alcraw
Well-Known Member
Sorry in advance, this is working out long!
So, I've had Tara on loan for 2 weeks now, and owing to my working hours and the appalling weather we've had I haven't been able to ride her as much as I'd like. As she lives out 24/7, most of our contact has been through my going down to feed her and say hello, change rugs etc.
Today I had the morning free, but no one to ride with, so I decided to go for my first ever hack on my own.
That was the idea anyway.....
Walk up to field - horses all in very far corner. Shout across - they all ignore me. Trudge over. Tara is not looking like she wants to be caught. Her owner has said she can be tricky to catch, but if you approach her with a treat and get the lead rope around her neck she won't go anywhere. I do this, Tara takes the carrot, I put the lead rope over her neck... and she skitters off. Now this is where my confidence issues come in. I'm scared of the 3 other horses in the field, and I think Tara knows this, and hides behind them. They're ex-racers, one is young and silly and skittish, and one is a grumpy old baggage, and I have no desire to get to close to either of them. I have to get over this (any tips appreciated) as today, my fear of them meant I couldn't catch my own horse to ride on a lovely sunny morning.
Went home upset and frustrated, where my OH promptly told me not to be so stupid, they're only horses and offered to drive back up to the field with me. This time, with a stranger in the field, all horses came over straight away, and I caught Tara no problem. We had a bit of an issue moving the grumpy one out the way of the gate, but we did it, and managed to get her out the field! At this point my OH went home and left me to lead Tara the 1/2 mile back to the yard. Having led her before with other horses in front, I was expecting problems. On my own though it was very different. She wasn't really really naughty, but is just like a bulldozer. A few times she wanted to go a different way, so I was circling her to get her back in the right direction. She trod on my foot twice, and stuck her bum out in the road when I was trying to get her out the way of a car. I felt really overwhelmed and by the time we got to the yard was stressed out, which in turn stressed her out, so she was fidgeting and fretting when I was trying to groom her (although still picked her feet nicely for me).
By this point I was having serious doubts about riding her as my confidence was shot to pieces, Tara was very wound up, and I've NEVER hacked on my own before....but I had to get her back to the field somehow so on I got. The difference was immediate. I felt so much better and actually in control in the saddle. She listened to me and did as I asked, and she relaxed as I did. In the end I only rode her back to the field, but it was enough to remind my why I wanted her in the first place, and to reassure me that (when I'm on at least) she is a lovely safe horse who I can control.
I think a lot of the bargey-ness when I'm leading her is her trying it on - any advice on how to deal with this would be appreciated. Funny that I had no real qualms about riding her on my own (as I know a lot of people do)... it's the getting her ready that I struggle with!
So, I've had Tara on loan for 2 weeks now, and owing to my working hours and the appalling weather we've had I haven't been able to ride her as much as I'd like. As she lives out 24/7, most of our contact has been through my going down to feed her and say hello, change rugs etc.
Today I had the morning free, but no one to ride with, so I decided to go for my first ever hack on my own.
That was the idea anyway.....
Walk up to field - horses all in very far corner. Shout across - they all ignore me. Trudge over. Tara is not looking like she wants to be caught. Her owner has said she can be tricky to catch, but if you approach her with a treat and get the lead rope around her neck she won't go anywhere. I do this, Tara takes the carrot, I put the lead rope over her neck... and she skitters off. Now this is where my confidence issues come in. I'm scared of the 3 other horses in the field, and I think Tara knows this, and hides behind them. They're ex-racers, one is young and silly and skittish, and one is a grumpy old baggage, and I have no desire to get to close to either of them. I have to get over this (any tips appreciated) as today, my fear of them meant I couldn't catch my own horse to ride on a lovely sunny morning.
Went home upset and frustrated, where my OH promptly told me not to be so stupid, they're only horses and offered to drive back up to the field with me. This time, with a stranger in the field, all horses came over straight away, and I caught Tara no problem. We had a bit of an issue moving the grumpy one out the way of the gate, but we did it, and managed to get her out the field! At this point my OH went home and left me to lead Tara the 1/2 mile back to the yard. Having led her before with other horses in front, I was expecting problems. On my own though it was very different. She wasn't really really naughty, but is just like a bulldozer. A few times she wanted to go a different way, so I was circling her to get her back in the right direction. She trod on my foot twice, and stuck her bum out in the road when I was trying to get her out the way of a car. I felt really overwhelmed and by the time we got to the yard was stressed out, which in turn stressed her out, so she was fidgeting and fretting when I was trying to groom her (although still picked her feet nicely for me).
By this point I was having serious doubts about riding her as my confidence was shot to pieces, Tara was very wound up, and I've NEVER hacked on my own before....but I had to get her back to the field somehow so on I got. The difference was immediate. I felt so much better and actually in control in the saddle. She listened to me and did as I asked, and she relaxed as I did. In the end I only rode her back to the field, but it was enough to remind my why I wanted her in the first place, and to reassure me that (when I'm on at least) she is a lovely safe horse who I can control.
I think a lot of the bargey-ness when I'm leading her is her trying it on - any advice on how to deal with this would be appreciated. Funny that I had no real qualms about riding her on my own (as I know a lot of people do)... it's the getting her ready that I struggle with!
. It's only subtle stuff, but it makes all the difference.