Am I doing this right - getting young horse fit

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Cello_song

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My new horse arrived 6 weeks ago. She is rising 6 and has been out of work since Sept. She was broken in the spring as a 4 yr old, ridden and local shows until the autumn, then same again in her 5th year. Previous owner said he work as never been consistent during those times and often had different riders on her.

I spent the first 4 weeks with her getting to know her on the ground, 'hacking in hand' and a little bit of lunging until I got a saddle for her.

I now have a saddle and have been riding for 2 weeks. I've built it up from 10 mins to start with and am now up to walking out for an hour.

The problem I'm having is she's a bit anxious / spooky. On the 2 occasions I've tried to go anywhere on my own she's had a right paddy about it. Tried a tap with the stick which just made matters worse. So I have been arranging to hack out with nice calm nanny horses! In company she is much, much better, although when she spooks she still spins to the right but the other horse seems to give her the confidence to remain calm enough to listen to my leg. With another horse it's one/two big spin spooks per hack compared to struggling to get down the drive on her own.

So my question is...

As it's still early days and she is so green, am I doing the right thing in 'pandering' to her and using a nanny horse every time I ride? (have been getting some criticism for this) My thoughts are that as she gains in confidence and becomes less anxious that I could try little hacks alone?

On a day when I can't get a nanny horse, is it ok to ride her in the school or lunge her so early in to the 'getting fit' routine? And is it bad that when I did this today I led her half way to the school, passed the bits she spooks at before I got on?

My plan was to begin introducing short trots on the hacks this weekend and continue to up the time. However, I was stood up by my nanny horse today so we were very brave going down to the school on our own (her first time in there!). She was spooky about one side of the school so I just stuck to walk with lots of circles, loops and halt transitions.

I think I'm letting the "just give her a wack and get on with it" comments get to me and it's making me feel less confident which is not good an an already anxious baby!
 
Personally I don't worry to much if they won't hack alone at that age I prefer it if they do but if they dont it not the end of the world . However at raising six I would expect them to be good to hack out in company if she's not I think you need to get regular lessons and see how she hacks out for another obviously experianced rider.
 
I would continue to ride out with the other horse to gain her confidence, try to get her in front at times so she starts to become more independent, she needs to learn to listen to you but the support of the other horse will help you both.

I would be a bit more bold with her in the arena, she has done some competitions so is not a complete baby, try not to be too cautious as this can make the horse less confident, give her clear boundaries be firm, this does not mean giving her a whack just expect her to respond and dont be afraid to push a little at times.

The best thing is to go at your pace and to ignore the "experts" with their comments.
 
I rode out in company or OH on his bike in front with middle horse for ages and ages, gradually putting him in front as he and I became more confident in each other, He hacks alone no problem now. I will do the same with youngest baby, ignore what others say, you are doing the right things. I think it entirely depends on what the horse has done before and maybe breed, and not age, my boy is the same age and green as grass, clearly has seen very little, he is also an ID so will take longer to mature. Relax and enjoy
 
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Thanks for all your comments.

My instructor told me to build up the hacking for 4 weeks before beginning lessons but I think I'll give her a call.

When hacking with others she has been happy / confident to go in front, or side by side or at the back. And has only spooked at 'worthy' monsters!

I'll keep going with the nannys then and get the lessons started sooner than planned.
 
Just to throw something else in; what about your confidence? Horses work on body language, didn't know if you were feeling nervous inside, and your youngster is reading it? I've got a youngster which although I've started I won't ride out alone and just started to go out in horse box alone to woods etc. At first when driving him and loading him I felt so nervous it was like I was going to an exam so I'd get my partner to load him, no i'm more confident as we've done this more I don't get that feeling and my horse looks a lot happier too. We are doing loads of getting out and about but away from massive dangers i.e. off road if alone but then do more scary things with another human or horse, hopefully with me being more happy around him in a comfort zone I'll gradually build a better relationship and be less concerned when we ready to do something. I spent hours with him grazing next to our busy main road before we went down it - and tried to recreate what I could around the yard to get him used to things but I think worry gets easily transferred from horse to human.. But it's not nice to think, I'm going to go out and ride today, but only if there are no road signs left out that I'll need to pass etc etc.. Best of luck, Hannah
 
xxMozlarxx said:
I rode out in company or OH on his bike in front with middle horse for ages and ages, gradually putting him in front as he and I became more confident in each other, He hacks alone no problem now. I will do the same with youngest baby, ignore what others say, you are doing the right things.
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I did similar and my boy hacks alone no problem now.

You could add in schooling In walk to begin with adding in circles and stuff to begin work on balance and suppleness. I call this hacking in the paddock :) but we still have to work in a proper outline and bend and flex as we should.

Your horse is lucky to have someone who has her best interests at heart not someone who sees her as a machine ;). Good luck.
 
Lots of good advice. I'd just add to the hacking in front of the nanny horse, if possible start by riding a small loop away from it, eg round the outside of a field while the nanny waits, building up to coming back alone before taking her out alone.
 
I agree it is better for them to go on their own but if she is not sure (and it sounds as if you aren;t either) work with another horse and get her going in front.

I will say that 'tapping' a horse when it is playing up, is usually going to make matters worse as it means nothing to them. if you are going to use a whip then use it hard behind your leg so they know you mean business.
Do not do to much walking, they have time to think about things and mess around, get some work into her with plenty of trotting - not road pounding but a nice steady pace.
 
There's lots of walk work you could do in the school while getting to know her, that could build her confidence in you. poles on the floor, rubber matts on the floor, stuff to walk over or roads signs/banners to walk past. Practise teaching thinks like turn on the forehand, bending away from but leg yeilding towards scary objects. All sorts of stuff you can do on days you don't have a nanny horse to work with! r
 
Thanks for all the great advice everyone!

On Sunday my Nanny horse was running late so I ended up riding from my field down to my friends field myself. She napped when we were first leaving so I used the 'sit it out' strategy. 10 mins later we were trotting down the road to meet my friend and we had a lovely hack - I did the first half in front to carry on with the forward thinking route I had taken then we did the 2nd half of the hack side by side the other horse. I was so chuffed! I do think how I'm feeling inside has an impact and staying calm and confident was definitely much better, as well as really 'thinking forward' and getting her trotting away from where we'd had the problem.

I've got my first lesson booked now which I'm really looking forward to. It will be at the end of week 4 of the fitness schedule so that should be fine. I went through a lot with my last horse and had to have him PTS quite young with arthritis so without wanting to wrap my new girl in cotton wool, I do want to make sure I get her fit correctly.

Now, fingers crossed the weather improves so I can get her out this afternoon!

xx
 
As it's still early days and she is so green, am I doing the right thing in 'pandering' to her and using a nanny horse every time I ride?
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Yes, but you are not pandering to her - you are giving her a good all round education in the company of a good hacking partner. So important these days with the increase of traffic on the roads.
 
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