Follow on from in hand hack thread

McNally

McNally

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I understand the in hand for horses injured or for some reason unable to be conventionally worked and im not for a minute being sarcastic or anything as its something ive been considering with my horse who hates to hack alone (id feel safer on the ground but still get him a leg stretch when there is no one to ride with!) Also the gates along our bridleway are impossible on a behaving horse!
I was surprised by the replies to the first thread how many of you do hack in hand- Whats the benefit and dont you get weird comments?!
Why do you do it?
Thanks :-)
 
I only ever do it with injured horses needing walking in hand or young unbacked horses needing experience of the big wide world. I know some people who do it as a bonding exercise, though.
 
Ive been doing it as horse had 6 weeks off, only got him in sept, moved across country so neither of us know area, in hand hacking has helped us bond and get to know area, I mix with ridden hacks too. V good to help nappy horses also.
 
I did it for a while with my mare because she got injured and that was what the vet told me to do.
I then did it because with box rest and the injury, when I COULD get on her she was full of beans and I was frightened of her. So I walked out on foot till I was more confident (normally riding 10 mins then getting off and walking)

I now have a 3yo that is walked out in hand to see everything we can before Im sat on him :)
 
I'd only do it for the same reasons as nocturnal. Perhaps a pony i'm too big to ride for a change, even then I'd rather lead from another horse.
 
I was walking out in hand due to injury, but now he's hopefully on the road to recovery, I will probably continue to do so as it was actually quite a nice change from riding and (don't kill me..) it was nice to stop and let him graze in places too :)
 
My boy will be doing a couple of days of it before we get going again, as he can be a bit silly if he sees something "scary" (examples: blue sheds, a bit long grass around a manhole cover, yellow grass, things that most normal horses won't spook at - he's not afraid of the usual scary things like plastic bags and crowscarers) and sometimes will turn away sharply. So to expose him to scary things again where I have better control of his mini-spins I'll take him out in-hand a couple of times.
 
I'm breaking my boy in, so I take him for walks, getting him used to bikes, the roads etc! It helps because he looks to me for support, and he is getting better with bikes, still scared but not as much now. I also want to get him used to going out on his own away from my mare.
 
The above make sense to me! I was just thinking by the amount of replies the other thread had that people did it instead of riding regularly. I might walk in hand with my daughters pony as he's suffering sight problems and being rediculously spooky whipping round sharply at every oppertunity. Maybe it will help with that.
 
I walked mine out in hand when she was recovering from an injury. I also walked her in hand when I had no saddle for her. I did get a few snide comments, mainly being "I think your meant to ride a Horse, not be walking it like a Dog" but mostly I had tons of people ask "Is she a baby?"
 
I do it from time to time...my pony has dodgy joints (arthritis) and although I know exercise is good for him if he is having a bad day we just go for a little potter in hand. Also means I get some exercise too!
 
When my boy had what I thought was a back problem I used to take him out for in hand hacks as I couldn’t ride him. I did get some strange looks from some dog walkers but I would just pass a comment something along the lines of ‘mine is bigger than yours’ :D
 
I have a bad back and when it is just too sore for riding, I will take my cob for a walk around the village. Think he enjoys it. We stop off to chat to people as we go round and he gets lots of cuddles and attention :)
 
I take my 12hh old pony for hacks in hand about twice a week, even if its just for 20 mins up the road. At 5'11 i'm not getting on him:D and he gets bored being lunged all the time. Plus, I found taking him out on his own away from my cob (usually ride and lead) means he no longer gets anxious when they are seperated and he enjoys being able to potter along at his own speed. I walk out my cob now and again as with arthritis he just needs a little exercise everyday. If i don't have time to throw on tack, off we go ambling along:)
 
I started doing it when my mare couldn't be ridden for a couple of months. She was very fit prior to this so it helped keep her ticking over, especially when I was running so that she could have a good trot. I've had a few funny looks over the years and a few people thought she was loose because she came around corners well before I did on the other end of the lunge line. I always tell dog-walkers that my dog is bigger than theirs! Sadly, she is alot better behaved than most dogs.
 
I'm 'walking out' in hand currently.... but it's just too exciting :( She's supposed to walkand I've explained this to her in depth - perhaps we can do a few strides of trot in 3 weeks time, but she just jogged, pointed her toes, and generally strutted her stuff for 10 minutes yesterday. (Glad she was feeling so good though :D)
Sedalin this afternoon!
 
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Not quite inhand but have done the last couple of days hacking in long reins, its something different for him and its nice to be able to look at the way he's moving.
I'm hoping to do a driving clinic with him later this year and i don't want to embaress him as he's done it all before but i'm much more of a novice. Today we were working on bend and also our halt, the sun was shining and is loads of fun for us both
 
I was one of the ones on the other thread who did :D

And I do, first and foremost, because it is very enjoyable. Why do people walk their dog? Because it's a nice thing to go out with a congenial, responsive, affectionate animal... and my horse is all of those. He is also trained up to his eyeballs and will lead on a loose lead through all kinds of environments. Because I'm aware of the insurance issues, I sourced specific insurance that allows me to be covered for leading him with a headcollar and leadrope. We go everywhere - through the farm and the yard, along the off road multi user track, along country roads, through fields and woods. It's very enjoyable. He'll also jog with me - that way we both get fit :D We do chat to local dog walkers, and they're usually the ones who point out that (a) my dog is bigger than theirs and (b) he's better behaved ;)

I ride too, but it's a different thing?
 
Love this thread. My horse is very nervous and because of this i shy away from taking him out. There's an estate we can walk around with the horses just across from my yard .I tried it once with friends whose horses are so calm, my boy was great for the first 20 mins not even a spook and then a car pulled up beside us and the people where chatting for a few minutes during this time he started to get very antsy so I just kept walking him in circles or up and down a small bit of the path. After this when we all tried to walk on he started napping. He was ramming me into bushes and i felt as though i had no control. I lost my nerve and got of. This happened before winter and ever since i have been really upsetting myself. I have been thinking of taking him out in hand until i get my nerve back and to settle him a little but i don't know what to do. None of the girls in our yard do this and i think they think i'm dumb. Sorry for such a long message.
 
I take one of mine out in hand, but, I am riding another one at the same time.
Not quite the same but useful to get two exercised at once and they enjoy the company!

The in hand one is a non ridden companion so it is nice for him to get out and be reminded of what the big wide world looks like.
 
My daughter is currently doing this with her new horse because the saddler couldnt get to us for 3 weeks and we have nothing that even remotely fits him. I think its important he gets off the yard and away from his 2 new best friends in the early days - h is quite young too and he has had the chance to meet cows and wind turbines and all matter of exciting things with Sophie giving him a lead. Hopefully the transition to ridden hacks will be smooth. I will probably do the same thing with my mare when I have given birth as she is now retired due to arthritis.
 
As well as for youngsters/retired/injured horses, I also used to walk in hand when I was at a yard with restricted turnout (daily, but only a few hours) to let him have some more grazing time :)

Yes, I get plenty of comments but people are usually just interested; we spent ages yesterday chatting to a lovely old man. I am in a really rural/horsey area though which makes a difference :)
 
Before I put her on loan I regularly took my pony for walks. I think it was obvious to everyone that if I had sat on her she'd have been thoroughly squashed!! I was a good way to build her confidence up and she loved it :)
 
charlene88 said:
Love this thread. My horse is very nervous and because of this i shy away from taking him out. There's an estate we can walk around with the horses just across from my yard .I tried it once with friends whose horses are so calm, my boy was great for the first 20 mins not even a spook and then a car pulled up beside us and the people where chatting for a few minutes during this time he started to get very antsy so I just kept walking him in circles or up and down a small bit of the path. After this when we all tried to walk on he started napping. He was ramming me into bushes and i felt as though i had no control. I lost my nerve and got of. This happened before winter and ever since i have been really upsetting myself. I have been thinking of taking him out in hand until i get my nerve back and to settle him a little but i don't know what to do. None of the girls in our yard do this and i think they think i'm dumb. Sorry for such a long message.
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Just do it - its your horse, your money and doesn't hurt anyone, so who cares what they think. (If you do care just practice smiling happily and saying 'we do it as we enjoy it/both need to get fit/we want to have a change, or whatever, imagine their remarks just pinging off you - a NLT practice).

I hadn't thought about it before, but just recently I have had a couple of scary moments in the village with my horse when people have put bouncy castles/huge bags/boats by their houses, next time I may walk him in hand round the village so he can have a look then ride him round. It will be interesting to see if he is more confident about them second time round.
 
I intend to start walking my unbacked youngster out around the local lanes, no off-road tracks for me unfortunately but at least he will get used to cars and will get fuss from the neighbours when we stop for a chat.

Just going to bit him first but will generally lead from headcollar and have the bit for back up
 
I tried it once with friends whose horses are so calm, my boy was great for the first 20 mins not even a spook and then a car pulled up beside us and the people where chatting for a few minutes during this time he started to get very antsy so I just kept walking him in circles or up and down a small bit of the path. After this when we all tried to walk on he started napping. He was ramming me into bushes and i felt as though i had no control.
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You need to gradually introduce in-hand hacking, teach the horse to lead nicely and build up gradually, in exactly the same way you introduce hacking to recently backed youngster? Helps to have another horse to follow, they are better able to listen to your signals and learn what's expected. Train some things at home... standing quietly next to you while you chat to someone is a useful one (and I have to admit, my Achilles heel - I am a real "let's get going" person - I can't bear hacking with people who take ages to groom, tack up and get mounted, it takes me about 3 minutes and then I'm standing around waiting looking impatient. It's the same leading out - I will stop for a moment to say hello, but standing around chatting I'm wanting to get moving again ;)). It's also a good idea to train your horse to move their hindquarters in when you touch or point at them. Do all of those things when horse is in a calm familiar setting, and then gradually build up to slightly less familiar surroundings, asking the same things. You will end up with a very safe and relaxed horse, and it ultimately translates to a safe relaxed horse when riding too :)
 
I started hacking in hand when I changed my boy to barefoot. We did 20 mins a day on the road to help condition his hooves.

I also suffer with a shoulder problem and it makes me one sided so a good alternative to riding at times.

I also enjoy a walk out with him and he seems very happy about it. I lead out in a bridle and carry a dressage whip that I control his hindquaters with, if necessary, in traffic.
 
i do it for 1) he has a sore back so can't be ridden atm, 2) he is in a new area that neither of us know the way around yet and 3) because of point 2 he can be a bit nappy and on edge when on his own, so was hoping if he got to know the route he would improve (and i will not be bucked off etc) !
 
I have had snide comments from other riders (shame on you!) for walking a yearling!

I like to do it occasionally just as a change, and I think I get more exercise that way! But then I like to keep my horses guessing in general, good mental and different physical exercise... gives their backs a chance to work without the weight of the rider :)
 
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