Hacking fear - following on from other thread

MrsHutt

MrsHutt

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Sorry to hi-jack the thread but I am wondering - people are suggesting just walking to the end of the lane, turning and coming home etc. If you do that with a nappy horse, is it not storing up trouble? Won't he think that he can come home next time?

I am still scared to go out with Hugo - the last time I was out was the 'great blackberry bush dumping episode' with loaner mare (although sole lessons in the school are great with Hugo now :)) and I fear that if I just go for a 10 minute walk and turn back, he will think that's what we do. I can't go on a 10 minute circuit - the shortest circuit is about 45 mins in walk, and I know I couldn't cope with that yet.

I have had offers from others to come with me, either walking alongside or riding (especially from my very safe friend on her very safe horse), but I would be reluctant to actually turn round. What do you think?

I do so want to be able to go out with him - that was why I bought him, for heaven's sake! But YO thinks he will be strong and nappy at the best of times. I have to make up my mind to learn to ride him.

I am going to be able to go up every day over half term, so hope to build up my confidence during that week in the school and (weather permitting!) would like to go for a little walk out.
 
I agree with you that turning around half way thru a hack is the beginning of a nappy horse.

To make it slightly better if you dont have a circuit is to have an obstacle to go round so you are not just turning around. Group of trees/ a road with two entrances/ around edge of field etc.

Once you do it a few times your confidence will increase and you can go a little further each time - keep it varied so it is interesting and enjoyable for both of you. Have lots of fun :)
 
Yes and No.

Yes if you go out and turn around he might well see home and get excited. However if you do a circuit usually when they workout they are a few mins from the stable they will get some motivation.

No - Cause I think as long as you dont do it in the same spot everytime you ride, its not creating a pattern of behaviour. So go left or right up the road, aim for a bush, or aim for turning just round the corner. etc.
 
I think you are right, you don't want to encourage patterns of behavior.

So options / food for thought

Either do the whole 45 mins but allow yourself to get on and off as much as you like. I divide route into 10 sections and have a different aim for each section. Curiously sometimes mentally it seems easier to stay in rather than bother to walk!!'

Just walk to the end of the lane, but try and do it 3 or 4 times and treat it like a schooling session to keep your mind off bad thoughts!!! Ie once in walk practicing perfect halts. Again in walk practicing leg yield. In trot practicing walk translations, in hand practicing getting the horse to follow your speed (like an in hand show horse)

And finally, remember give yourself a massive well done for every achievement and don't beat yourself up ..... It's a matter of riding for yourself and your personal ambition, not impressing the world (that's too big an ambition for anyone!!!)
 
From reading previouse posts and this one I think you place far to much trust in what your yard owner says. Was she out with with you last time you went hacking? Has she hacked Hugo out herself? if not then she really can't say what he will be like and nor can anyone else! she sounds rather over bearing to me and not very helpful either, did she have a horse she wanted you to buy from her and you chose Hugo instead?? therefore she thinks if she is unhelpful enough and things get bad enough you will sell H and buy one of her horses?? because that's the impression i'm getting.
 
Echo don't take any notice of someone trying to scare you saying he will do xyz how does she know?

Also echo someone who said if you find something to go around rather than just turning in the middle of road/path it is not the same it wouldn't encourage the same napping as just turning around. Also you don't do it in the same spot

Go for a short walk made be do it 2 or 3 times this again will discourage napping, but never quite come back to the yard or he may not like it, lots of praise for him too

Talk to him the whole time reassuring him (and you) it sounds daft but they love being told they are big and brave (obviously its the tone but it works)
 
stroppy said:
From reading previouse posts and this one I think you place far to much trust in what your yard owner says. Was she out with with you last time you went hacking? Has she hacked Hugo out herself? if not then she really can't say what he will be like and nor can anyone else! she sounds rather over bearing to me and not very helpful either, did she have a horse she wanted you to buy from her and you chose Hugo instead?? therefore she thinks if she is unhelpful enough and things get bad enough you will sell H and buy one of her horses?? because that's the impression i'm getting.
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Well, you're certainly right that I put a lot of trust in her - she is very knowledgeable, but quite 'set in her ways'! It wasn't that she had one for me to buy, but she certainly wanted me to get something that was suitable for her to use in her school. I can't really blame her for that (it gives me a reduced price working livery, after all) but I think you are also right that she wants me to now sell him and get something else. However, I think I have made it clear that I am quite determined to work through this - at least give it a good go (he's only been here a few weeks, after all) and try to get him more like the horse I want. I think she is thinking of me, too and is worried that I won't get the joy out of him that I'd hoped. She had promised to work with me, so I'm going to hold her to that ;)

A very knowledgeable friend (who enjoys her absolutely mental horse!!) has said, if I don't want to sell him, I will just have to learn to ride him! Fair enough! I think it will just take a while of building up my confidence, learning about him, him learning about me - taking it a step at a time. Even YO says that's the key. She also says once I have coped with his 'worst', I will gain in confidence.

I know that I wasn't actually scared on my other horse - I felt I could 'cope', I was more worried that I would do some serious damage next time!

I am relying on you guys on here for lots more support and encouragement! ;)
 
All I can say is that with my mare (who is nappy), my number one rule with her is to never, ever, ever turn around and come back the same way.
 
MrsHutt said:
But YO thinks he will be strong and nappy at the best of times. I have to make up my mind to learn to ride him.
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This stood out a mile to me in your post! What is YO basing this on? And no wonder you are nervous with this in your ear!

Has she ridden him out herself or something?

ETA sorry missed page 2. Agree with stroppy! It sounds as though your YO has her own agenda. This is not fair, on you or the horse. If I were you I'd get him out there and prove her wrong.
 
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skewby said:
This stood out a mile to me in your post! What is YO basing this on? And no wonder you are nervous with this in your ear!
Has she ridden him out herself or something?

ETA sorry missed page 2. Agree with stroppy! It sounds as though your YO has her own agenda. This is not fair, on you or the horse. If I were you I'd get him out there and prove her wrong.
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I have to agree, comments like that are not helping you at all. Could you find someone to hack with who is more positive and will help you build your confidence? You need to start building good, positive, happy memories of riding Hugo as you can then draw on them when your confidence needs a boost.
 
Big fan of the get off as many times as you need. Always get passed the obstacle, as this stops the problem for nest time. If my baby doesn'tt like something, I use my leg, a LITTLE of the stick and if it's obvious we're going to have a fight, I get off and lead him past it before it becomes an issue. I then lead him back and forward past the sticking point until I feel him start to relax, then jump back on and ride him past. If this doesn't work, repeat the process. Make sure you give plenty of time for the Hack.
Back your riding to stay in the saddle during any sillyness, If you feel yourself losing your temper or nerve, stop for a moment and sit back and down in your seat to make leg aids the most efffective.

Hugos not a 17h thoroughbred from Cardiff is he?
 
Actually, you know - I've been thinking! (Unusual, I know) - what is she basing this on?

He is 'unschooled', but he really tries to do what you ask in the school and he always comes back, or slows the pace when I ask. Today we did a 'halt' in the middle - I only gave a verbal command really and he almost did an emergency stop! :D

Two yard girls have taken him out - the first one said to me that he was 'looky' on his first visit (no surprise), but fine and then the next time, another two horses bolted for home and he just said 'where are they going?'!! And carried on. He was also used ok by a couple of 'paying customers', I think.

The other girl took him up the lane towards the woods, but he took off up someone's garden! She came back and another girl led them to the woods, and then he was fine.

However, the first girl said to YO that she felt he was strong and would head back given half the chance. But that is not what she'd said to me on the day. So maybe she thought that's what YO wanted to hear?!

No, he's not a 17hh tb (eek!) - he's 15hh2" cob, from E Sussex/Kent, lol!
 
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Faracat said:
All I can say is that with my mare (who is nappy), my number one rule with her is to never, ever, ever turn around and come back the same way.
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^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^

The only option with a nappy horse is always go forwards. If they are really nappy sometimes trot can be better than walk for some bizarre reason. I've had two horses that were shockingly nappy and I don't agree that you can't get them out of it. if you're consisten and firm you can get them to be grea hacking horses. D would go for 4-5 hours on her own once she realised that she actually liked hacking.
 
Hi,
I have a nappy mare will often plant herself if she didnt want to go any further, seems to have cracked it now though, but still have some days when she is a bit difficult. I used to ride till the 'plant' then get off (she was good to mount again) walk for a bit then get back on and he would go this used to happen quite frequently but now very rarely. I try to meet someone in the village and then after the ride leave them and ride back on my own. I never found her more nappy, when I remounted just persevered with a lot of patience and time have stood for 20 mins sometimes till she made her own decision to go on, wouldnt let her turn back, but she did just stand and wasn't really naughty just insecure. I have had her since a foal she's now 17yrs old Ive just accepted her way. I have no one to ride with now and shes fine on her own unless we go somewhere strange then still does it happen.
 
doonrocket said:
Big fan of the get off as many times as you need. Always get passed the obstacle, as this stops the problem for nest time. If my baby doesn'tt like something, I use my leg, a LITTLE of the stick and if it's obvious we're going to have a fight, I get off and lead him past it before it becomes an issue. I then lead him back and forward past the sticking point until I feel him start to relax, then jump back on and ride him past. If this doesn't work, repeat the process. Make sure you give plenty of time for the Hack.
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I find this quite interesting because I was always taught never to get off. I don't agree - it completely depends on the situation and sometimes it is safer to get off.

MrsHutt - Your YO sounds like she is being very unhelpful tbh. Telling you that your horse will always nap and be strong will do no good for your confidence when it actually sounds like Hugo could be a very nice horse. Is it possible that she's exaggerating? From what you say the yard girls think he's fine. Have you personally had any problems with him? Has he napped with you or done anything naughty? If you described what he has done with you then maybe we could get a better idea. Apologies if you have detailed it in another thread.
 
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can I put my Twopenneth in please? I havent read any of your previous posts but i am getting the gist of things.
i would like to tell you of my experience in the hope that it will help.
When i first got my mare i could not hack her out alone. She would plant, go backwards, and threaten to go up (she never did i hasten to add) so after a few attempts i gave up trying - not a big issue for me as i dont really enjoy hacking alone any way. I have now had her over 3 years - i choose very carefully the other horses i hack out with (big yard so lucky that i can) She now hacks beautifully with others but doesnt like to be in front (so i dont force her) we have some fab hacks! Last summer i managed to hack her out on a short route on her own - I was thilled!
My point is:
I think im right in thinking you have only had the horse a few weeks? Please give him/her time to trust you and visa versa - Also the horse needs to trust the other horses they are hacking with - imagine how scared he/she must have been when someone they didnt know rode them out with horses they didnt really know and said horses bolted home!
Dont let other people ride your horse for now = you work on the bond - get off as many times as you want - dont put yourself and your new horse under pressure.
I know you are probably desperate to 'get on and canter about' but give yourself time to trust each other.
it will come right in the end - stop asking others on your yard for advise for now, been there done that - im afraid it just adds pressure and makes thins more anxious for you both - just enjoy your horse if you can doing a little at a time.x
 
Depends on the horse.
My boy for example had lost his confidence hacking prior to me taking him on. He would nap, rear, plain stop etc, but after a lot of training & reassurance he is now a horse that anyone could jump on and ride out and be pointed in any direction. And not only that, you can turn him round for him home at ANY point should you choose and it does not cause ANY problems there after. So you can walk a horse out for a short distance, then turn for home. Hacking is a confidence thing for both parties. Gradually go further each time. If you have a solid bond with your horse I can't see this creating any problems, unless of course you anticipate things therefore encouraging them to happen. If you can build your confidence up with each short 'hack' down the road, his will grow too.
Genuine napping is confidence issue, 'not sure about this mum'. If you sit quiet until they've stood still and then carry on in the direction you want to go I find they soon get on with it. Shouting the odds doesn't help, kind, gentle words of encouragement is best.
 
Yes - only got him just as the snow arrived, so he was trapped in his field for 2 weeks with a bunch of unfamiliar horses. Then he was brought in to be used in the riding school and couldn't really cope in a group lesson (no surprise). He was fine in a lesson with just me. But then he went a bit silly a couple of weeks ago (the hunt just went by!) and scared me a bit. But we have had really nice lessons since. Another instructor had him in a more advanced group lesson last Sunday and said he was better.

I can't get there in the week during term time (when the evenings get lighter I want to be able to hack out), so have to rely on him being ridden by yard girls or in lessons. Having said that, he hasn't been ridden at all this week and was good as gold in my lesson this morning!

PS: he is a lovely horse! He has such a sweet nature and I know he wouldn't do anything deliberately nasty (unlike the previous mare!)
 
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But she hasn't got a nappy horse... :confused:

OP he sounds lovely, you are worrying about things that haven't even happened yet. Have a play about with him, find out what you DO have - you may well discover, a bit of a gem actually ;) xx
 
I would definately echo giving yourselves more time, it's still such early days for you both. I've had my new one since September but with the snow etc had a break from riding him, then got back on him and tried to take him out on his own. Totally my mistake, he did nothing nasty but was wound up, planting etc etc.

He has not a nasty mean bone in him but he's big 16.3hh shire x and a baby but also knows he can use his strength against me.

So we've gone back to hacking with company (different horse, and do you know what I don't like going out on my own anyway), schooling in field, and just bonding with him. I have my boundaries of what is and isn't acceptable behaviour and he's improving all the time :) with regular hacking/schooling he's being kept focused.

Go and your pace and don't feel pressurised to go at someone elses pace, even if you just get on and walk round school and then potter 5mins up the road then that's fine.

I'm very lucky to of found a lovely lady to ride out with, she is very experienced/calm and sensible and that rubs off on me.

Good luck, you will get there both of you xx

P.s I'm not suprised he was spooked by hunt going past, think most horses would be xx
 
Sorry to say this but I strongly feel you need to find yourself a different instructor who can assess this horse properly, i.e. by taking it on loads of hacks by herself. Getting a yard girl to report back that he kind of felt strong and he would have taken off, when he did NOT take off as two other horses run off, sounds like the biggest load of rubbish I have ever heard in my life and certainly not something that your YO should have repeated to you. Try another instructor it may turn out to be a revelation and if you can get one experienced person to ride this horse regularly when you cannot.
 
stop thinking about what may or may not happen it will only make you nervous which the horse will pick up on and play along with, get on with it and enjoy, thats what you got him for, give both of yourselves a chance to bond, without asking everyone else what to do, accept their offer for company but otherwise get going. sometimes you gotta just take the chance and see what happens, he will probably be fine and if he has napped it will be for 2 reasons new home and not feeling safe cos you are not giving him confidence. throw your heart first and the horse will follow as my father used to say.
 
I agree with what most have said. Your YO is out of order. You need to chill and not rush things. These things take lots of time.
I got my horse nearly 3 years ago. Could I hell get him to hack out on his own? He would spook, nap, spin, plant, bolt, run backwards and was a swine. So I hacked out with other people, and helped build up confidence for both of us. Then I bust my arm and couldn't ride, lost all confidence so didn't want to ride etc etc. Everyone including YO said horse was a nightmare, dangerous, I should get rid etc.
Moved yards for a fresh start, it was his last chance, to a quiet farm, with a friend. I started off hacking quietly with her. Horse was glad to be back in work and no problems, and we did lots of groundwork to build up our relationship. After a couple of months I took him out on his own and he was fine. When we came to something spooky I got off and led him past. He needed lots of encouragement and tried to spin round sometimes but I just kept on at him. I sang as we hacked, and yes I did turn him round when I felt we had gone far enough but never in the same place twice, and stopped and praised before doing so. I think the difference was I had no negative people around to whisper in my ear, so I felt more confident that I could do it. My horse will never be a perfect hack but he does now hack very well, with the odd nap to keep me on my toes!
I am not a very good rider and not very experienced, and if I managed to do it so can you! You just need to stop listening to negative people. Not much can go wrong really, if it does, you can just dismount! Just give it a go, and then congratulate yourself and be all smug when you prove your YO wrong!!!
 
wellsat said:
^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^

The only option with a nappy horse is always go forwards. If they are really nappy sometimes trot can be better than walk for some bizarre reason. I've had two horses that were shockingly nappy and I don't agree that you can't get them out of it. if you're consisten and firm you can get them to be grea hacking horses. D would go for 4-5 hours on her own once she realised that she actually liked hacking.
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Agree! I find trotting is better then walk. We often leave the yard backwards and then go straight into trot, we rarely walk when on our own. While trotting we leg yield, inside bend, outside bend, anything to keep him mind on work rather then being naughty.

While hacking out I sit really deep and slightly back, that way I stay in contact with him if he does rear & spin or stop dead in his tracks.

When I was nervous I would sing to myself. Something with a nice beat that matched his foot falls. Helps calm me and keep me in tune with him.
 
Mine can be nappy, shes more opinionated in, i am not going down there way, then being scared....hasnt been out for months cause of this weather, took her down the drive the other day & did lots of pawing the ground, but after lots of walk on, halt, walk on, halt she did go forward eventually, and then i turn left and went a different route, & this was all on my yard! Cant wait for summer to get out!
 
You really haven't had the horse long enough for him to settle and know what is expected of him, particularly if he's being used as a school horse as well. The recent weather has been against you, if it's been anything like round here.

If I were you I'd just forget hacking for a few weeks and ride him in the school, until you are confident with him at all paces. Your confidence and seat should improve with this. Also I'd do lots of ground work and games with him, so that he knows you make the decisions.

When you do decide to go out, if you feel that you want to get off, get off. If you sit there feeling nervous he'll pick it up and react then you will get scared then he will and so it goes on. Get off as many times as you feel you want to. All this 'never get off' is complete crap. If you maintain his confidence in you, he will go anywhere you ask eventually, no problem.

If you are prepaired to put in the time, all this will be a thing of the past sooner than you think.
 
I hear exactly what you are saying it terms of creating a nappy horse. We have the same problem in my area, to do a circuit you have to go on the main road and i avoid this if im on my own. However keep in mind that when you stop to turn back, YOU are the one in control and you decide when to turn back, thus keeping you in the drivers seat so to speak!
 
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