Hacking alone (Unexploded bomb between my legs!)

[Leonie]

Thanks for reading my post - any suggestions would be great, thanks. I've not posted on here for ages but after today I could do with some help on my horses behaviour!

She is 8 years old and I've had since a 2 year old. We've previously hacked for miles alone and in company and been ok. This year she's been much more nervy on her own - and today she was just running on adrenaline on the way home (had to hack in company over to a friends to drop their ponies off - so was on my own on the way home). She was so tense and marching out at walk just fuelled by nervous energy. She's been like this most hacks alone this year. It's now starting to feel unsafe and I got off her and led her home. Which in 6 years is the second time ever. We have a yearling that she is fairly attached too which maybe is not helping the problem - the yearling called to her when we were out hacking in company the other day and she did the most enormous rear it felt like we were going over backwards (this was the first time I got off and walked!). It doesn't feel like naughty behaviour but fearful, anxious, nervous energy & behaviour. She is living out with two others so the yearling isn't the only company.

I've got two young children and I think my riding has got more cautious recently - maybe she's picking up on my drop in confidence? I really want to work through this as she's a cracking horse in everything else we do. But the riding needs to be safe.

Any suggestions? Thanks, Leonie.

 

[Supertrooper]

Can anyone walk with you on foot? My share boy isn't good on his own but he picks up on my worry also. I've found having someone with me on foot a huge help!!

 

[be positive]

This is not a hacking problem as such but a separation anxiety, she is most likely mothering the youngster and stressing about leaving it. Can you move them to different fields so she is no longer with the yearling and see if that helps, it may be that given time she can relax and stop worrying while you are riding her.

 

[ha903070]

I share your sympathies here, I have an 8 yr old mare weve had since she was 4 months old, the more grown up and better schooled she has become the more silly out hacking she is.
The last time I hacked her out by herself (4/5 weeks ago at most - she is currently in with lami hence not been out on our own since) she was an absolute nightmare. Our ride takes us down hill past the fields her friends are in, she snorts all the way down but does go, reluctantly. However at the bottom of the hill were two lads sat quietly on the wall. Anyone would think they were trying to kill her. I refused to give up but it literally took me 10 mins to get past them, and it ended up being a gallop down the road!!! (she is not shod and it was not intentional before anyone comments on this).
Two mins walk further down after this outburst something else was scary, threatens to rear a few times constantly runs backwards etc etc, snorting. I ended up making her walkj backwards down the road past whatever it was til she turned and again cantered down the road.

I personally think it is the issue of leaving her friends.

Sounds like your horse is similar in that this time you set off with others and left them to ride back alone.

Not sure what the solution is but mine will be to keep perservering til she gets used to it again. And consider any feed you are giving that could increase the extra energy she has? Mine is now off all feed but it can affect her when she is on it.

Make sure someone knows your route and is available when you do go out for some security on your part. And good luck x