building confidence hacking

[SDMabel]

Break the cycle and go exploring on foot for a while, long reigning would be good , so you are on the ground but there is that sense of independence and having to think herself.

Make it fun for both of you again before hopping back on board and even then just set tiny goals.

 

[black and brown]

Could someone walk with you whilst you ride? I find that talking to the person on the ground helps me relax which then helps the horse to relax and gives us both a much more positive experience than going out alone and feeling anxious.

 

[soloequestrian]

I taught my girl to hack while also being pretty scared myself - a terrible combination but we've managed! I always had someone on foot or on a bike for a long time (many months!), until we were both a bit more used to the idea. Then I did quite a few sessions where my friend met us part way round the ride so we (probably more me to be fair) knew we were going towards something 'safe'. I'm lucky that I have a little circular ride so we didn't have to do there and back again. We did a few longer rides with a bike for company and now we can confidently go out alone. It's a nice feeling.

 

[4Hoofed]

With current baby he now hacks anywhere alone, leads in company etc. I actually did minimal walking out in hand. He’s massive I’m not, and in the odd nervous moment it felt a little like he would look over the top if me as if I was not there

I started out with small hacks on our own and just really don’t be scared to take your time. I would aim to ride to the end of the road and back. Loose contact if safe, lots of fussed and encourage them to stop and look, find a scary rock and let her stand and look at it, either under saddle or in hand which ever you feel more comfortable with, and just let them process it. Once they relax just let them wonder past maybe go 5 steps, give them a pat and turn round and go hime!! Just so much over the top encouragement and praise, and hard as it is try and be relaxed in yourself so they can feel that vibe.

When I was backing my boy I taught him to turn his head for a treat, now if I relax my reins and click my finger he will turn that way for a tasty treat… if we see he finds particularly terrifying I ask him to halt just outside his comfort zone in terms of distance… cue him for a treat. I think when they bend their neck and then the chewing really changes their mind set and he is then more inclined to be curious rather then scaredy cat

For me I didn’t hack out in company till he was super established on his own… it’s a major thing to me to be able to hack solo and I wanted it to be routed into his brain that he is a strong independent horse who doesn’t need company first different things are important to different people but personally I think it can feel like a major step back once you try remove the other horses and they have a wobble, some do some don’t but I feel like I’ve found a way that works to create the solo hackers I prefer!

 

[paddy555]

does anyone have any bright ideas to help a horse get over major nerves out hacking?

she’s good as gold in the arena (thankyou, mirrors!), will happily walk out on foot with me, but trying to hack her out is turning into a nightmare!

all that applied to my horse. I was never able to correct it by training (in all the ways suggested) The real problem was that he was terrified out hacking (but OK in controlled areas he knew) because he couldn't see properly out of one eye. Now I have addressed that problem I am starting to rehab him for hacking and in places he previously panicked he is moving to "dope on a rope" status. Just a thought.