Cob coming home after being started

[canteron]

The cob is coming home after being started. The plan was to do short hacks for a month or so then put her out to grass till Spring.

However, the companion horse has gone lame, so we would have to go out on our own ? I think she could cope but is it a good idea.

What would be your training plan - the aim is to produce a confident alrounder!

 

[Xmasha]

thats a pain in the backside isnt it ! Have you not got anyone you can meet up with ?

Frank came back after being started and hacked out for 2 weeks. Plan was to do it for a month, but he was so good that he really didnt need to do anything else. So hes in the field having a chilled out winter. he will be brought back into work early next year. We will start with a few weeks hacking, then try him in the school. Im keeping my fingers crossed that hes a little bit talented.

 

[Trouper]

Can you advertise for a hacking buddy locally?

 

[ycbm]

I've never had a choice. All my newly started horses hack alone. I don't see a problem with it, I want them to be able to do it for the rest of their lives so they may as well start straight away. Don't do it unless you are a rider who can give the horse confidence though.
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[JackFrost]

Same situation here. Go out alone and just be sensible, listen to what she is happy with. If in doubt, walk beside her. If she can't face going out at all, focus on happily leaving the yard even if just a few metres then expand it. My baby one is fine with it, never known different and now loves going out, always looks to me for instructions and whether it's safe. Spend the winter producing a great happy hacker!

 

[J&S]

If you are happy to hack alone then go for that option. If the thought worries you at all resort to a plan B!

 

[crazyandme]

Last horse I backed I only hacked out maybe twice in company at first and then it was mostly alone! Eta, our first canter was on our first hack as well (she kept offering it so I found a hill)

Just try and stay as relaxed as possible, and allow time for her to process new things. It has worked for pretty much every horse me and my sister have backed between us and hacked alone very quickly. But you need to be a reasonably confident hacker to manage that and not tense up if she does (singing often helps prevent that).
If you are really worried, maybe walk in hand the route, and then ride it? Even if you walk half of it and ride the rest.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I've never had a choice. All my newly started horses hack alone. I don't see a problem with it, I want them to be able to do it for the rest of their lives so they may as well start straight away. Don't do it unless you are a rider who can give the horse confidence though.
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Same here too. A horse that won't hack alone is zero use to me x

 

[cauda equina]

Is there someone who could go with you on foot?

 

[canteron]

Is there someone who could go with you on foot?

Good thought - but the cost might be too high (I will have to be very nice to OH and let him watch rugby all the time ?).

 

[Spotherisk]

Have you hacked out alone from the backers yard? I rode mine quite a bit before he came home, including two consecutive days when he hadn’t been turned out at all, it gave me confidence.

 

[paddi22]

I have to start mine alone too. Usually I pick a route and start over a few days walking them in hand, then long lining, then hacking with hubby on foot, then hacking solo. In my head I think it helps if they know the route already so it's less for them to process.

 

[sherry90]

Can you ask the breakers yard to do some solo hacking before he comes home? I’d then take a ‘foot soldier’ for the first few times the crack on. Picking your days/times when roads are quieter (if you have roadwork) and short simple routes.

 

[Orangehorse]

I remember when mine came home. The first hack I took my newly backed horse I met the local racehorse yard coming towards me! He was fine. Also I can remember agonizing for ages about which way round to go on the shortest hack, which involved a short distance of main road. I decided to do it coming home, so if he got a fright he would be pointing in the right direction. Mind, I had gone out a couple of times with another horse from where he was broken in.

Go for it, start as you mean to go on.

 

[Flicker]

Get someone to walk with you. I do that with any horse I want to get solo hacking. It generally works really well.

 

[jnb]

When my cob came home I had jus had major surgery and no one to walk with me, I hopped on in the yard, rode out of the gate and 100m up the road, then back. Next day, 100m up the road, back and past the gate 100m and home
Next day, twice as far, but always starting in the same way. Repetition, repetition, repetition.
After about 2 weeks we were in the village - about 3/4 mile.. I taught him to stand if a vehicle came and wore a "Young Horse/Polit" Hi Viz waistcoat and a head cam.
About 3 months later he then had 2 weeks on a schooling/confidence building camp with an eventer and they worked on gate opening and cantering in open spaces/on fields & when we came home we just off on our own hacking in the big wide world!

 

[ihatework]

I would expect the breakers to have him hacking alone before he comes back anyway. If you are mildly concerned then have someone on foot/on a bike with you. If you are noticeably concerned then don’t do it, he’ll just pick up the vibe.