondering if you had any tips for hacking on our own? Length of hacks etc?

Thanks all
 
I've had Ellie since she was 5 and have always hacked alone. I think its one of those things that if you dont make a big issue of it, the horse will never know any different. If I were you, I would carry a whip of some sort just in case she naps, so that you have it there to back you up and dont have to resort to breaking off a stick/getting off - it is horrid being caught out, and the thing is they then think that they can get the better of you every time! Wear plenty of high Viz, make sure people know where you are going and take your mobile phone.

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try always to do a circular route, only do what you are happy with ie distance wise, start off small and work up, always give yourself enough time (eg daylight!) to sort out any problems. another good one is to meet up with someone on route and either ride on together or just for a short while and then split up again.
hope this helps.

ditto the stick, hi viz and phone. an L plate on a tabard is a good idea so that drivers can take note (hopefully). I also agree that the bigger deal you make of it, the bigger deal she'll will. mines been hacking out alone from the start.
 
see if you can get someone to walk on foot beside her for a short hack a few times, say 20 mins or 40 mins or so (ideally a loop, not turning back, can encourage napping), the person on foot can go ahead of her to give her some bottle if she gets worried, but she's nearly "going it alone" as far as she's concerned, and it's a good interim measure to get them used to not having another horse with them.
someone on a bicycle will also do, but make sure they never go alongside as a horse shying into a bicycle gets very tangled and painful for all concerned...
best of luck!
 
Thanks. Great advice as usual.

I think i was i bit tense and that's why i didn't go further:(

I will continue to hack alone when i get the chance as i want her to go alone.
 
could you get someone to walk with you just for safety really also you might be more relaxed if you know theres someone there if you need them,to start maybe keep the hacks short say 20mins and try to keep calm and confident as the horse will get its confidence from you,maybe with more experience and confidence the horse will stop napping.
 
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I think i was i bit tense and that's why i didn't go further:(

I will continue to hack alone when i get the chance as i want her to go alone.

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well then maybe someone to walk with you-you can have a nice natter with them and forget to be tense
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Definitely go with someone on a bike, your horse will feel a little more at ease and so will you, so if your both feeling more confident then you will only improve.
If something does go wrong then at least someone is with you to assist, once you've done this for a month or so you'll be fine. What you don't want is your horse learning to nap because she's not in company with other horses. I'm doing that with my younster now, and I did it with my previous horse which I sold, I broke him in and road him out with my partner on his bike, he never once hacked out in company until he moved to a livery yard and he's now the 'lead horse' for the nervous or nappy ones! I refuse to take my new youngster out with any horses until he's riding out properly by himself.
 
Ditto the bike! Worked wonders with my horse! Only downside now is..he wants to run after every cyclist he sees...except the ones is tightly fitting lycras..he'd rather run the other way when they are around!
Good luck, sounds like you are onthe right tracks.
 
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Ditto the bike! Worked wonders with my horse! Only downside now is..he wants to run after every cyclist he sees...except the ones is tightly fitting lycras..he'd rather run the other way when they are around!
Good luck, sounds like you are onthe right tracks.

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Haaaa yep your right! forgot to mention that little peice of important information! actually his ears pricked up and he used to break into a trot and there's loads of them racer clubs around my area, the habit soon died very quickly though because when he did, I let him keep trotting for ages...penny dropped and I think he thought sod that...it means work!
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If there is no cyclist available get a friend in a car to shadow you, if you get 'stuck' friend can come and get you moving again. You feel more confident knowing that you have help if needed and horse picks that up from you, so fewer problems to start with.
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