Do you take your horses out and about on your own?

I've been doing TREC for a few years up and down the country - my only "helper" is my dog Nev who is my constant companion and moral support. I've had a few breakdowns, and a few stressful journeys (trailering in the middle of Northampton in the rush hour with no satnav and totally lost was a low point!). But generally, I'm very happy out and about solo.
 
milliepops said:
Same, mine is also an ex racer so gets ants in his pants as soon as I park up the lorry at the moment. This was his 6th little outing so we are starting to see some progress and he also no longer sweats up travelling, but it will be a while before he can relax on the box.
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Won’t tell you how many outings mine took to chill but he’s pretty awesome and raced a lot so fair enough. First time out in lorry took him and my now retired horse ten minutes up the road to use a school. Opened ramp and it was a sea of foam around him dripping off. Old horse looked horrified as he hated water on the floor.
 
Landcruiser said:
I've been doing TREC for a few years up and down the country - my only "helper" is my dog Nev who is my constant companion and moral support. I've had a few breakdowns, and a few stressful journeys (trailering in the middle of Northampton in the rush hour with no satnav and totally lost was a low point!). But generally, I'm very happy out and about solo.
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Hello we’re are quite local to you. Love the name Nev.
 
My dad had to take me to shows for my first year as i didn't have my trailer licence, but it was not exactly fun for him and he is an utterly useless groom bless him esp when i started taking the stallion, so since i got my B+E i have flown solo to most things. I have got more confident in things as the time has gone on but i tend to get there mega early so i can get the horses off the box and walk them about (bar the filly and the mares cause they generally just go to sleep on the box)
 
So sorry you had such a difficult experience. i generally find people are very helpful - sometimes too helpful. i always take my boy out on my own, he is much happier just being with mum. he is 17.2 and can be quite stressy - i can walk away to enter or go to the loo but i am not allowed to walk away from him again or he has a tantrum. he can be tricky to load but doesn't like an audience or any outside help or he definitely won't load until they have gone away - i have learnt to say thank you but we are ok. we go everywhere on our own - we even do away shows on our own and always meet people. recently we have been for the weekend to the royal london at keysoe and up to aintree for stars. i have learnt how to manage my horse so he is happy - he is definitely happiest with just me. Having said that walking from the racecourse stables down to the indoor school at aintree with a stressy 17.2 is not always easy. i have no one who will come out with us so we just get on with it and have fun.
 
I always go out on my own but have never had a problem. I find most people will lend a hand if you need it but it would suck if people were unhelful if you were having an issue.

My two are both very easy to take out. I have taken on a project horse this year who has a lot of anxiety issues and has only been loaded in a chiffney, lunge lines and dually headcollar in the past. When we get to the stage of outings for him I will definitely be taking a helper for the first few. (We will obviously not be using a chiffney as we will have sorted out his issues by then, fingers crossed).
 
I see so many people have issues when out and honestly i don't intervene...unless asked. Most get stressed because there is so much happening and owner gets stressed and wants them to load NOW..but if given time and calm reassurance will load on their own. Its a training session as much as it is an outing. The only horse i ever sold was a non loader for me, but his buyer literally came..walked him to the box and let him just be and told me to not do anything and a few min later he walked up on with no hesitation. That taught me a big lesson. I now do that with all my horses and i have not had issues yet and my babies load perfect.
 
equi said:
I see so many people have issues when out and honestly i don't intervene...unless asked. Most get stressed because there is so much happening and owner gets stressed and wants them to load NOW..but if given time and calm reassurance will load on their own. Its a training session as much as it is an outing. The only horse i ever sold was a non loader for me, but his buyer literally came..walked him to the box and let him just be and told me to not do anything and a few min later he walked up on with no hesitation. That taught me a big lesson. I now do that with all my horses and i have not had issues yet and my babies load perfect.
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It's amazing how much they feed off you isn't it. My mare used to be a nightmare to load, and I would dread even attempting it. She would categorically not get on the trailer if I was stressed about it.

Now, she mooches up without a care in the world when I'm chilled out. If I'm in a hurry and flapping, she will protest!
 
Maybe there's a market for horsey helpers app like borrow my dog? "Hold my horse"? I'd quite enjoy it to be honest, get my horse fix whilst I'm saving for my own. I used to as a student but I'm in a new area and have nae pals!
 
Cloball said:
Maybe there's a market for horsey helpers app like borrow my dog? "Hold my horse"? I'd quite enjoy it to be honest, get my horse fix whilst I'm saving for my own. I used to as a student but I'm in a new area and have nae pals!
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You might be onto something there!
 
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