Hacking advice please

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Po Knee

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Sorry, this might be a bit long.....

I bought my new horse back in August, and she's perfect in every way except for solo hacking, where I would describe her as a bit sticky.

I understand it's early days still, and she needs time to learn to trust me, but I was just after a bit of advice really as to the best way forward.

On leaving my field I can turn either left or right - turning right means we get a few hundred yards before stopping and refusing to move forward. At all! It's a single track country lane, so when we get stuck I know that eventually a vehicle will come by, and I will either have to turn back, or get off and lead her forward. Which I am happy to do, but I'd much prefer to stay on board as there are not many available places to remount and I'm way past it for getting on from the ground!!

Turning left from the field means we can get quite a bit further (with occasional stops) but she is much more willing to be pushed through in this direction and we have managed a good 30-40 minutes hack, albeit not yet around a circular route.

I suppose my question is whether I should stick with the direction she is happier with for now, or whether to still try going the other way sometimes, and working on maybe a couple of steps further each time?

I should add, she is perfect in company and will follow another horse/person/bicycle anywhere so I think it's a confidence thing. Her teeth, back and saddle have all been checked and do not present a problem.

Grateful for any advice!! Thanks for reading.
 
deicinmerlyn said:
Could you lead her out (if she’s safe to lead) half way and then get on to come home.
Build up from there.
Sounds like you’re both doing well and I’m sure her confidence will grow.
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I have done this. Last time, as my bottom hit the saddle, she decided she was going home at speed before I had my balance or my right stirrup! Nothing bad happened and I managed to pull her up but I am keen to avoid a repeat performance hence my prefernce for staying on in the first place lol.

But I will if I have to. Thanks for your reply.
 
It does sound like a confidence thing so I agree with leading or going out with others and gradually getting further in front of them if they're amenable.

The other option is to make her work once she stops going forward - rein back, leg yield, small circles, etc. Not great on a narrow lane but may be OK if quiet.
 
When you say she will follow another horse, what is she like with another horse but in front? If possible, start with riding along side then start leading when she is confident

Also if they stop, i have found turning them around and reining back (so they go in the direction intended) can help get them going again
 
Hi
My last horse was exactly like this. He just used to plant and refuse to move, never did anything dangerous just stood there and I completely understand your worry about being on a single track road as this is where I also used to ride.
To help him gain confidence I started off keeping my hacks really short and doing the same route so he became very familiar with it.
 
Mine was lacking in confidence when I first started trying to go out on our own, although the bravest boy if we were in company. Is there anyone that would walk or cycle to begin with so you can help build his trust in you.
 
When i got my cob I got told she doesn't hack on her own.

I believe its something you can get any horse out of. Now 2 years on she hacks better on her own than in company.

- Find a super short route (preferably a loop even if you're just going round the block or a tree). and commit yourself to do it 3 - 4 days a week for a month or so. build it up. do a slightly longer loop . do a shorter one again . have someone walk along with you. Every time you go out together alone and return her "safe" you are winning her trust and building her confidence!

-Walk her out and "look" stopping for a hand graze along the way!

- Have a more confident rider ride her forward the sticky direction and you reinforce from the ground.

Dealing with the 'stick'
- I always have a long schooling whip with. she still stops now and again I;ll ask her to go on gently first straight away. Then if she sticks she gets a moment to reset (20-30 seconds) (i check surroundings for things that may worry her - car on coming, tractor - horse in field etc) then ask again with a big kick kick, "Come on" and tap her bum on the top of her tail with leg even just the noise of he wafting whip can unstick her (i dont whack her ever.) Then make like party when they go again - verbal praise pats etc. Even 1 step forward ! When you stop just be quiet don't paise the stopping. I keep a pocket of polos so sometimes when shes walking well I give her one just because! PS she also had a "favourite way out the yard" - I worked out it was dogs barking that had scared her she got over it eventually though with exposure. Keep your hips open to movement and make sure youre not giving mixed signals getting tense clenching your buttcheeks



CONSISTENCY is the secret. do it often. I sometimes end a schooling session with a solo cool off down the road. If I dont solo hack for a month she regresses. PS build up with someone walking with, leading you on when they stick - even better a runner friend to run ahead really gets them going forward

and remember - If you believe they will and can, you're putting that energy into her/him and how you communicate with them. If you;re worrying about her sticking she will sense it :) You got this!

EDIT to add. August is no time at all, keep at it
 
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Po Knee said:
I have done this. Last time, as my bottom hit the saddle, she decided she was going home at speed before I had my balance or my right stirrup! Nothing bad happened and I managed to pull her up but I am keen to avoid a repeat performance hence my prefernce for staying on in the first place lol.

But I will if I have to. Thanks for your reply.
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This is a super bad habit, do not "spin them" to unlock their feet. If you sense they are going to turn for home one rein / bend their neck the other direction and kick them on very unsafe to allow them to do this they'll sharp learn not to. You can turn for home, but when its your idea. Make them walk on a little bit further then turn when you ask even if it takes 30 mins. The trick is to sit just within their comfort zone so you're not getting to the "argument point" then build it up if that makes sense!


Sounds like some mounting manners at home could be reinforced too. Every time you get on make her stand. When you have a figetter have a treat ready she will be eager to wait to move off if she anticipates a reward for doing so. my mare just stands now but it took time
 
Are you able to work her in the field or arena before going out on your hack - if so, does that make any difference?

What is the terrain like on your hack - does one way have a steep downhill stretch / slippy road, lots of cars or large vehicles?

Have you tried hacking her away from the yard (ie. by trailering her to a different location) - if so, how was her behaviour?
 
Oooh also you say they "follow" the other horses. Do you ask her to lead on group hacks or let her blindly follow? If not shes not listening to you shes just following the herd. Start leading. Even 5 mins on the way back, then away. etc.
 
deicinmerlyn said:
Could you lead her out (if she’s safe to lead) half way and then get on to come home.
Build up from there.
Sounds like you’re both doing well and I’m sure her confidence will grow.
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millitiger said:
When you say you haven't yet managed a circular route, does that mean you're turning around somewhere to go home?
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anglo said:
Mine was lacking in confidence when I first started trying to go out on our own, although the bravest boy if we were in company. Is there anyone that would walk or cycle to begin with so you can help build his trust in you.
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All these things.

Mine was a nappy sod when I first got her - she's still spooky and a bit insecure on her own compared to a bombproof rock in company but she's a different horse now.

What I did was a combination of:

a) hacking the same 20 min circular route in company repeatedly, ideally in front or in front as much as possible
b) in between, long-reining along the same route
c) at the same time, working on clicker training her with biscuits at home
d) progressing to riding with my husband walking behind (like he was long reining) and reducing buddy rides
e) increasingly leaving husband behind us at a further distance
f) continuing to have an occasional hack with a buddy so it isnt always stressful
g) if she stops and wont go, wait her out. She doesnt get to turn around, but she can have a minute to stop and look. If she moves on herself, even a step, click and big fuss. Stepping any direction but backwards is fine, moving sideways or angling a bit can help unstick.
h) if really stuck, husband could come up, first behind with the same voice commands as long reining, then if needed by the shoulder and get her moving before dropping back
i) if just slowing and behind the leg, trot on and get her forward
j) wear a neck strap, so you can hang on - shooting forward and trotting is NOT BAD because it is FORWARD so you dont want to give any backwards aids if you can avoid it. Hence neck strap.

For mine, honestly she just stopped doing it once she was in a routine of going hacking and we will keep going until we are back. Riding the same route meant it wasnt scary (well, less scary) and she could acclimate to it, and riding it with a buddy meant it was building her confidence. She probably only had about 3 weeks of riding mainly with a buddy interspersed with long reining before we flipped to more on our own.

HOWEVER. Caveat all of this with checking if your horse is in pain. Mary was horrifically nappy at the start, and that turned out to be a keratoma in her hoof that needed surgery. It's often related to mild lameness or a sore back etc. Once Mary's pain issue was addressed, like I say it only took about 3 weeks to get her going out (spookily!) on her own, and it just took time for her to settle down more on her own. Now, she's looky and easy to startle but I can ride her past anything if given a minute to look at it - but when she was really adamantly not going out on her own she was sore.
 
so my horse was like this and we put it down to confidence but it did turn out that he had ulcers! I think he was okay to go in company, behind, because it was fun! but he stopped taking the lead in company! so it could be confidence but it could also be pain, so please just be careful as the planting did eventually lead to rearing with my horse as he got frustrated with being misunderstood.
 
I think some horses are just anxious alone, particularly if you haven't had them from young and they've never really been asked to do it. Mine is 16 now and like @khalswitz 's horse he will hack alone, but he's worried and twitchy compared to the bombproof rock he is in company.

I would only reiterate that circular routes are the only way to do it, even if you have to ride a lollipop, e.g. up the lane to the village, round the tiny village green / car park etc, and back again. So long as they're never turning back on themselves. Also forwards is great, you can ride forwards - what you really want to avoid is either backwards or what mine does, which is shuffling, twitching and goggling his way VERY slowly forwards. He has the handbrake on until we reach the halfway point, when he starts to stride out much better. So if they offer you forwards, go with it, just hang onto the neckstrap, keep your legs around the horse and ride the forwards. Don't slow them down unless it's really getting out of control (personally I can only cope with anything up to a zippy trot!).

You might have to ride the same short circular route three times a week until you're bored out of your skull but it should work eventually, unless there's a more serious underlying issue.
 
Thank you so much for all your replies - there are some very useful tips there. To address a few of the questions:

In company she is very hard to get in front - think slug through treacle - UNTIL she decides it's time to lead, and then she'll march off in front nicely. But I get this is her decision not mine, so I need to work harder to get her in front when I want her to.

I never turn on the spot to go back. It'll either be around the little village green, or I will find a quiet side road to go down and do a fig-8 turn. And I have never turned at the same spot twice.

Unfortunately I do not have transport, so it's work from home only. I have ridden out with a friend who I then left part way round the ride to ride back on my own. And that was fine, so she is happy to leave another horse and go solo in these circumstances. I've done this a couple of times so far.

I can ask a friend to walk, or bicycle with me to get around the block. I think she will be perfectly fine with this as when I got stuck the other day, a random walker came past and she immediately walked forward calmly following him in the direction I was trying to go :rolleyes:

It also sounds like a vet check could be in order just to rule out any physical issues.

And now I'm going back to the start of the thread to read through carefully, and formulate a plan. Thanks again for taking the time to reply - I really do appreciate it :) x
 
How frustrating - it sounds like you're doing everything as best as circumstances allow. It's interesting that yours is ok to leave another horse partway round - I'd definitely persist with that strategy and hopefully she'll improve in time. Best wishes with the vet check, for a seemingly behavioural issue like this I'd probably consider scoping for ulcers. And at least if the vet does find something, that's part of the puzzle found. You have all my sympathies because it's the only thing really I struggle with with my horse, and despite owning him five years and regularly doing little solo hacks out, he's never really become confident.
 
When I got my last horse he'd never hacked solo in his life, he'd been in a trekking centre and had just followed the bum ahead. He was 11 when I got him.

I know better now, but I tried riding him solo a few times. He was OK.......... ish. But it soon became obvious that he was very capable of planting; and then either spinning, running back, or rearing. None of which were very "helpful" responses!

He frightened me one day as he reared up, and I knew that I had three options as I remember when I was a kid hearing the ditty: "If it rears, do three things: get off; stay off; and get the knackerman out.......".

I got a professional (an old school chum actually) to help me, because this literally was a life or death issue.

She started with telling me NOT to ride him, end of. She said that he was this way because he needed the reassurance of a Herd Leader who he was confident in. And I needed to be that Herd Leader he could trust. Instead she gave us some groundwork exercises to do - stuff like picking up feet, handling on the ground & getting him to go away from my pressure on his side where the riders' leg goes; going backwards, forwards, over poles etc etc. We built a little "TREC-style" obstacle course with flapping bags & spooky things in my yard, and I walked (and later rode) him around that.

We also did leading-out in hand. So he'd be tacked up, saddle & bridle, and my "homework" was to lead him out in hand regularly. Letting him see things and always having me as his Herd Leader on the ground.

We then progressed to leading him out (always on a circular route, never out and back) and then hopping on quietly at some point on the ride, and riding him home. Little steps, everything kept easy.

He turned out into a lovely hacking horse in the end. It IS possible, but you sometimes have to make a considerable backtrack in order to make progress.
 
Widgeon said:
How frustrating - it sounds like you're doing everything as best as circumstances allow. It's interesting that yours is ok to leave another horse partway round - I'd definitely persist with that strategy and hopefully she'll improve in time. Best wishes with the vet check, for a seemingly behavioural issue like this I'd probably consider scoping for ulcers. And at least if the vet does find something, that's part of the puzzle found. You have all my sympathies because it's the only thing really I struggle with with my horse, and despite owning him five years and regularly doing little solo hacks out, he's never really become confident.
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I must say I was rather surprised when she left the other horse as easily as she did! But yes, I shall definitely do more of this when someone is available to ride out with. And today I managed a whole circular ride solo taking the direction she is most happy with. Yay!! In fact she put up very little resistance, so we just cracked on with it on the spur of the moment.

And I will be having a chat with the vet too. Thank you!
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
When I got my last horse he'd never hacked solo in his life, he'd been in a trekking centre and had just followed the bum ahead. He was 11 when I got him.

I know better now, but I tried riding him solo a few times. He was OK.......... ish. But it soon became obvious that he was very capable of planting; and then either spinning, running back, or rearing. None of which were very "helpful" responses!

He frightened me one day as he reared up, and I knew that I had three options as I remember when I was a kid hearing the ditty: "If it rears, do three things: get off; stay off; and get the knackerman out.......".

I got a professional (an old school chum actually) to help me, because this literally was a life or death issue.

She started with telling me NOT to ride him, end of. She said that he was this way because he needed the reassurance of a Herd Leader who he was confident in. And I needed to be that Herd Leader he could trust. Instead she gave us some groundwork exercises to do - stuff like picking up feet, handling on the ground & getting him to go away from my pressure on his side where the riders' leg goes; going backwards, forwards, over poles etc etc. We built a little "TREC-style" obstacle course with flapping bags & spooky things in my yard, and I walked (and later rode) him around that.

We also did leading-out in hand. So he'd be tacked up, saddle & bridle, and my "homework" was to lead him out in hand regularly. Letting him see things and always having me as his Herd Leader on the ground.

We then progressed to leading him out (always on a circular route, never out and back) and then hopping on quietly at some point on the ride, and riding him home. Little steps, everything kept easy.

He turned out into a lovely hacking horse in the end. It IS possible, but you sometimes have to make a considerable backtrack in order to make progress.
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This all sounds eminently sensible. Thank you.

I'm lucky she has never yet shown extreme behaviour, and I'm keen to keep it that way. I fully get that it's early days and right now she has not the trust in me she needs to be confident. I think I may spend time walking into the village, and riding back (using the green as the turning circle!) as part of our quest. This should get us going in her least favourite direction with minimum stress.

There's no rush. It'll take as long as it does :o)
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
When I got my last horse he'd never hacked solo in his life, he'd been in a trekking centre and had just followed the bum ahead. He was 11 when I got him.

I know better now, but I tried riding him solo a few times. He was OK.......... ish. But it soon became obvious that he was very capable of planting; and then either spinning, running back, or rearing. None of which were very "helpful" responses!

He frightened me one day as he reared up, and I knew that I had three options as I remember when I was a kid hearing the ditty: "If it rears, do three things: get off; stay off; and get the knackerman out.......".

I got a professional (an old school chum actually) to help me, because this literally was a life or death issue.

She started with telling me NOT to ride him, end of. She said that he was this way because he needed the reassurance of a Herd Leader who he was confident in. And I needed to be that Herd Leader he could trust. Instead she gave us some groundwork exercises to do - stuff like picking up feet, handling on the ground & getting him to go away from my pressure on his side where the riders' leg goes; going backwards, forwards, over poles etc etc. We built a little "TREC-style" obstacle course with flapping bags & spooky things in my yard, and I walked (and later rode) him around that.

We also did leading-out in hand. So he'd be tacked up, saddle & bridle, and my "homework" was to lead him out in hand regularly. Letting him see things and always having me as his Herd Leader on the ground.

We then progressed to leading him out (always on a circular route, never out and back) and then hopping on quietly at some point on the ride, and riding him home. Little steps, everything kept easy.

He turned out into a lovely hacking horse in the end. It IS possible, but you sometimes have to make a considerable backtrack in order to make progress.
Click to expand...
I did exactly this with a rearer too. The perfect cure, in our case.
 
I've been "hacking" mine in hand and doing lots of groundwork and longlining. I've been doing this due to physio needs/haven't been able to ride, but it has made a really positive difference to my mare.

I really would encourage hacking from the ground and groundwork sessions for your horse (any horse for that matter!). See if you can get her to back up, yield quarters away and to you, lateral work, follow, stop, lower her head, etc. I also do a little target training/clicker training with mine for fun and confidence building.

With the in-hand hacking, you could progress from leading the whole hack, to leading most, then mounting and so on. Also, when I was riding my mare, she was as you describe "sticky", so if I was riding with a friend, we'd switch up which horse would lead and which would follow. On parts of a hack that she felt confident, we'd let her lead, if she needed her hand holding, my friends gelding would lead.

Hope you see some positive improvements with her. Good luck!
 
I was going to say the same as Aimzz. Hand hacking to build confidence is great for both of you. Leave the saddle at home and take the pressure right off until she's a bit more confident. After that, some of the other tips here are great. Backing up past "stops" is something I used quite a lot with my very nappy mare. Also getting off to lead. Also having someone on the ground. Also hardening up once they have stopped at the same place a few times, then gone past and "know" it's safe. They are creatures of habit, and sometimes you just have to tell them to get the heck on with it and stop being a prat, and then reward them when they do.
 
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