Getting a young horse hacking out with others!

[MTrewhella1]

Hi guys,

I’m hoping you can help, i feel truly disheartened and worried about loosing
my confidence!

We broken in our youngester over spring and due to lockdown found ourselves riding him out alone. He’s been amazing, and is confidently riding by himself.

We taken him out for the first time with an older horse from the yard over the weekend and he was great, a little fast paced to start with but good overall.

Today I taken him out on a short hack with another friend whose horse mine had not seen before. It was a bloody nightmare, he was prancing, holding his head high, trying to run etc. We didn’t turn around however I did have to get off and lead. He was pawing the ground, jumping all over the place, being an overall tit and i felt totally out of control!

Now i’m aware that this may of been expected as it’s all new to him and a learning curve. However I’m really worried about taking him out again with other horses! Is it just a case of riding with others until he’s used to it?

Has anyone else experienced the same? I can only find threads related to people trying to hack their young horse alone, not having issues with other horses!

Thanks in advance and sorry if my post seems ridiculous!

 

[Trouper]

I'd keep him hacking with the older steady horse for a while yet until he accepts that company is normal. It may just be a case of too much excitement too soon with another horse. He has had to learn a lot since the Spring and needs to consolidate it all with routine repetitions.

 

[MTrewhella1]

I'd keep him hacking with the older steady horse for a while yet until he accepts that company is normal. It may just be a case of too much excitement too soon with another horse. He has had to learn a lot since the Spring and needs to consolidate it all with routine repetitions.

Thanks, i was thinking the same but not sure if i was just making excuses! I will stick with hacking out with the horse he knows for the meantime!

 

[windand rain]

Our youngster was the other way round on a recent hack with new horses She was the calm one leading passed scary things while the older horses were real tits at everything from cars to flags she did have a spook when a dog threw itself at a wooden gate and started barking but she walked quietly back passed it on the return journey the other two were still prancing about and bumping into each other

 

[MTrewhella1]

Our youngster was the other way round on a recent hack with new horses She was the calm one leading passed scary things while the older horses were real tits at everything from cars to flags she did have a spook when a dog threw itself at a wooden gate and started barking but she walked quietly back passed it on the return journey the other two were still prancing about and bumping into each other

Oh she sounds like a little gem ? I maybe should have tried to ride him i front as i know he hacks confidently alone!

 

[windand rain]

She is she has the most wonderful temperament and tries so hard. The kid is a beginner rider which needs addressing but out and about she is great. She was in front all the time so it might be your answer. I know they have to learn to go behind but maybe being in front would help him concentrate

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thanks, i was thinking the same but not sure if i was just making excuses! I will stick with hacking out with the horse he knows for the meantime!

Then when you feel ready introduce hacking with the 3rd horse while the youngster is still with the 2nd horse, to show him that it's not a cause for excitement.

 

[lialls]

When my young mare got a bit excited hacking in company I was advised to go for a long trot up a hill in company to settle both the horses initially. We are not actually able to do this as most of our routes are downhill out of the yard but I did make sure she had worked hard the day before we went out next time and didn’t have a problem.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Some horses will wind mine up it's just how it is sometimes, if your having good calm rides with 1 horse just stick with that for now and hopefully in time he will be more settled with others, it's really early days so just take it slowly you Will get there.

 

[nikkimariet]

I used to stretch Rooni for 15 mins before setting off hacking from home. He was just beside himself with excitement and the less he was concentrating the more wild he was.