madhector
Well-Known Member
Took Jerry out for a hack this afternoon, he has always been incredibly sharp to hack, gets distracted and spooks at everything, occasionally naps/rears (only a little bit though) and so you can see why I wasn't too impressed when the vet said hack him for a month! I have no problems riding green 4 yr olds everyday at work, and hacking them out for the first time etc... I get on and mean boss, and they listen and all is well. But I seem to have had some sort of block with Jerry, I don't ride him like I ride any other horse, I am constantly worrying that he is going to explode
So today we set of, the first half an hour he was spooking at everything, but I just sat there calmly and talked to him, got through the dreaded village (just) and then hit a problem... there was a puddle... on the other side of the road! He dug his heals in and refused to go forwards. So I squeezed, resulting in a rear, spin canter off down the road type of response. I then decided I had had enough of this, if any other horse had done this then I would have brought them to a stop at the rearing point, not 20 yards down the road
So I got tough, he tried to rear again, and got a smack, his next response? He walked sweetly past the puddle and didn't spook once for the rest of the hack. Anytime he balked at anything, all I had to do was growl and he came back to me and walked nicely forwards. We got home feeling very pleased with ourselves. Its exactly how I would ride any horse from work, but I have never ridden Jerry like it, I am now in charge, and we will enjoy our hacks if its the last thing I do!
Sorry for the long post, very self indulgent
So today we set of, the first half an hour he was spooking at everything, but I just sat there calmly and talked to him, got through the dreaded village (just) and then hit a problem... there was a puddle... on the other side of the road! He dug his heals in and refused to go forwards. So I squeezed, resulting in a rear, spin canter off down the road type of response. I then decided I had had enough of this, if any other horse had done this then I would have brought them to a stop at the rearing point, not 20 yards down the road
So I got tough, he tried to rear again, and got a smack, his next response? He walked sweetly past the puddle and didn't spook once for the rest of the hack. Anytime he balked at anything, all I had to do was growl and he came back to me and walked nicely forwards. We got home feeling very pleased with ourselves. Its exactly how I would ride any horse from work, but I have never ridden Jerry like it, I am now in charge, and we will enjoy our hacks if its the last thing I do!
Sorry for the long post, very self indulgent
