hacking alone

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dilbert

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Ok - I want to do it.
My pony has hacked alone before and has never put a foot wrong the handful of times I've hacked him out with others (happy to go front or back).
Problem is I'm scared and when I get scared he gets stressy too - who can fix me??
 
I used to sing songs and talk to my pony about my day when I used to be scared of hacking alone, I also found faking a yawn used to relax my muscles ( strange I know).
Now I love hacking by myself more than I ever did with company, having the freedom to go anywhere I want, just me and my pony
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could someone walk with you for a couple of times??? when i went from nappy wont hack alone horse to new happy to hack alone horse this is what i did just to build my confidence and not frighten new horse!!!
 
Have you got an Instructor? If not, get a good one. If so, why not ask them to walk (or cycle) out with you. Then as you get more confident they can just wander behind you. And then eventually leave you to it.
 

Maybe you should walk out in hand forst if you're going to be worried about being scared and so on. Take some treats in your pocket and mosey round your planned route in hand, share the treats, take time to sit down adn let him graze in hand for a while - make it low stress for you both.

Remember to take your mobile phone, and if you can, a leadrope in case you want to get off and walk.

When things get scary - breathe in and out and step back from it - trust your horse, he doesn't want it to go wrong any more than you do.

No one can fix you, this is something you have to face and fix for yourself I'm afraid. Everyone has to.

First time I took my rather fiery ginger ex point to pointer out it was quite scary, well terrifying, but nothing really happened and now I think nothing of hacking out alone for 6-8 hours if I can.
 
I would definitely say to take someone walking alongside you for the first few times. That's what I've been doing, until the snow, and eventually they can start to lag behind and let you get a bit ahead to see how you get on alone. My mum's been coming out with me but Belle walks fast and a few minutes from home we stormed ahead - I knew mum was closeby but I was basically on my own and it boosted my confidence a bit.
 
I used to get my OH to walk out with me and then leave me for sections of the hack while I went off for a canter. Gradually he left me for longer and longer as my confidence grew. After a while I'd arrange for him to do the hack in reverse and meet me half way round so I knew he'd be on the route to check on me if I was having problems.
 
agree with SMID how about walking pony out in hand to start with, i just love hacking out on my own in fact i much prefer to hack on my own i go into a dwam and sing and horseys ears flick back and forward listening, its very relaxing i find. x
 
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Just take deep breaths and go on a hack where you know every dip bend and such and take things slowly

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Precisely, singing and whistling can help keep you calm too when you start to feel a bit tense. I don't suggest you go on a windy day until you are really confident as it generally gets up their tails and makes them very silly
 
i remember when i was about 11/12 when i first started hacking alone and i was a bit nervous i would talk away to my pony and sometimes i would have a sing along lol weirdo but there was nobody about for me to deafen except my poor pony and it kind of took my mind off things and i relaxed i still do it sometimes but shhh :P x
 
Ditto going out inhand first.

Your pony can get to see all the new sights and sounds without you being nervous. And seeing him relaxed and confident on the ground will give you confidence in his behaviour under saddle.
 
I had a fright when I came off George on my own hacking not long after I got him and to this day I've no idea what scared him, but I lost all my confidence to hack alone.

Like others suggested, I use to take George for in hand walks along a route I wanted to ride, and then I got OH to walk or cycle with me whilst I rode, and then I would ride a bit of the route on my own and come back. Always little steps until I found I could do a circuit all on my own, and somehow over time it worked and made my bond with George stronger. I also found singing helped (although I doubt George would agree!!)

Good luck.
 
Choose a short route that you feel comfortable riding on in company or even just go to the end of the road or a track and back to start off with. If you feel nervous get off and lead him - take some polos or mints in your pocket to distract him with should he get stressed (and you might fancy one yourself to take your mind off the situation too).

Start small don't aim to go out for hours on your first attempt even if you just walk 10 minutes down the road and come home again it is a start and we all have to start somewhere.
 
I've never really had anyone to hack with, and my horses have had "reputations" so no-one wants to go out with me! I sing, really badly, or recite the periodic table, or just talk to my mare about absolutely everything. I must bore the poor girl to death sometimes, but it really does work. She may actually be the best-educated horse in England now!
 
Thank you everyone
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There is a short bridlepath next to his field which seems like a good place to start - should be able to trundle up and down it in hand with some polo's
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Just need to wait for the ice to clear as it was being used for a sledging run yesterday!

Hopefully we might start to get out by the end of the week
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You need to decide what it is that scares you and work out how to make it less.

If it is spooking then walking in hand/long lining first and then going out with someone on foot will help.

If it is falling off and being left lying in a ditch then take steps to make sure people know how long you are going to be and when to come and look for you. Take a mobile and wear high viz.

If it is bolting then plan a route that is enclosed and circular, and plan what you would do. Make sure your horse has tags on his tack too.

Thinking about what could happen and plan for it, you will feel much happier if you have addressed all your fears.
 
Thanks Katt - just realised that I have no real idea what it is that scares me.....will have to ponder that one a bit more
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