Hacking on your own

I would love to be able to hack out alone but currently can't ride at all unless I find someone to hack one of my mares for me as they will not be separated. I do love hacking in company but I really wish I could just take off on my own with one of them!

I used to really struggle with my nerves when I first got Tess 10 years ago as I was a very novicey rider and she bucked me off the first few times I rode after I got her home, so I spent at least 6 months where I would only hack out in walk only and with someone on foot and I would panic if she as much as stepped sideways. Having someone there helped immensely especially as the person on foot would clip a leadrope on if we met anything that could potentially cause a spook and therefore prevented my nerves being totally destroyed!!

With time I am sure you will completely overcome your nerves as now 10 years later, there is next to nothing Tess can do that fazes me.
 
I enjoy both - sometimes nice to have a chat / sometimes nice to be just the two of us. Chum quiet on his own, slightly more excited if a couple/three of us out, v excited if a party
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Good idea about getting someone to walk with you if no-one to hack with you - will OH come out? When I first had pony I had no choice but to mainly hack on my own so used to ask OH to come with me if I was going somewhere new etc.

Don't worry, you will soon be back to normal service
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Hope your job gets sorted.
 
I mostly hack out on my own as there is only 1 other person at my yard for me to hack with and we don't always want to do the same thing. Its nice to do a bit of both, although I understand your anxiety.

I came off my horse a while back when I was hacking on my own and he bolted for home. By the time he got to the yard he was leading a convoy of 3 cars and a bike! It does make you think and it was in my mind for a long time. A kind man gave me a lift back to the village but I was just so worried the whole time that Boo would've had an accident. Luckily everything was fine. I had to hack out again on my own soon after and just kept reminding myself of all the times I hacked out and nothing happened rather than thinkin about the one time it did.

Do nice short rides to start and if it helps see if someone can cycle along with you. You will get over it with time and a few good experiences.
 
I had a fall out on my own one day, too. It's not nice! I was a bit scared of going out on my own after that too, so I know where your coming from. I have to hack out on my own quite a bit, i've got 5 horses and a pony to do and I have to ride 3 of the horses.

I felt better about riding on my own when I started telling someone exactly where I was going and when I was going to be back so I new I wouldnt be lying dying with broken legs and head and horse gaily cantering onto the motorway with no one looking for us. It also helps that the horses all know the fields and tracks where we hack so they dont have many surprises.

I like the sugestions of taking someone with you, can you do that?
 
I hack on my own all the time because I don't have anyone to hack with. I prefer it on my own though because I can go when and where I like and chill out without having to make conversation, a bit unsociable!
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Hope your confidence returns soon, I'm sure it will.
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I like both to be honest, sometimes its nice to have a natter and some company etc, however I find that there is really only 1 other person at the yard who does the same 'stuff' out on a hack as me. Many are either totally mad (as soon as their horses feet touch anything other than tarmac they are off at 100mph) or totally the opposite, ie will only walk and have heart failure if their horse even breaks into a jog or has a look at something. I like to land somewhere in the middle, ie need to give my horse some exercise whilst out, but don't want him to revert to thinking everything is done at mac 9!


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Completely agree with the above
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It's nice to have company occasionally, but I really prefer hacking alone. One of my horses is quite lively, and tends to give other people heartfailure. The other is so good that people think he's great company for their mad/silly horses, which means he has to put up with a lot.

If I'm riding a fresh or young horse, I'd far sooner be out on a hack than be in an enclosed school.

We do have wonderful off road riding though - I ride round a castle too (not mine, I hasten to add!)
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I mostly hack alone as I just go whenever I feel like it. I quite enjoy not having to make conversation, so enjoy the relaxing silence.
 
love hacking alone!!! poppy won't go alone, but if i get a new horse i'll be able to go out whenever i like
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i have loadsa friend in the same area the same age as me so i can go and meet them because me and the couple who have their 2 horses at the same farm are always up at different times due to work.
 
I used to adore hacking alone, after work, before work, you name it. Quality time with me and my horse, time to really relax. I do miss it very much, because since a major accident (not related to hacking) I am too nervous to do it.
As a child I would hack out alone around the lanes with 2 polo ponies in tow!
 
Depends on the company, but basically I like a bit of company, hacking on your own can be nice though as you can go where you want at whatever pace you fancy.
 
I like both. I used to go out alot on my own on my old horse because nobody else liked being out as long as me. I could mission off as far as I liked on my own, but it was also nice to go in company for a chat sometimes, plus my boy enjoyed it more.

I've only hacked out on my newer horse a handful of times - each time with her nose planted firmly on the backside of a good, solid horse with a competant rider. Trouble is when she gets anxious she just legs it and I know from how shes been in a school that when she goes there's no reasoning with her or pulling her up. The bolting is a very well established habit so while she learns that hacking is fun not petrifying (which I know may take until she's 30!) I'm sticking with the system of shoving her up a cob's backside.

George sound's like a real gem though and even they have their off days, I'm sure he'll make it up to you and your confidence will be back in no time.
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I'm 14 and hack on my own, I have a lot of off road hacking and horse is very good alone or in company. I hack in company more because I like it and enjoy being able to chat, and its a lot safer if you fall off, but occasionally its nice to hack on your own and just be with your horse, I think its a good bonding thing
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I hack out on my own around 3/4 times a week. I do this because my OH is at work and it's my day off and if i dont feel like schooling the neddies. Where I am there is very little road work as i have a deal with the local farmers that i can ride round their feilds and also a nearby livery yard has built a set of gallops which i'm free to use (the pro's of having a vet as a OH
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I've hacked out on my own since i was young so it never really worries me. I always have my mobile with me and i have a dog tag on my saddle with OH's no, my name and another next of kin and also which yard we are at. I also have one of these attached to my hat which has my allergies and blood type
 
I have lost my nerve about hacking out alone so I much prefer to have company. I will force myself to go out alone but don't tend to go very far. I feel really pathetic about this as I used to hack for miles by myself, but my horse has a unpredictable streak so I don't trust her 100%. So I know how you feel but it sounds like with your horse it was a one off and won't happen again. Good luck with your riding!
 
I hate hacking on my own! its boring, i like to make a social time of it and have a good chin wag! I also find i go further when in company, just zoom round the block if on my own!
 
i tend to do most of my hacking on my own because most of my local hacking friends think a long hack is over half an hour. T and I like to go out fo at least 2 hours at the weekend if not more. Do have a good friend who I box over to meet and we go out for hours that is so much more fun. Must say it does really help that I trust my boy completely.
 
I always hack on my own. I not very patient, like to do my own thing and go at my own pace. My horse is very well behaved and I can't stand hacking out with someone who says they can't canter here as their horse may bolt and can we walk blah blah blah. I suppose that sounds selfish but I just like to do what I want, when I want.
 
Depends what mood I'm in TBH. Sometimes I hack purely because I feel my horse needs a change of scenary, in which case I usually do it alone to get it over and done with (I really have to be in the mood for hacking, not a great fan!). I sometimes hack on a saturday with a friend at the yard - we have a catch up and a gossip, so we're usually out for about 1.5 hours. Sometimes if I'm in a miserable or ratty mood then I hack alone because I don't have to make an effort with anyone or think, and my horse is a gem hacking so I can do the whole thing on the buckle if I want time to think.

My horse likes company but she's also just as happy alone. I'm lucky where I am in that there's usually always someone to hack out with and they're always happy for an extra one to tag along.
 
Depends what horse/pony im on and what i plan on doing.

If im on pride, rian or ally i prefer company as they are brilliant and you can have agood natter.

If im on stan and i prefer to be on my own as he winds up other horses and im sure he plays up to an audaince!
 
I hack on my own because I want to - it's given me and my horse confidence, who I really thought wouldn't change her negative attitude to hacking by herself - but the transformation is great!! We'll bomb around having fun by ourselves - I have the choice of hacking out with other people, but just quite like it by myself!
 
I enjoy both, but almost always have to go on my own because of the unpopular times I hack out, either very early or late! Just got a new young horse and I'm having a bit of a confidence crisis like you! Try to concentrate on all of the things that you can do, rather than the things that you can't. Take it slowly, you're not trying to make Badminton in the spring! Some days you will feel more confident than others, don't beat yourself up over it, but pat yourself on the back for every small achievement. Believe me, I know what you are going through! A cycling companion is also a help if you can't find a walker, once your horse is used to the bike. They travel a bit faster so you can have a trot or canter if you feel ready for it, anc can easily throw the bike in a hedge if you have a problem and need help. Good luck!
 
Sorry to hear your confidence has taken a knock. I'm sure you wil be back on track soon. Don't rush yourself, it will make your fears worse.
As someone else mentioned, if you are worried but want to go out by yourself take your phone, and tell someone the exact route you plan to take. Even just go out for 10 minutes to start with if it feels more achievable.

I completely lost my confidence last year, but now after a lot of hard work and my wonderful horse it is back with a vengance.
We do most of our hacking alone as i am on a very small yard. But i like it to be just the 2 of us a lot of the time anyway. We can please ourselves that way.
I trust him to get me out and home safely, as he trusts me

Take care, hope it all feels better soon xx
 
I've got a youngster and since moving home I've had to hack on my own. We've had some hairy moments but keeping calm, even though you might have alarm bells ringing inside, will help your horse.

As my horse hadn't hacked out solo a great deal prior to the move (but when she had she was good), I found the first unaccompanied hacks pretty wild - lots of spooking, spinning etc. After one particularily bad hack which resulted in a full rear, I got my 9 year old daughter to cycle ahead of me to see if it would help. It was very successful and after a couple of days of accompanying her by bike she was confident enough to hack out again on her own. I think that if I'd backtracked to going out with another horse I would have undone all the good work I'd put in to get her out on her own initially. Thankfully it's been a blip for me so persevere and try to keep positive. Good luck!
 
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