Genuinely worried or taking the mick??

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amzy

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I have now managed to get my lazy cob away from the yard on his own and he seems happier about leaving until we get about 200 yards up the road and then he will put his head up and 'see' things in the hedge and then plant his feet and seems worried about going any further. When I manage to get him moving again, it's only another few yards when he'll do it again and I'm finding it hard work to get anywhere. On the way home on the same route he doesn't bat an eyelid about anything and walks nicely and relaxed. This happens wherever we go lately. What should I do when riding out? If I use the crop I have a feeling he'll swing round and canter back home as, to me, he looks genuinely scared, (or he's a very good actor). What do you think? Thanks.
 
I think you're being too nice to him. If he's lacking in confidence, you need to ride him confidently so he can borrow some off you. If that means giving him a smack on the rump, so be it!
 
Deeble, I don't know how much this will help you but my mare will not hack out on her own very well. She sounds very similar to yours in that we get so far & cannot go any further as she just freezes. I've put it down to lack of confidence as she wasn't hacked out with previous owners. She is fine with another horse, perfect hack in fact, very relaxed, not spooky atall & really enjoyable. What is he like with another horse? Is it specifically a problem when hacking alone? I have been giving lots of advice from being forceful (which never works with a mare), to circling her till she moves forward & one particular hack I sat there for about 20mins hoping she would get bored & walk on. It didn't work! Being patient & persistent seems to work the best. She has improved as when we first started she would not leave the yard, now we can do a small block with lots of stops but it's very stressful for both of us I try to avoid going out on our own as it doesn't do both of us any good. Its a real pain as I have to rely on company to be able to take her out. She's 17 now so can't see her changing much. The fact that he is fine on route home indicates he could be being a little sod but I believe my mare is genuinely scared. I know it's not much help for you but I would try building his confidence up by starting small and gradually increasing the length of the hacks.
 
Most of the problem I think is that he has always just followed others before I owned him BUT he is also very lazy and would probably do anything to get out of work. Even in the school he is almost impossible to trot LOL. In company he would suit a complete nervous novice and go anywhere. I shall get a more confident person to try him soon and see if there's any difference as I have started to tense up when his head goes up and he stops. I have tried only doing very short hacks but I can't seem to get further than 200 yards at the moment. I also need to conquer this as I don't like relying on people to go out with and they're usually at work anyway when I ride.
 
I think in a way you are right doing what you are doing then on the other hand you could be doing with being a bit firmer with him. Dont forget that horses see different out of both eyes so he may view something as scary out of one eye going one way down the road but be completely fine coming back the other way up the road. I know this is right with one of my mares.
I persevere with mine. If she stops, i let her look and think about it, then she will happily walk back on, when I ask her to. If i get strong with her she will spin and run in the opposite direction, but I know if i let her work out that the puddle or what ever isnt going to kill and eat her she is much happier.
Have you tried getting off and leading him past then getting back on? Theres no reason that you shouldnt try this as your horse will gain confidence from you and accept that the problem really isnt a problem.
 
Thanks Daisy - To be honest I've been doing a lot of getting off and leading and then getting back on (luckily he isn't too big) and the moment I get back on he goes a few strides and then gets worried again. Last week I walked most of the way around the hack as I just found it quicker and easier. Maybe I should just get a dog Lol. I do let him look at things before I make him walk on again but perhaps I'll just let him look for longer until he gets bored, hopefully. I'll also try not to be so soft with him
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