Bad experience out hacking :'(

Yes I have an instructor and have a lesson every week. Unfortunately the only experienced people that I know and could ask to ride her are very much 'whips and spurs' riders as I call them. Their solution to most problems is 'show them who's boss' which usually amounts to a good belt with a whip. I could pay someone to ride her, and some people may disagree with this but at the moment I don't feel she's doing anything that I can't deal with myself in time. I agree a 4 year old is not an ideal choice for a first horse and I wasn't looking for a youngster but she is everything else I was looking for and her laid back temperament goes a long way to making up for her age. She is a kind and honest horse and I have had weekly lessons from the beginning. I did take advice from other experienced people before buying, including an instructor, and the general consensus was that a relatively novice rider plus young horse doesn't necessarily equal disaster if personalities match and you are willing to ask for help when needed. I am not scared of using the whip, I just would rather not. I don't mean any disrespect to people who do use whips (which I think is most people), I'm into natural horsemanship and would rather look for the underlying reasons for her behaviour and try to deal with them first. For example, if she's not moving forward when hacking alone, it suggests that she's unsure and doesn't totally respect me. So I need to deal with these with lots of groundwork and positive experiences when hacking. Not only that but if I do carry a whip and she is planting or generally being a pain, and I know she's not scared, it's very difficult not to get frustrated and give her a smack with the whip so I'd rather not have the option there.
 
The whip shouldn't be used in frustration, its just to get her in front of your leg. Work with your instructor in getting her properly off your leg and use the same principles out hacking. If I let my chap dawdle along it is asking for an accident. He has to be listening to me so that is he gets a fright he looks to me for reassurance and doesn't just make up his own mind to run off.

Remember, horses that won't go, won't whoa! (If they aren't off the leg they are in control of the forward button and can use it when they like, how they like)
 
My horse reminded me today of some advice that has been given on this thread but could always do with emphasising. The critical thing is *how* you react to such events. I was on a hack today on my 20 year old horse, very experienced and usually very sensible on roads and trails, who I have had for nearly 15 years. We were going past a primary school that has tennis courts enclosed in a big cage type thing. I saw a few kids with a football going into the cage. Didn't think much about it. Then the kids kick the football against the side of the cage, hard. Horse goes from ambling on a long rein to a flat out gallop in about two seconds. Zero to 60 in a time that would have put an F1 car to shame. I'm trying to gather up my reins as horse is tanking off. Once I got my reins, I pulled her around in a one-rein stop and rode her back towards the cage, where we watched the kids kick the ball around for a couple minutes. Then we carried with our hack as usual. No big deal. She settled down quickly.

I think that is the sort of thing that could become a big deal and a regular habit if the rider makes a big deal about it. Any horse can and probably will spook and run off at something at some point. It's what they do. If you shrug it off and act like it's not a major thing, then hopefully your horse will take a cue from that and it won't do it too often. But it is something you have to be able to manage at some point, especially if you hack out.

Also, forward is your friend. The fact that my horse moves easily off my leg didn't stop her from tanking off, of course, but it did enable me to ride her back to the thing that had spooked her after I pulled her up. Most of the time, you get warning that they are going to be spooky because you feel them drop behind your leg. Much (certainly not all -- LOL) equine silliness can be prevented by getting it quick to your leg. Get your trainer to help you get her forward!
 
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What's the one rein stop? If I tried that with my perfectly schooled cob his head would go one way, his body the other and he'd somersault, like one of those stunt cowboy horses ....
 
You have to train them to do it properly. You bring their head around, they know to follow the contact, and you use your inside leg to disengage their hindquarters. Everyone teaches their horse this out where I'm from. I don't see much of it here.
 
Achinghips. Lol.

On the bright side, today has woken me up to a lot of things we need to work on. Call Ila, that's a good reminder that we shouldn't get complacent, no matter how quiet we think our horses are. They are still flight animals when all is said and done. I'd like to think I'm quite good at not reacting to small spooks etc, but I need to work on my nerves of steel when it comes to tanking off!
 
Oh dear, i have to admit I read this and my heart sank. Your OP suggested that you were a bit out of your depth but now you seem to have an answer for everything. I sincerely hope things work out for you and you end up with a well mannered, well schooled horse that is a pleasure to ride but in the meantime, i do hope you have 3rd party insurance so that if your horse goes home without you and is involved in an accident, there is adequate insurance to cover any damage to people or property.
RIDMagic said:
Yes I have an instructor and have a lesson every week. Unfortunately the only experienced people that I know and could ask to ride her are very much 'whips and spurs' riders as I call them. Their solution to most problems is 'show them who's boss' which usually amounts to a good belt with a whip. I could pay someone to ride her, and some people may disagree with this but at the moment I don't feel she's doing anything that I can't deal with myself in time. I agree a 4 year old is not an ideal choice for a first horse and I wasn't looking for a youngster but she is everything else I was looking for and her laid back temperament goes a long way to making up for her age. She is a kind and honest horse and I have had weekly lessons from the beginning. I did take advice from other experienced people before buying, including an instructor, and the general consensus was that a relatively novice rider plus young horse doesn't necessarily equal disaster if personalities match and you are willing to ask for help when needed. I am not scared of using the whip, I just would rather not. I don't mean any disrespect to people who do use whips (which I think is most people), I'm into natural horsemanship and would rather look for the underlying reasons for her behaviour and try to deal with them first. For example, if she's not moving forward when hacking alone, it suggests that she's unsure and doesn't totally respect me. So I need to deal with these with lots of groundwork and positive experiences when hacking. Not only that but if I do carry a whip and she is planting or generally being a pain, and I know she's not scared, it's very difficult not to get frustrated and give her a smack with the whip so I'd rather not have the option there.
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Hi RIDMagic - sorry you have had a horrid experience :( I am not sufficiently expert to advise on how to overcome (but there seem to be lots of good ideas on here) but if you had a bang to the head with your hat on, really and truly you should consider getting a new hat as it may have been damaged. I have had to do this a couple of times now, though admittedly I have had 'softer' falls and not changed hats. Also my other rather feeble attempt to help is, if you are a 'what if' kind of a person, you may feel happier if you feel you have taken all sensible precautions like wearing a body protector, and you might also find a neck strap or rs-tor (handle thingy) helpful. Make sure you have safety stirrups too!
Just sensible if you are riding a youngster. I use all of the above and a sticky seat saver as well!! Good luck with your progress, hope you dont have a repeat experience :)
 
Hi RIDmagic - does that mean your youngster is an ID? Sorry for what happened and pleased you are both OK. She had obviously been doing really well and for some reason she got excited or nervous about something this time. Sounds like it's lack of experience on her part and maybe yours in this situation. At 4 maybe the gear changes up and down aren't fully established yet? It's happened to me in the past and it made me a bit apprenhensive about hacking out. She picked up on my nervousness it and it started to become a vicious circle and took a while for me to get my confidence back.

I would practice your speed control in the school and hack out with an experienced horse and rider who can control their speed or, have someone walk on foot with you (that's what I did).

You are having lessons so that will help and as someone else said, a circular ride would probably be better if that's possible.

Good luck, hope you aren't sore tomorrow.
 
Thanks Tobiano, I will definitely get a new hat, it did take a fair whack on the ground so best not to risk it eh. Also thanks for the suggestions about the body protector and neck strap, like you say if they help with confidence then it's all worthwhile. Looks like I know what I'll be asking for for Christmas this year!

Tiffany yes she is an Irish draught :-) Thanks for the advice. It's great to hear that you got through the problems with your horse and got your confidence back. I think it was a combination of nerves being as far away from home as she's ever been, and excitement at being on the grass, and it just got a bit out of hand. I know I could have handled it better and hopefully next time I'll be better prepared for it. I'm sure I will be sore tomorrow but it could have been a lot worse! Thanks again for your message :-)
 
I bought my RID when she was 6 thinking an ID would be quieter than a TB. At 6 she was very insecure and did not like being on her own at
all no matter what the situation. She's 17 now and she's still not keen on being on her own hacking so I tend not to bother unless absolutely no other choice.
In my experience, IDs are slow to mature but will try their heats out for you and are very versatile.

Signature is photos from when she was younger, she's white now unless covered in mud or poo!
 
That's pretty scary and I'm not surprised you froze! I broke my leg by getting bolted with (a true bolt, not a running!) and have a chronic fear of it happening again.

You've had some excellent advice here, one thing I'd like to add is to think about teaching your mare to slow down with a leg squeeze. It sounds counter-intuitive, but my instructor taught both me & my horse this and I escaped a runaway situation by managing to do this (along with a whoa!) when a friends horse ran off with her and my horse thought about following. I was amazed and proud that he listened to me rather than go with the other horse.

Good luck and try not to lose faith in either yourself or your mare :)
 
She's lovely. Mine is not particularly fussed about being on her own in most situations, I occasionally have to turn her out alone and she has a run around for 10 mins but then settles down and is happily grazing. I'm looking forward to developing a real bond with my mare and hope we reach the point where she will try her hardest for me. I love IDs because they generally seem to have the level headedness of a cob but are so versatile, and beautiful! I think they have a tendency to be quite stubborn, but all in all I think they are lovely.
 
Minkymoo that must have been terrifying. Bolting is probably my worst fear. I can't imagine. You must have a great bond with your horse if he chose to listen to you rather than run off.
 
Yes RID, I was 14 and it has stayed with me ever since :(

I found a really good instructor and worked really hard to get my confidence in both myself and my horse. Sadly I'm selling him as I've outgrown him and will be backing my youngster next year (eek!) so hope to achieve the same level of trust!

It's hard and it's scary, but persevere and don't hurry either yourself or your mare. Try to push yourself ever so slightly out of your comfort zone every so often by doing something to feel brave about. Doesn't need to be anything big to anyone but yourself. For me it was as simple as trotting or going out the yard and back on my own. Before I knew it, I was galloping on a bridle path with a friend - I never thought I'd be that brave!

Good luck :)
 
Hi Op

If you need a riding buddy give me a shout!
I know how hard it can be with a four year old and nobody to ride with! My mare is super sharp and reactive but is a super leader and loves the front line. We have been out endurance riding this year, she's 7 now but had her since unbroken 3yrold.
I'm in Hertfordshire so maybe not your area but your very welcome to come for a hack with us!
star*
 
Thanks Minkymoo that's really good advice. Barring a natural disaster or other unforeseen circumstance, my horse wilI be with me forever so we're in no rush. Well done for overcoming your fears :-)

Thanks for the offer Starandgarfy, unfortunately I'm in Lancashire so a fair way from Hertfordshire! Hopefully one day I'll be confident enough in me and my horse to be able to do endurance rides. I've heard they are great fun. I bet you've got such a good bond with your horse having had her since a 3yo.
 
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