Hacking alone

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emma001

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hi i have had my horse now for about 8 months and he is absaloutly amazing ! The only thing is he cant hack out alone. well saying that he can, but it isnt exactly 'relaxing' like hacking should be. Every time i try to attempt to go on hack by myself it always ends up having to turn back and go home or being a very short loop. He is EXTREMELY spooky on his own and starts to do a prancy trot. Also he stops constantly with his neck up high, looking at things. I just dont have the confidence to go out by myself with the fear of him trying to turn around and gallop home spooking at something he doesnt usually spook at when he is company. it's such ashame as i would love to go on a long hack alone and really shift the weight of him as he is on the tubby side. Does anyone have the same problem !? Anybody got any tips ? please help !!
 
I'd suggest possibly walking him in-hand if you can, or ideally get someone on foot or bike to walk with you just to boost his confidence a bit. Had similar problem with my mare, and doing that worked wonders, I can go anywhere now :D it takes time though, I would still start with small hacks and slowly increase them
 
Agree about person on foot or bike as they can go in front or behind very easily to help build your confidence.

I would also look at his feed. My mare is a loop on anything with molassess in it. I mean a total rearing head case. I cut the offending feed out and we had our sane creature again. Worth a thought.

I walked mine out in hand when first getting them used to traffic which is good if you can walk as fast as your horse. The pony I managed my mare and her super walk I was turning beetroot coloured and felt like I was going to have an Asthma attack and I don't have asthma (sp) !!!
 
Nope, don't have that problem but mine isn't as confident as he used to be after a very very near miss accident. Only applicable to me on roads but someone walking at his head helps his confidence.

I would try getting someone on foot to walk at his head to start with, see how you get on, then dropping back to your leg then at some point walking behind. I set off with my boyfriend and he buggered off after 5 minutes of walking behind and the horse hadnt even noticed he was be himself until about 15 minutes later!!

Having said that, mine is exceptionally dim! :D
 
I had exactly the same problem with my horse so here are my tips :)

1) Get someone to walk out with you, it really does help. As your horse gets more confidence allow the person to walk slightly behind you, making your horse 'lead'

2) Do lots of walks in hand, make him have a sniff of the things he spooks at, build your trust in each other and make leaving the yard a positive experience

3) Pick small short loops to hack on, never pick a route where you have to turn around

4) If hacking in company, ask your horse to lead for a while

5) Don't attempt to hack out alone if you're feeling nervous, your horse will pick up on it and play up even more

6) When you've done all of the above and are feeling confident enough to ride out solo, carry a crop and make sure your horse can see it.

7) Keep your leg on at all times, the minute I back off with my leg, bailey starts playing up. Drive him forward through the whole hack (exhausting but gotta be done!)

8) Keep him occupied through the hack, lots of transitions, leg yielding and flexion.

9) If he slows to look at something, try not to tense, relax through your body and keep the leg on. Don't 'kick' just keep squeezing him forwards. Use your voice to reassure him things are ok.

10) If he tries to spin, do not allow him to turn backwards. Block his bum from turning with your leg and keep your reins short to prevent him from turning his head to turn back around

11) The hardest part ..... Don't give in once he starts napping!! Sometimes it can take me over 15 minutes to get bailey past somewhere if he's started napping but with a lot of stamina, he will give up before me and walk forwards (sometimes sidewards)

Good luck, I know how it feels, if you want more advice just ask :) xxxx
 
It sounds like he needs to build confidence in you. Walk him out in hand to get him used to going out with just you, so he learns to trust you. Find nice things to do like graze, stop and admire the scenery etc. Keep it pleasant and relaxed. Once he's happy with that then walk him out, and get on him half way round so you ride him home. Then gradually shorten the time spent walking in hand and increase time spent riding.
 
sophiebailey said:
I had exactly the same problem with my horse so here are my tips :)

1) Get someone to walk out with you, it really does help. As your horse gets more confidence allow the person to walk slightly behind you, making your horse 'lead'

2) Do lots of walks in hand, make him have a sniff of the things he spooks at, build your trust in each other and make leaving the yard a positive experience

3) Pick small short loops to hack on, never pick a route where you have to turn around

4) If hacking in company, ask your horse to lead for a while

5) Don't attempt to hack out alone if you're feeling nervous, your horse will pick up on it and play up even more

6) When you've done all of the above and are feeling confident enough to ride out solo, carry a crop and make sure your horse can see it.

7) Keep your leg on at all times, the minute I back off with my leg, bailey starts playing up. Drive him forward through the whole hack (exhausting but gotta be done!)

8) Keep him occupied through the hack, lots of transitions, leg yielding and flexion.

9) If he slows to look at something, try not to tense, relax through your body and keep the leg on. Don't 'kick' just keep squeezing him forwards. Use your voice to reassure him things are ok.

10) If he tries to spin, do not allow him to turn backwards. Block his bum from turning with your leg and keep your reins short to prevent him from turning his head to turn back around

11) The hardest part ..... Don't give in once he starts napping!! Sometimes it can take me over 15 minutes to get bailey past somewhere if he's started napping but with a lot of stamina, he will give up before me and walk forwards (sometimes sidewards)

Good luck, I know how it feels, if you want more advice just ask :) xxxx
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All of this basically! I had a huge problem with my boy coz when I had him he'd been in a trekking centre and would just follow the bum ahead; then when I tried solo hacking he threw all his toys out the pram and said no.

My trainer helped by coming out with me; she'd park along the road and then come back and tell me what to do on foot. If he spinned/backed up, she said to turn him in a VERY tight circle (basically you're not trying to be nice, you're pulling his head around almost to reach his hock) - but you have to turn him AWAY from the way he's trying to go, i.e. if he's trying to spin Left, then you turn his head to the Right, then ask him politely to go forward, if he doesn't & still resists then just keep turning him until he realises that the most comfortable thing is to go forwards.

Also............ she said to tack up as normal and walk him out, leading him; THEN about half way through the ride and/or when he's happy with that, just hop on without making any big deal of it and ride back to the yard.

Also its best to go a circular route if you can coz else he'll soon realise that he goes out and back the same way and will nap.

I think you'd find it very helpful to get a trainer alongside you to help you with this as if you're at all stressy and/or het up about it, the horse will pick straight up on that. OR you could maybe ask someone else to hack him out solo for you and get him used to going out on his own, then you see if you can get him out. But ultimately its got to be YOU that does it.

Good luck. This is a common problem, and once you've cracked it (and you will!!!), the world will be your oyster.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
All of this basically! I had a huge problem with my boy coz when I had him he'd been in a trekking centre and would just follow the bum ahead; then when I tried solo hacking he threw all his toys out the pram and said no.

My trainer helped by coming out with me; she'd park along the road and then come back and tell me what to do on foot. If he spinned/backed up, she said to turn him in a VERY tight circle (basically you're not trying to be nice, you're pulling his head around almost to reach his hock) - but you have to turn him AWAY from the way he's trying to go, i.e. if he's trying to spin Left, then you turn his head to the Right, then ask him politely to go forward, if he doesn't & still resists then just keep turning him until he realises that the most comfortable thing is to go forwards.

Also............ she said to tack up as normal and walk him out, leading him; THEN about half way through the ride and/or when he's happy with that, just hop on without making any big deal of it and ride back to the yard.

Also its best to go a circular route if you can coz else he'll soon realise that he goes out and back the same way and will nap.

I think you'd find it very helpful to get a trainer alongside you to help you with this as if you're at all stressy and/or het up about it, the horse will pick straight up on that. OR you could maybe ask someone else to hack him out solo for you and get him used to going out on his own, then you see if you can get him out. But ultimately its got to be YOU that does it.

Good luck. This is a common problem, and once you've cracked it (and you will!!!), the world will be your oyster.
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second the turning and getting them to do something but be careful as i did lots of this and my horse pulled her shoulder. she was fine 24 hours after but make sure you warm them up a bit before taking them out
 
Some great advice here. I just wanted to add, if you don't have a circular route, when you get the the end of your route ride some circles and figures of eight if it is safe to do so. This will stop him from getting into the habit of just turning round and going home. And remember, there is no shame in getting off and leading him if he gets really stuck. I personally don't want to end up on the road on my arse.:p
 
Love it that so many people have suggested in-hand work. There was a thread on here a little while ago with lots of people rubbishing it, but I think its great for a horses confidence and why wouldn't you - if it makes getting a confident horse easier?

Great advice on here, I would just add that if you have a small circular route, you can always walk it in-hand once (or more) and then ride it, hopefully that way your horse has had a chance to spot and deal with any monsters the first time round.

Also, if you can getting out really early before there are too many people about can help as well if you have to go on roads.
 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting off and leading. Whatever some people may say, it is not giving in, it is showing him that you are the leader and can be trusted. Lots of horses dislike going out solo because in the wild a horse on its own is very vulnerable to predators, so you have to build up the trust between you.

My little mare has always been sharp and spooky on her own, but she grew to trust that I would never put her in danger and I trusted that she would never buck, rear or run off with me. In fact, if ever we were with a horse that did run off she would stand and watch it disappear over the horizon. You could almost imagine her thinking "I'll stick with mum, it's safer!".

You need plenty of groundwork, time, patience and a long suffering buddy to come out with you on foot or a bike.!
 
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