Hacking alone - tips

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HayInMyWellies

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My goal (for good but complicated reason) is to be able to hack out for 90 mins by myself. I need to achieve it by half way through July.
At the moment i have done a couple of short hacks by myself, through an enclosed lane and turning around before i got on to the new forest (Where i live, and will have to go to achieve my aim). My pony was more forward, head high and tried to spin a few times (quite glad i was alone as muttering "I will be brave until you behave" repeatedly!) but not too bad.
Does anyone have any tips for successful hacking alone, e.g. how to build up to longer hacks, how to keep interest, how to divert spooky/naughty situations.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
I will not be going on roads.
 
Talk to him! I've always reckoned that horses can keep about three of four "awarenesses" going at once - so if you have hands on, contact up; feet and legs on, that's two say and then talk he's almost fully occupied. In dodgy places - just rest your stick on his quarter to give an extra push - it helps if you've never whacked him with it!

It's largely a matter of familarity - go out and keep going out - though to start I'd go with company and then repeat exactly the same ride on your own. This especially if you are young.

My big mare was almost uncontrollable when out on her own when I first owned her - she could be quite dangerous - frightened of running water, things in the hedge and every piece of grass meant gallop! But she came round - I've done rides that lasted three days and two stops out and sat for at least 12,000 hours in her saddle alone.
 
I sing... horribly! to keep myself occupied and talk to my lad, it's sweet seeing his ear(s) swivel to listen to me ramble on at him :D
Also I've heard that trying things like shoulder in/out past spooktastic objects helps and that schooling manouvres hacking keep them occupied :)
Good luck! I was terrified of hacking alone at first but it became really fun! :D
 
Here are my tips
1. Trot – less time to think about things less scary that a canter
2. Sing – no one else would put up with my voice, same effect as talking but more fun
3. Stand and talk to people, standing is a good skill for your horse to learn, distracting and confidence giving for yourself
4. Remember if it gets too scary you can always get off ! Even if you never resort to this there is really no shame in getting off, and reassuring to think you can– sometimes it’s the best thing to do
I thought I could never leave the yard on my own even though I had done all sorts of other kinds of scary riding – it was my block! But riding alone with my horse I have discovered she is actually easier to handle and less likely to spook. I reckon she thinks – ‘Either I go home on my own or with her – and on balance its better to stick with her!’
 
I do all of the above!!!! Singing, talking etc. one thing I learnt from a Parelli video is if you are going past something spooky say in your head ' HOW INTERESTING!!!! Believe it or not it makes you relax and soon your horse starts thinking 'Hmmm I wonder what that is?' Rather than OMG it's going to kill me :)
 
I've nearly always hacked alone. We encounter our share of scary things in hedges including dumped tvs, fridges, garden rubbish, children's toys etc. What I do is on seeing anything with high-spook value is settle down in the saddle, sigh loudly and say 'it's only rubbish' in the same tone that that comedian use to say 'It's only a puppet'. My 15.3hh Clydesdale cob mare, now 19 years old, then goes past without too much fuss. Forget to say 'it's only rubbish' and we go past sideways on the centre white line of the road!

Other than that my advice is leave a note on your stable door to say where you've gone and when you plan to be back, take a hoofpick, phone and something to share - apple slices or mints which you can use to reward yourselves for getting past scary stuff and enjoy yourselves!
 
I think the trick is (in part at least) to not over think it all.
I am backing my young mare at present and have dived right in to hacking alone as I want her to think nothing of solo hacking as I have always enjoyed it.
I did walk her out in hand weekend after weekend on her own for a year before hoping on board in January. I try not to let myself think as I do not know what she is like as a ridden mare, and I expect she does not know her self yet as its new to her too lol.
However, I happily hacked my late mare alone too and found singing, whistling, chewing gum, deep breaths all helpful. I would hop off and on again if needed, and try just keep calm.
I think repetition is very important as mentioned, in terms of building yours and your horses confidence together.
I am chatting to Nell the whole way on our rides so far, we have only done a few, and patting and stroking her lots and lots as this seems to reassure her I have found. Oh and I have been rewarding with food, she regularly gets a treat for just generally being good and brave. I used to give Seren my late mare polos/treats out on our solo hacks to show my appreciation for her good solo hacking behaviour and I had been hacking her alone for close to twenty years but always wanted to reward her for being a super star.
I will stop rambling now! Good luck with your hacking :)

ETS: Agree with this too \/ about just sighing and saying its only rubbish or a person on a bike or whatever, I do this all the time :)
SJPalmer said:
We encounter our share of scary things in hedges including dumped tvs, fridges, garden rubbish, children's toys etc. What I do is on seeing anything with high-spook value is settle down in the saddle, sigh loudly and say 'it's only rubbish' in the same tone that that comedian use to say 'It's only a puppet'.
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wombles of wimbledon is my favourite song in times of need :p My horse feels stressed with a contact out on his own, I need to be totally chilled, no contact and singing the wombles then we can just go for miles. Also I take my dog (but we have no roads) he's a different beast without the dog
 
As above, never hesitate to get of walk for a few mins then get back on. Its all about building confidence. I hack my mare up to 20 miles just she n me. Your never really hacking alone, you've got each other. :~)
 
Rhodders said:
wombles of wimbledon is my favourite song in times of need :p My horse feels stressed with a contact out on his own, I need to be totally chilled, no contact and singing the wombles then we can just go for miles. Also I take my dog (but we have no roads) he's a different beast without the dog
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Hey, I sing about the wombles too! :D
 
Don't overthink it. Get on and off you go. As for keeping interest - who yours or the horse? Some of the most wonderful experiences I've had have been out hacking.
 
I always used to sing, or tell my horse all about my day. Are there any loops you can do instead of going up a lane and turning around? I have usually found horses to be more joggy and excitable when they have been turned around for home (if this a rider confidence issue?)

Try not to over think things. Sometimes I even used to pretend I was on some sort of mission. When the horse became just my mode of transport to said mission...instead of a spooky horse I was exercising, I was totally focused and if the horse played up I just kicked on and got on with it......if that makes sense??

I now absolutely love hacking alone and have had some of the best rides going out for hours by myself :)
 
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Laughter is good, especially after a spook. It releases tension and is a positive response anyway.
Yawning and sighing area also good as they transmit relaxation to the horse too.

I used to sing "Jerusalem" but only know a few lines so it got rather repetitive , but it worked a treat :)

Overall, as said in an earlier post, just keep doing it. The more you do the easier it gets. By July you will wonder what on earth you worried about :)
 
I agree with a lot of the above - singing, talking, commenting on what might be scary. I often think if someone was walking behind me they would be calling the men to come with the straight jacket - I must sound like a complete muppet.

I also try to trot quite a lot as it keeps him thinking. I also practice things like leg yield for something to think about.

We are only now starting to trot on the way home as my boy would do his power 'I'm pulling a big caravan' cob trot all the way home and it was difficult to slow him. So I used to make him walk home. Now he is more confident, we can trot with just a few stops to walk slowly.
 
You say your goal is hacking alone on the Forest?
Head for a pub.:D

Seriously though, more than half the things mentioned on this thread you won't see anyway. Plus with there being so much evidence around of other ponies, I doubt your horse will feel very isolated or scared.

And what's the worse that can happen anyway?
You fall off the horse gets lose and you happen to be in the one place where a horse loose on the road is no big deal and there are plenty of people around who would help.

Whereabouts are you, if it's near enough I could come and give moral support.
 
If the horse is inclined to spin round/nap, avoid turning back on yourself, go on circular routes or at least ride a loop before turning round.
 
When I was going through hellish stuff on domestic front, I used to tell the horse all about it while out alone. He became my therapist. I filmed him on my phone the other day out on a hack. It was only when watching it back that I realised how much his ears flick back to the sound of my voice. He may have been thinking 'oh God, she's going to unload more moaning on me.' But can't tell you how much he helped me - which sounds a bit odd. I had a human therapist at the time, too. Horse was far more useful.
This is possibly not much use as to your original inquiry, but just thought I'd chip in with a talking recommendation!
Do hope it all goes well for you.
 
Thank you all very much-loads of helpful advice! I am going to make a checklist to mentally go through, trying for a slightly longer hack tomorrow!
Aarrghimpossiblepony - near pittswood by Hampton ridge and the red sands.
 
Rule no 1 for me is, if I see something spooky ahead, I look in the opposite direction like its not there. Funny as it sounds, she's much less likely to spook and if she does it's only a minor one. Other than that, enjoy the us time with your horse.:)
 
HayInMyWellies said:
Thank you all very much-loads of helpful advice! I am going to make a checklist to mentally go through, trying for a slightly longer hack tomorrow!
Aarrghimpossiblepony - near pittswood by Hampton ridge and the red sands.
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Just looked at the map, that's very near to me, I'm at Hyde. PM me if you would like some help.:)
 
Some excellent advice here already!

Having had a confidence issue with hacking alone myself, I can fully empathise- never thought I'd hack out on my own again six months ago- went for an hour and ten minutes in a brisk wind and snow today, and even managed to sneak a couple of little canters in (despite the ground!) :)

Here's what I've found has helped-

- hack with a friend a few times, do the same, short route three or four times in company, preferably a 'circular' route.
- Once you 'know' the route well, and your horse does, attempt it alone- if you have to get off and lead for some or even most of it to start with (either because of your nerves or your horses!) it really doesn't matter- just complete the route!
- Ride the same route over and over until you don't have to get off, your horse 'plods' it happily and you are bored senseless with it.
-If at all possible, hack out every day- alone or in company- I find having a few days off from hacking makes my 'worries' come back to the surface a bit
- Alonsgide hacking the initial route repeatedly alone, when you get the chance go on some different/longer routes in company, so that when you feel ready you have some different/longer routes to tackle alone.
-Sing- anything you like- doesn't matter to the horse what it is, but it makes YOU breathe, which I find is kind of important ;)
- As others have said, the MOST effective thing I have found in the 'battle' against 'scary stuff' is to look directly at it, say 'Oh, it's a boring old binbag/crisp packet/ horse eating stone... nothing to worry about', sigh loudly, look away from it and back at where you are going and just keep riding normally.

Good luck :)
 
Thank you for all your advice, it is nerves that mostly hold me back! I will try my best tomorrow with all these tips and hopefully it will go well!
"horse eating stone" my pony finds these incredibly scary!
 
Simbacat said:
Here are my tips
1. Trot – less time to think about things less scary that a canter
2. Sing – no one else would put up with my voice, same effect as talking but more fun
3. Stand and talk to people, standing is a good skill for your horse to learn, distracting and confidence giving for yourself
4. Remember if it gets too scary you can always get off ! Even if you never resort to this there is really no shame in getting off, and reassuring to think you can– sometimes it’s the best thing to do
I thought I could never leave the yard on my own even though I had done all sorts of other kinds of scary riding – it was my block! But riding alone with my horse I have discovered she is actually easier to handle and less likely to spook. I reckon she thinks – ‘Either I go home on my own or with her – and on balance its better to stick with her!’
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I agree with this and am thinking I was the only loony to talk to my horse more to calm my nerves perhaps. I always stop to talk to people as they create an interest! If you find it easier it is good to either take someone on foot either alongside or following ie with dog etc or just to be around. I did this for a long time with a new horse. vary the routes as well so it doesnt get boring or if they are naughty at a certain spot they will have a repeat performance(they never forget). Keep at it they will change and the novelty will become the norm. I did short hacks to keep it positive and then thought nothing of going out for 2-3 hours in all weathers in the long term. Good luck.
 
I've become a bit nervous recently after meeting a tractor my (usually sensible) boy spins and bucks and I hit the deck. he stops and looks at me wondering what I was doing I'm sure. We were in company, got back on, rode for an hr and he was fine. however, it does concern me to go out on my own so I'll be trying out some of these tips for sure.:)
 
Definitely talk to your horse! I've always loved hacking alone and have never been nervous, but that's partly because my parents bought my horse for me when I was 11 and I wasn't allowed to start hacking alone until I was 14, so I knew her very well by then. But I have always always talked to her, even full blown conversations that must make me look insane to anyone who overhears us! I find it's a good way of keeping my attention on her, and keeping her listening to me. Plus I could talk for England, so if I'm hacking alone I WILL talk to my horse! I also sing to her, she knows a lot of old folk songs :p
 
Elsbells said:
Rule no 1 for me is, if I see something spooky ahead, I look in the opposite direction like its not there. Funny as it sounds, she's much less likely to spook and if she does it's only a minor one. Other than that, enjoy the us time with your horse.:)
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that's a good one I forget "don't look at the scary stuff" I once stood in the middle of a pond on my horse looking at the water and wondering why he wouldn't get out of the pond. Stopped staring at the water, looked where I wanted to go and hey presto off we went lol. Most of the time what we are doing is causing the issue not the horse
 
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