Cracking Hacking Fear....

[Ample Prosecco]

Fear is not rational. Some things scare me and some don't. My hacking fear is not related to the risks of what I am doing or the skill needed to do it - but to an overwhelming feeling of being out of control. I know that the fences judges are there - they aren't a surprise. Dogs are (usually!) on leads and know to give way to riders. On a hack you can unexpectedly come across all sorts of things with no warning. I especially loathe dirt bikes! They are awful. Or out of control dogs that chase you. Or traffic that does not give you room.

Still I am getting much, much better. I used to frequently cry on hacks I have got over that at least!

 

[St Nicnaclaus]

Fear is not rational. Some things scare me and some don't. My hacking fear is not related to the risks of what I am doing or the skill needed to do it - but to an overwhelming feeling of being out of control. I know that the fences judges are there - they aren't a surprise. Dogs are (usually!) on leads and know to give way to riders. On a hack you can unexpectedly come across all sorts of things with no warning. I especially loathe dirt bikes! They are awful. Or out of control dogs that chase you. Or traffic that does not give you room.

Still I am getting much, much better. I used to frequently cry on hacks I have got over that at least!

Sorry if my comment about you being more confident than you give yourself credit for was misconstrued. I think you are doing brilliantly and completely get that fear is irrational. My £000's spent on sports psych confirm it. I can now hack confidently most of the time with my daughter but not on my own. Put a fixed fence in front of me however and I can quite easily cry.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I read the comment as trying to encourage me to realise I am braver than I think I am! I thought it was very helpful. I get incredibly frustrated that I KNOW I could go out on all day rides and have long canters and generally just have a lovely time out in the beautiful countryside with my horse. But i am on edge the whole toime and can't enjoy it. My own nerves drive me mad. I have improved so much over the last couple of years since getting Amber and am so much more confident jumping etc so really I should feel much more confident hacking too. But that hasn't happened. I need to just give myself a kick up the ar$e and get on with it. x

 

[NinjaPony]

Fear is hard. IMO there is nothing scarier than a flat out bolt. I was bolted with years ago and have never been the same hacking wise since. I’m better in company when my horse is behind someone else’s as then there is an obvious stop! Unfortunately, my pony likes to go in front, or on his own! My goal this year is also to get more confident about cantering by myself or with others, I can hack alone in walk fine or company but get edgy when it’s faster. Like you, I think nothing of going out competing, and I happily canter round the big fields at the yard by myself, it’s just when I’m ‘out hacking’ that the what ifs creep in. Onwards and upwards, I always think being brave means acknowledging that you are scared, and doing it anyway. So well done you, just keep plugging away at your own pace.

 

[ihatework]

I read the comment as trying to encourage me to realise I am braver than I think I am! I thought it was very helpful. I get incredibly frustrated that I KNOW I could go out on all day rides and have long canters and generally just have a lovely time out in the beautiful countryside with my horse. But i am on edge the whole toime and can't enjoy it. My own nerves drive me mad. I have improved so much over the last couple of years since getting Amber and am so much more confident jumping etc so really I should feel much more confident hacking too. But that hasn't happened. I need to just give myself a kick up the ar$e and get on with it. x

I don’t think it needs to be something you achieve all at once.

It is fine to hack at walk and trot if that’s all you feel comfortable with.

Use the meadow as an extension of your schooling sessions. All it is, is the equivalent of an event warm up area. School a bit in the arena, then just go and school a bit in the meadow, if the nerves are in check then pop up into canter. Do this most times you school!

If you want to focus on actual canter and how to influence it then do it on all weather gallops - from what you are saying I think you will feel more comfortable in this environment - stable surface, no hidden hazards, guide rails to contain you etc