Confidence boost needed Re: Hacking!

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0310Star

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My mare and I have recently moved yards. We are VERY happy at the new place a month down the line and have hacked out once since moving there.
I really want to get my horse hacking out as she needs her fitness and muscle building up (cant do a lot if school work due to ringbone) and we have some beautiful riding here.
My problem is that as much as I trust my horse on the roads (98% of the time) hacking alone is new to us both and becuase neither of us really know the area I am really worried about taking her out alone in case I come off/we get lost etc :eek:
I have grown really quite nervous of the cars in recent years as they don't seem to have a lot of respect for horses on the roads anymore, this then means I tense and end up predicting the future of "what if" with a horse who is then also nervous and spooky as she is mirroring my nerves... :mad:
We have about 10 minutes of road until we get onto bridle paths, then again about 10 minutes on the way back at the other end, so to be fair not an awful lot at all but the roads are quite bending and cars do fly round them :confused:

I think I really do wind myself up a lot more than I should as I just think about all the bad things that "might" happen when I should really be enjoying it and try to focus on the positives.

Do anybody have any good advice which may help me think of it all a bit more positive?
 
I would go out with other people a few times so you have a definite route to follow so you know you won't get lost and that'll give you a chance to relax too. I would hi viz it up to the max as well so cars will have a bit more time to see you.

Good luck.
 
The problem I have is that is is a small yard so not many people to go out with. I thought the best time would probably be a Sunday morning, first thing when the roads are quiet!
I do tend to hi-viz as she is dark Bay, the most unhelpful colour when it comes to sticking out lol :o
 
Whenever I rode a new horse out on the roads I always used to get up first thing in a Summers morning or bank holiday when the roads where quiet and toddle the horse out to start getting it used to things. (I used to keep a horse in London).
I always wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket so that other road users can see my hand signals. I have a dog tag on my horses saddle and bridle which on one side has my contact details and on the other side the vets contact details. I also carry a sheet of paper with names and telephone numbers of relatives, equine friends and people with transport just in case. (I tend to do miles and miles and miles of hacking on my horse).
Your other option is to find a hacking buddy who will hack out with you (someone may really enjoy boxing over to you and hacking out somewhere different where there is miles and miles of off road riding). Advertise in your local tack shops/feed merchants and ask your farrier/vet - it is suprising who they will find. In the past I have been introduced to a number of people this way and have had loads of fun hacking out in different places. If you hav'nt guessed I love hacking! (Central London is brilliant for hacking because there is a 30 m.p.h. speed limit and loads of places to stop off for a drink).
 
Hi, I too moved yards last summer and am know alone apart from my daughter so hack alone a lot of the time.
As i didnt know the routes (still dont tbh!) I walked the bridle way first one evening and drive round the lanes to see where they go and what happens if i turn left here etc. Can you do this? Certainly the best way to get to know the area is with another livery but try out mini rides first on foot to get your bearings and confidence. x
 
You could,initialy, take him out on foot and ride back if you feel confident enough. You can make it small, say 20 minutes at first, then make it longer as you feel better about riding in the new area. :)
 
I think I need to go for early mornings when there isn't a lot of traffic and see how we get on!!

Thank you all for the replies so far :-)
 
Ask one of the liveries you never know they may love to go out with you or at least be able to tell you a nice quiet route. Are there any other yards near by? my first hacks on the yellow pony were with some people from down the road as for various reasons there wasnt any one from my yard to go with.
 
Hiya, I had EXACTLY this problem! New area, no bearings for either of us. As others have said, walk or drive routes on your own first so you know where your going, what 'monsters' are round corners etc, then do in hand walks with horse and progress to getting on half way, and eventually you'll get there. Also get an ordnance survey map, so you've got an idea of what's around the area. Most of all don't feel pressured to do everything at once, take your time and enjoy exploring your new area. A random one, but mention to new people you meet that you have a horse, I've had lots of offers from on foot helpers willing to walk out with us to show us around!
 
As others have suggested, ask other liveries for their favourite routes (and easy to navigate ones!). Maybe ask them if you could go exploring with them - I know you said it was a small yard but perhaps you could arrange a day & time with somebody that would suit you both, could be a good way to make new horsey friends too if you don't know them well yet.

To put your mind at ease when it comes to the "what if's" - get a locata tag! I recommend them to everybody but think they're such a good idea. They're basically a pouch which contains some forms which you fill in in case you come off your horse and it gallops off over the horizon without you - on the forms you fill in details such as your name / number, medical info for both you and the horse, emergency contacts, your vets number, your yard number/address etc, so that if someone catches your horse they know who to call - it also includes instructions on how to handle the horse incase the person who grabs it is unhorsey. They come in loads of different colours (including hi-viz) and attach to the D-rings on the saddle - they're small enough to not be annoying but definitely noticeable, they have "horse identity enclosed" on the front in capitals so it's obvious what it is. They've brought out a human version too so that you can attach it to your arm and if anything terrible was to happen, someone would have your emergency contact details/medical info at hand. The main worry for me when hacking alone is that my horse will throw me off and disappear without me, as it's happened before to both me and my mum when hacking alone and the feeling is horrible - at least with this you know that you can be contacted as soon as your horse is found. http://www.unicornleather.co.uk/Locata-Horse-Identity-System.php (I think you can get them on ebay too!) x
 
I know how you feel - I have my set routes that I do. I'm scared to head off further into the woods as I think I may never find my way back !! I'm OK with other people who know where we are going. I need a Sat Nav on my horse :)

You could try putting an advert in local tack/ feed shops or village post office. You never know, there may be someone just like you not far away also wanting someone to hack with. Or if you know a local RI ask them if they have any clients who would like a hacking buddy? Or a RI may be able to hack out with you until you feel more confident.

Sometimes though you just have to get on and do it yourself - just do very small routes to begin with - nothing too challenging, and I'm sure you'll soon feel better about it.

Good luck x
 
starryeyed said:
To put your mind at ease when it comes to the "what if's" - get a locata tag! I recommend them to everybody but think they're such a good idea. They're basically a pouch which contains some forms which you fill in in case you come off your horse and it gallops off over the horizon without you - on the forms you fill in details such as your name / number, medical info for both you and the horse, emergency contacts, your vets number, your yard number/address etc, so that if someone catches your horse they know who to call - it also includes instructions on how to handle the horse incase the person who grabs it is unhorsey. They come in loads of different colours (including hi-viz) and attach to the D-rings on the saddle - they're small enough to not be annoying but definitely noticeable, they have "horse identity enclosed" on the front in capitals so it's obvious what it is. They've brought out a human version too so that you can attach it to your arm and if anything terrible was to happen, someone would have your emergency contact details/medical info at hand. The main worry for me when hacking alone is that my horse will throw me off and disappear without me, as it's happened before to both me and my mum when hacking alone and the feeling is horrible - at least with this you know that you can be contacted as soon as your horse is found. http://www.unicornleather.co.uk/Locata-Horse-Identity-System.php (I think you can get them on ebay too!) x
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This si a really good idea!!! I also thinking walking out in hand is a good idea and I may give this a go tonight just so she gets come exercise.
Someone walking or cycling with me could also be an idea!

Its such an un-nerving thing when you dont know where you are :o
 
suss out a route from the yard either by walking or by bike that your happy with, then take your horse with someone else, friend or partner on foot on on a bike. When I moved area as absolutely useless ended up in a field of cows (of which I am absolutely petrified of) and had to phone my OH (at the time) to come and get my horse out of the field past the cows while I shot over the nearest fence - how he found me to this day I will never know! :D
 
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