First hack alone tomorrow...

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Dumbo

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So tomorrow I am determined to walk my horse out of the yard on his own. My mum is going to be walking alongside, mainly for my confidence.
I haven't taken him out alone before but my past sharer did and said she had to turn back because he got very silly!
Any tips to help it go as smoothly as possible?
 
Stay calm and just go for it. Don't make a big deal of it

Ideally don't turn around. Do a circular route.
 
Sing to your horse!!! Singing forces you to breathe and relax :) subsequently a more relaxed pony!! Good luck and enjoy a lovely ride in the sun! Xx
 
Don't turn around! Do a circular route. Keep calm and daft as it sounds 'imagine' yourself and ponio doing a nice quiet hack, focus on the next point he will be walking briskly to, he will do this, we will do this! I was very sceptical but tried this today with Boyo and he was fab! Yes he tried to nap, but I just used minimal aids with a quick tap of the whip on his shoulder to remind him we were going where I said we were going! And it worked! Best hack out on him EVER tonight, he was a star! :D Falling head over heels rather quickly for this boy..... The more time we spend together the more willing and trusting he becomes, and the more I trust him eg loose rein downhill on a hack towards home - he didn't jog or mess about, he picked his way downhill like a pro, and then tried jogging home once we got on the flat - erm no mister, its give and take :) We walked home along the flat on a loose rein at walk with Boyo stretching down. All in all a fab hack, and I am obv a novice, but very chuffed :D
 
No advice but Im doing the same tomoro... first time since I got my horse nearly a year ago" confidence is rock bottom but determined to do it...

Dumbo said:
So tomorrow I am determined to walk my horse out of the yard on his own. My mum is going to be walking alongside, mainly for my confidence.
I haven't taken him out alone before but my past sharer did and said she had to turn back because he got very silly!
Any tips to help it go as smoothly as possible?
Click to expand...
 
This thread is so useful! Tomorrow my daughter is taking our boy out on the tracks (round fields, small amount road work) for the first time. Friend and I will be walking alongside and her daughter will ride her favourite RS pony (Penny being preoccupied!) to hopefully help his spookiness! He is usually a plod in the school but yesterday I took him through the wood and there were lots of teenagers running around with maps (orienteering) which made him rather "fresh" :p We will all be singing :D:D:D
 
Kat said:
Stay calm and just go for it. Don't make a big deal of it

Ideally don't turn around. Do a circular route.
Click to expand...

This /\ Try not to think about the whole thing too much, just do it and act as if it is completely normal, try stay as relaxed as you can, and good luck

Oh yes and totally agree on the singing or whistling trick :S
 
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Remember horse tends to look where you do - so look to that horizon. Don't get peeping in those hedge bottoms on the look out for scary stuff or horse will too. Agree with the singing - when my youngster having a wobble - a long and boring rendition of 10 green bottles has a stupifying effect on us both. Enjoy!
 
when I see something scary I know my mare may spook a bit at, I actually say out loud what it is, makes me calmer, guess a bit like singing, I do sound very silly! e.g oooh look a plastic bag, that's ok, nothing to worry about....

I have to force myself to ride my mare on her own as she naps when trying to leave and then is much spookier on the hack, but she gets better and better the more we do it. had a lovely hack around the farm- a route we haven't done since last year and she was brilliant.

I'm sure you will have a lovely time, the sun is shining all bank holiday weekend (I'm ignoring the drizzle we've had here this morning)
 
Thanks for all the advice :D Will be singing and keeping calm as much as possible!
We decided against going out today because the wind has picked up and it's started raining :( Sounds pathetic but I'd rather be safe than sorry!
Fingers crossed the weather is nicer tomorrow :)
 
Good Luck , ditto all above . Relax and enjoy ( as best you can ) ! My mare likes to look at things , so we have to stop whilst she looks , analyzes , processes , big sigh ... then off we go to the next thing to look at ! An hours ride can take up to 2 hours to do , but if I dont let her look at things she frets over what she hasnt checked out ... then she's dangerous and an accident waiting to happen ! The lady that helped me with her , said to let her have a nibble of grass if nec , yes I know , we are all taught not to let them eat , but it works for us . If she's eating she's not stressed . So you have to go with what works for you and your horse .
HAVE FUN !
 
Did you get out on your hack OP? Our plans went rather awry as after my post my daughter went for a bike ride with my OH, she came down the hill too fast, braked and went over the handlebars so came home sore and bruised. Sunday morning she couldn't straighten her arm so off to A&E, to find she has fractured her elbow :( , sent home with her arm in a sling. Never mind, we went to the yard after lunch and took my son for a lead rein ride around the wood. Ponio behaved beautifully, they even had a short trot, no spooks, everyone happy (-ish , obv daughter is cross she can't ride and says she'll be doing so again next week :eek: )
 
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