Hacking alone, let’s have some success stories please

[Sunjunkieme]

I’ve owned the lovely Ned for almost a year. He’s fab, not what I was looking for, but he has it is fair to say, stolen my heart. I have one problem, hacking alone.

Ned is 9. He came to me from Ireland where he had mainly hunted. Very quickly I realised that he was nervous about things behind him. He’ll hack alone, isn’t nappy and walks out but he’s constantly looking for problems and if he finds one, he can just lose his mind to the point that I’ve had to dismount.

I’m 52. My days of stunt riding are behind me. I’m not nervous of him, but I can’t say I enjoy my nervy outings. We live on the South Downs so have glorious off road riding in all directions and I love riding alone.

in company Ned prefers to be in front, but isn’t worried about dropping behind. He’s a joy to ride, forward, easy going and not fizzy in company.. I’ve spent the winter doing ground work. Nothing phases him, just his fear of the bogey man..

so ladies and gents, I’d love to hear about your success stories with lone hacking. What did you do to build confidence?

 

[Lipglosspukka]

Just do it. For hours. They soon get over themselves once you have been out a few hours and the more often you can do it, the better.

Hacking for several hours. Everyday. You will have a different horse in not too long.

 

[Sir barnaby]

I found using a fly veil helps with the ears covered it seems to dull the surroundings I used one for the flies and found my mare much better to hack than she was before I used it So kept it on all the time even in the winter when there are no flies around. The reason they use them in SJ is to dull the noises of the crowds not for the flies.

 

[coblets]

Depends how spooky they are, and how much of a fan of hiking you are, but I've found walking them out for a while works quite well, and then transitioning to getting on earlier overtime. Otherwise just talking nonstop to them. Makes me feel less nervous at least, which translates to the horse.

 

[Tarragon]

I think trying different routes and riding out long enough for them to get tired works. For some reason, I think they do more spooking on routes that they know than when exploring! My pony listens to me more when we are on our own and somewhere new. I can see nothing wrong with getting off and exploring together on foot either.

 

[exracehorse]

Nope. Only hack my big lad with another now after nearly coming off twice on solo rides. I’m sure if I rode him solo every day he would improve but I’m 53 this year and it’s nerve wracking to have him spin and take off at the bogey man.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I did lots of long lining and in-hand walking, which helped loads. I'd start by walking it all, then
somedays I'd walk out & ride home or walk any 'tricky' bits and ride the rest and eventually we were riding it all.

He tended to be nappy (ranging from a bit sticky to spinning & trying to leg it home) to very spooky past the half way point and desperate to get him.

95% of our riding is done alone these days & he's a delight to hack - we regularly go out for hours and hours, we have picnic rides, pub rides, he can put up with all sorts of stopping/starting en route and he'll go past pretty much anything these days.

 

[Spanny]

With one very sharp share horse I had a very kind friend willing to come out on a bicycle - we used it as a half-step between having another horse there and being completely alone. When she couldn't come along I picked one 'safe' route (it had minimal road work, so fewer concerns if we ended up spooking or spinning) and I extended it slowly over time.

I also found chatting and laughing helped a lot! Whether to my friend on the bike or just to myself/the horse when we were on our own.

It wasn't always perfect and there were definitely a few wobbles along the way, but I had the share for just over a year (when I moved away from the area) and by the end we achieved things I wouldn't have thought possible when I first started. One highlight was when I was able to dismount, lift a branch that was hanging over the track, lead the horse underneath and then remount on the other side without drama (no big deal for many people but for that horse it was amazing!). Another highlight was being able to chase off some out of control off lead dogs - he was still scared but he listened to me and was willing to give it a try. Once the dogs turned and started running away from us his confidence went through the roof!

It does take time and I found it best to push the boundaries just little at a time, but it's so worth it!

 

[IrishMilo]

I find giving them a boot and telling them to get on with it works 99% of the time... And make him work hard, not amble along looking at things.

 

[canteron]

I take a leaf out of the cross country eventers when I am nervous. They are so focussed on where they are going the horse follows that focus and doesn't notice umbrellas, stray dogs, etc, etc!! It is something I believe you can teach yourself and your horse!

So I try to completely focus on where we am going, say a tree or a gateway. When I get there, I reward the horse and find the next point!!

Breathing, singing, exercises such as shoulder in, etc are also good, and wear an air jacket if it helps you not worry about falling off so much!

 

[dorsetladette]

My lads 18 now. Owned since he was 9. He has never been brave out on his own. Hes fine on company as long as the other horse is confident. We do alot of solo hacking and it has improved but it will never be a 100% i dont think. Im happy to hop off for him to follow me past scary things though as I've never seen it as a problem. Someone people say that the pony is winning if you get off, but ive always thought as long as you dont turn round its an achievement.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I feel your pain OP. My now retired mare came to me here in Ireland as a 10 year old and had done nothing but hunt from the day she was broken to ride.

She was very nervous out alone, and no wonder as she had only been out along with 25 plus horses at a time in her previous homes, almost certainly never alone. My main problem was just getting her to move forward any further than out the yard gates. As suggested by Milo above that tactic would work on almost all horses that are just being a bit of a tit. But my mare for sure was genuinely highly anxious and reactive without the reassuring presence of other horses.

At her most dangerous point she would think nothing of slamming the brakes on and reversing backwards at speed even if a huge tractor was sat right behind her with its engine running, or straight down into a ditch, definitely not for the faint hearted.

With her it eventually dawned on me all my fierce get on and get going to her was only increasing her anxiety and panic levels. I started to try making her sit it out - anything she didn't like (most things actually!) I would just sit with a loose contact - the moment she went to spin for home I would increase her spinning around and around and then allow her to stand and think about it again....and again. So she was basically allowed to stand and look at whatever monster had taken her eye for as long as she wanted (hours on the first couple of attempts!) really encouraged and praised for the slightest movement forwards, but never ever allowed to go in reverse or spin around and away from the object.

I am happy to say that with a grim determination from me and an increasing trust from her, she eventually became my perfect solo hacking horse. On the odd occasion she would plant and the moment she realised I was doing the same old thing just sitting and letting her get over herself she would give a big sigh and move on - albeit sometimes at an impressive dancing banana shape passing the monsters lol!

Only you know if you want persevere with your horse to reach that sweet point, but for me she was eventually one of the most reliable hacking horses I have ever owned. She is retired now after suffering from Lymes disease 3 years ago., but other than that a much loved pasture ornament. Good luck with solving the issue.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

My old boy had come from a trekking centre where he'd been used to following the bum ahead and was a nightmare to get out solo when I had him first. He'd plant, spin, back up, then start to rear - and by god he meant it. He'd also throw in a special line in corkscrew bucks when he felt like it.

I sought professional advice as his rearing frightened me. My professional got me working with him on the ground first: getting him to trust me as herd leader at home so that out and about he'd not have an issue.

We started off by walking out, solo, in hand. With a bitted bridle and me with a carrot stick just in case it was needed. We ALWAYS used a circular route, never ever went out and back again - this is a good way to produce a nappy horse!

We then, after a good while, tacked him up and led him out, and halfway around, I just hopped up, casually, and rode him back to the yard. After that we were very nearly there!! And then came the day when I was able to ride him out, stay up, and ride him all the way round and home!!

My professional gave me tactics to use in case he did threaten to rear, or back up, and that gave me huge confidence. He never tried to rear again. Later, much later on his life, when he was an old boy of 20, I met his previous owner and she told me that they'd taught him to rear - they'd had him when he was from around age 5 to 7ish!! I was glad that I'd solved that mystery - it wasn't me or my riding/handling that had caused his rearing, someone else had taught him to!! Her reasoning was that he was gonna do it anyway, so might as well do it on command.......... yeah right, not really helpful that one!!

You WILL do it, but you need to take things slowly. Don't rush it!! Work in hand/on the ground, allow the horse to listen to you and gain confidence from you. Then progress, but ever so gently. You will get there. And get a professional to help would be my greatest piece of advice.

 

[scruffyponies]

I'm a great fan of taking horses out somewhere visually busy. If they're overwhelmed, they don't know what to do, so appreciate a steady, firm direction from up top. It's a rare horse which isn't greatly relieved to have someone else making the decisions.

 

[paddy555]

I hack alone daily and hate riding in company.
Assuming he is along the lines of Mrs Jingle's description he may have missed out on some spook training when he was younger.
I would go back and rectify that with some training. That way he will learn to cope with anything and become confident. If you train him to one difficult situation he will learn to apply it to another.
I break mine to be hacking horses so coping is important and I don't have a school anyway.

Things you can do are only limited by your imagination but to give you a couple of examples we play football in a small yard. Have a kick around and then start throwing the ball, throwing it at them, bouncing it off their sides, between their legs. Throwing it at them from behind. They never know where the ball is coming from.
Another is a 5 gallon plastic can on a long rope. Throw it over the horse from every direction so it hits the concrete on the other side, drag it between their legs. Stand behind and throw it onto their back. Then I take the horse for a walk on the roads in hand and take the can along as I would a dog to heel. Then I let the can drag further behind, stop and chuck it over the horse a few times.

Another exercise is with the wheely bin. I take it on our walk. I long rein and pick up the empty bin which I drag along with me way behind the horse. He learns things are behind him, noisy but still has to get on with the job. You could set people up behind with a radio, shouting etc. OH and I play at dancing in the road with him in the car or tractor and me long reining the horse. Horse has to squeeze through a narrow gap between the tractor he is revving up and the wall. Very narrow so horse is going to knock himself on the wall but he has to get on and ignore the tractor and get it sorted.. Then we repeat the long reining exercise with the vehicles but he has to do it all in reverse. Then move onto doing it ridden. (obviously building up in very tiny steps)

These exercises are not to train him to play football or be traffic proof but to learn to cope and do as he is told in whatever situation.
Other thing is to teach him to lower his head on command. You are leading, he sees the bogey man. Correct action is not to put his head in the air and try to leg it but to lower his head on command and engage his brain. ie getting rid of the flight response. Then move onto giving that command when you are on top.

I don't find going for walks in hand to be that much use as the horse is too dependent on me but long reining out round your ride works as he is out in front and has to be brave and sort it himself. You also see very quickly when long reining exactly where the problems are and can work around them, eg driving forward, doing some training alongside or around a spook eg stop. 2 steps forward, 2 steps back to get him listening to you and working rather than worrying and spooking.


Forget taking him "for a hack" and work on taking him out to grab all the training opportunities you can and set them up. Those pesky things you meet, tourists in car parks, people hiding in hedges, umbrellas, kids, pushchair, kites etc are not a PITA they are specially sent to utilise for your horse training.

nice horse. Looks as if he would be fun to work with.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Fantastic ideas paddy555 - yep this is my philosophy too! EVERY thing you encounter is a training opportunity; when they started digging up the road near me I rushed down there quickly with my then-youngster to get her used to it!! Couldn't pass up an opportunity like that!!

 

[Celtic Fringe]

I'm quite a cautious hacker but also like to use 'training opportunities' . We did a lot of spook busting, hacking in-hand and long reining when he was younger which I think was helpful. I talk to my little cob a lot (too much!) and when we come across something a bit scary either laugh or 'oooh look at that interesting dragon/tiger/pony eating bin etc'. I also:

a. trained my pony to 'see off' anything scary so motorbikes, bicycles etc that overtake us are all good opportunities for a game of chase at a faster walk or a brief trot. A friend was riding several years ago when my pony was quite young and turned to face a motorbike approaching from behind. He got a surprise when pony spun slowly as the bike passed and trotted after it!
b. trained myself to keep breathing - fairly slow and deep if possible and to stay as relaxed as possible and not anticipate something awful happening. It took my a while to realise that I was holding my breath and this was what was making him anxious.
c. give him a fibre nugget if it is really scary. I may be the worst horse person in the world but this means his attention is on me, he has to reach round to take the treat and if he is chewing then he might relax a tiny bit. I usually carry a couple in a pocket for emergencies.

Unaccompanied wheelie bins are still deeply suspicious - he keeps a very close eye on those as we pass. Ones with a human attached are fine

 

[Coblover63]

I know someone who always hacked their horse out in blinkers because it was nervous of what was behind. Weirdly, when the horse couldn't see behind, he stopped worrying about it. Might be worth long-lining yours in blinkers to see how he copes, before progressing to riding?

 

[fidleyspromise]

I take my Highlamd out for hours by myself. Just her and me and so etimes ponying the other one for short hacks.
The more I did it the more confidence I got.
I walk out in hand and just spend time with her.

 

[alexomahony]

Just do it. For hours. They soon get over themselves once you have been out a few hours and the more often you can do it, the better.

Hacking for several hours. Everyday. You will have a different horse in not too long.

this ^

 

[Zuzan]

I bought my horse as a 2yo (16 years ago now ) we started hacking out in hand way before she was backed .. and we've never really had any issues beyond a wee shy or start for good reason.. she's now generally very confident.. for spooky items such as wheelbins (espcially the ones that had moved since the day before ) I used target training .. I still rewared her when she investigates a spooky item (though nowadays it's simply a verbal good girl and a nice wither scratch.). I never rush passed something that has caught her attention and tend to encourage investigation of said items. Having said that she will sometimes take the micky a bit but we know each other well enough to know when we need to take something seriously

As above I would go back to some basics..

Another thougth is I wonder about how well some horses see when they have huge forlocks or are very chunky which would limit their rear view vision more than a slighter built horse .. consider how the eyes are set on the head.

I was taught to ride a slight shoulder in on roads .. if on quiet lanes it's quite easy to ride on either side of the lane so can alternate which rein you are on. It's great practice to change bends and do loops on straight lanes traffic etc permitting .. schooling whilst out hacking can really help keep their focus on you rather than HEMs etc.

 

[Boulty]

I did lots & lots of boring inhand walking of the same short routes over & over & over again alongside lots of riding in confident company where I could & gradually started hopping on partway around the inhand walks / for the less spooky bits & hopping off again if we had a problem (eg a skip or a tractor or a kid on a trampoline...). I'm no stunt rider either & he was also quite nappy & not very confident / happy going out alone & he'd bolted with me in company & tried to take off on other occasions so we had issues to work through in company as well. Just clocking up lots of (short) positive experiences, keeping track of the little wins (eg I got 10m further today before he started napping, no having a tantrum at the yard gate, didn't try to do 0-60 when a gnat farted you get the idea!) & not classing having to get off again as giving in or a bad thing (no word of a lie sometimes at the start I got on & off about 20 times in a 20 minute ride... I got really good at hopping back on again mind you!) When he was no longer trying to do dangerous things when we met something "scary" I did start to ask him to pass things with me still onboard & would only get off if I felt staying on would be a safety issue or if he got "stuck" & wouldn't move. As we got more confident together then we started exploring further & further affield & going to places that we hadn't already walked inhand or gone with another horse & as this became more "normal" this did improve. It took a good year or so I'd say to get to the point where hacking alone was actually enjoyable.... I did spend a few years skating around the issue before actually doing something about it though (& only then because I was forced really... horse needed rehab work that involved lots of road walking & well there's a limited no of hacking buddies that don't find that mind-numbingly boring & there's only so much walking inhand a person can take plus it's hard to build ridden fitness if you're not sat on the horse!) Horse was always spooky though & never a total kickalong plod but that was part of who he was (the bin lorry was boring but different coloured blades of grass were highly exciting blatant horse killers!)

 

[Sunjunkieme]

Just do it. For hours. They soon get over themselves once you have been out a few hours and the more often you can do it, the better.

Hacking for several hours. Everyday. You will have a different horse in not too long.

I think you’re right. Previous advice was to hack him in company and build his confidence, but he’s not in unconfident, he’s sharp and spooky and I think avoiding this issue is likely to make it worse. Big girl pants ? on!

 

[Sunjunkieme]

I know someone who always hacked their horse out in blinkers because it was nervous of what was behind. Weirdly, when the horse couldn't see behind, he stopped worrying about it. Might be worth long-lining yours in blinkers to see how he copes, before progressing to riding?

Worth a thought, thanks. He does do this... interesting..

 

[Goldenstar]

For the not liking things from behind you might get a get on Dyon blinkers I was sceptical but they made a huge difference to sorting out Sky .
Pick a few rides you do the most and just repeat repeat repeat it’s not unusual for hunters to be poor to hack alone as they often have just never done it .

 

[Sunjunkieme]

I bought my horse as a 2yo (16 years ago now ) we started hacking out in hand way before she was backed .. and we've never really had any issues beyond a wee shy or start for good reason.. she's now generally very confident.. for spooky items such as wheelbins (espcially the ones that had moved since the day before ) I used target training .. I still rewared her when she investigates a spooky item (though nowadays it's simply a verbal good girl and a nice wither scratch.). I never rush passed something that has caught her attention and tend to encourage investigation of said items. Having said that she will sometimes take the micky a bit but we know each other well enough to know when we need to take something seriously

As above I would go back to some basics..

Another thougth is I wonder about how well some horses see when they have huge forlocks or are very chunky which would limit their rear view vision more than a slighter built horse .. consider how the eyes are set on the head.

I was taught to ride a slight shoulder in on roads .. if on quiet lanes it's quite easy to ride on either side of the lane so can alternate which rein you are on. It's great practice to change bends and do loops on straight lanes traffic etc permitting .. schooling whilst out hacking can really help keep their focus on you rather than HEMs etc.

yeah, we do a bit of schooling when we’re out. Virtually no road work necessary, so traffic isn’t an issue although he’s highly suspicious of vehicles in fields ?

scary objects hold no fear for a target trained horse, he takes it as a challenge to touch just about everything in case he gets paid.. noises he can’t place, that’s the issue I think..

no big forelock or over chunkiness ?‍

 

[Mule]

I led mine out in hand. I would bring him out for walks and let him graze. He started to associate leaving the yard with eating nice long grass, which did the trick.

I also did a lot of waiting out his napping. I found the best thing was to relax and give him a bit of time to get his confidence. If I used lots of leg, he would march backwards whereas taking the pressure off worked well. You need a lot of patience for this.

I have also done some long reining which also helped massively.

When you ride him out, only go a little bit at a time rather than having a fight. If you are walking and you feel him slowing down, ask him to trot. This can take his mind off napping. If he gets too nappy, just get off and lead him to where you want to go. Also, let him graze on hacks, so they are more enjoyable for him.

 

[Sunjunkieme]

I led mine out in hand. I would bring him out for walks and let him graze. He started to associate leaving the yard with eating nice long grass, which did the trick.

I also did a lot of waiting out his napping. I found the best thing was to relax and give him a bit of time to get his confidence. If I used lots of leg, he would march backwards whereas taking the pressure off worked well. You need a lot of patience for this.

I have also done some long reining which also helped massively.

When you ride him out, only go a little bit at a time rather than having a fight. If you are walking and you feel him slowing down, ask him to trot. This can take his mind off napping. If he gets too nappy, just get off and lead him to where you want to go. Also, let him graze on hacks, so they are more enjoyable for him.

Thank you, but he isn’t at all nappy. I don’t really have issues with that at all.

 

[Sunjunkieme]

For the not liking things from behind you might get a get on Dyon blinkers I was sceptical but they made a huge difference to sorting out Sky .
Pick a few rides you do the most and just repeat repeat repeat it’s not unusual for hunters to be poor to hack alone as they often have just never done it .

Interesting ?

 

[Sunjunkieme]

I'm quite a cautious hacker but also like to use 'training opportunities' . We did a lot of spook busting, hacking in-hand and long reining when he was younger which I think was helpful. I talk to my little cob a lot (too much!) and when we come across something a bit scary either laugh or 'oooh look at that interesting dragon/tiger/pony eating bin etc'. I also:

a. trained my pony to 'see off' anything scary so motorbikes, bicycles etc that overtake us are all good opportunities for a game of chase at a faster walk or a brief trot. A friend was riding several years ago when my pony was quite young and turned to face a motorbike approaching from behind. He got a surprise when pony spun slowly as the bike passed and trotted after it!
b. trained myself to keep breathing - fairly slow and deep if possible and to stay as relaxed as possible and not anticipate something awful happening. It took my a while to realise that I was holding my breath and this was what was making him anxious.
c. give him a fibre nugget if it is really scary. I may be the worst horse person in the world but this means his attention is on me, he has to reach round to take the treat and if he is chewing then he might relax a tiny bit. I usually carry a couple in a pocket for emergencies.

Unaccompanied wheelie bins are still deeply suspicious - he keeps a very close eye on those as we pass. Ones with a human attached are fine

They really can’t do anything bonkers when they are bent.. all good advice. thanks.