Hacking out a youngster

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horseriderdeb

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Please can people tell me how they get on with hacking out their youngsters.

I rode mine out again for the 4th time and he was slightly better than last time when he bolted down the road as a pushbike scared him. this time I took OH with me.

I was wondering what people wore to let drivers know that there horse is young. I was wondering about getting some L plates and putting string on them so one dangled down my back and the other at the front. Don't know if this is a silly idea but your thoughts on what I could do would be great
 
Can you tape some L plates onto a reflective tabard, I think thats what I'd do. Every driver knows what they mean, and they won't know if its for you or the horse, so hopefully will be extra careful.

My friend is starting to hack hers at the moment, and gets me or her OH to walk out with her, or she hacks out with another horse. I think this is a good idea to gradually get them used to it. When they can do a whole hack in front, then I think they are fine to be about by themselves.

Mine was very unconfident out hacking to start with, but it just took time hacking with others, and taking it turns going in front to get his confidence :)
 
I don't have anything other than normal reflectives.... I just keep my fingers crossed (mentally... physically, I try my hardest to keep them on the reins!)
We did a brilliant job of holding up a car today until we eventually found a driveway... by which time I think the driver was slightly too scared to want to pass us anyway :o I'm wondering if I have to stop calling him 'young' when he's 6?? :o

not much help, but honestly, I think if people aren't going to be cautious, you can't do ANYTHING to make them be more careful. :/
 
Do you have anyone with a quiet horse that could nanny you? We always get the youngsters hacking out in the company of a horse that can 'shield' them from traffic and spooky things until they have seen a bit of the world.
 
Hiya !! I spent many hours walking the streets with pony on the lead rein. When the time came to "try" I never went out riding on the road without my OH walking to our right (poor guy), then with another horse, then finally alone. Every time I ride/lead I use hi-viz, and I bought L plates ( you can get them on a stringvia ebay hen party sites) . But most important, do not go on the roads at all until you have done a lot of the work as above. It is simply not worth it.


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hope that helps, good luck !! sm x :D
 
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Hiya. Have done loads of road walking so now trying the riding. Took him out once with another horse and when he bolted he set the other horse off. the quietist one on the yard that could nanny him is my shire but I can't ride both at the same time and no one else will ride tro. I have a bright orange hi viz and OH wears the same. Will definitely get the L plates tomorrow and see how I go.
 
TBH I really would avoid the L plates if poss, as drivers use them when with a qualifed person instructing them, you dont have that on a horse so implication is that youre not competent yet noone is in charge...also altho the insurance issues of such signs are probably legends, its still not a great idea to give them ammunition to try and wriggle out of paying up....

Instead maybe get a hi viz tabard with 'please pass wide and slow'?
quite a few drivers do instinctively slow on seeing it, and its just repeating highway code word for word so they cant possibly object and neither can insurance cos.

But before going out get someone with a bike, a motorbike, a quad if possible too to come and try and help proof horsie, so they are safe to encounter these normal things when out on the road. eg my horse I backed was scared of sheep....so we got some sheep! Now shes much better altho she still thinks they are her own babies but gone evil :-))))
 
I lead my rising 2 yo out on the road now after doing some boom proofing in the field. He loves it has a look at some things but long as i am calm he is fine. He has been out with the calm mares and just one other foal (so he was the eldest, responsable one!! :D ) and out on his own twice on very quietcountry roads!

I am hoping by the time I back him it will be second nature to be on the roads...... I think just keep with it and give him time. Also dont be afriad to get off and lead past things it doesnt mean they have won it just gives them confidence for next time!!
As regards hi-viz I always wearit (actually have spare vests for my friends :S I dont see aproblem with "L" plates as already said drivers know what they mean!
Good luck
 
My girl is just 4 and we have been hacking out since she was backed in December. We have to go on a very fast main road to get anywhere due to where the yard is which i was concerned about, but thankfully my girl has been an angel and I have not had any issues with her. We have only ever hacked alone, not with other horses but im sure she would be fine, i have been very lucky with her.

I only ever wear normal, plain hi viz stuff (usually a hi viz rug on the horse) if i have anything as i feel this is sufficient to get drivers attention. But, years ago i had a hi viz vest that said "YOUNG HORSE Please Pass Wide and Slow" on the back. I outgrew it ages ago so threw it out but it might be something you could look for :)
 
I hacked mine out with others until he was confident enough to go out on his own,and he was made to lead alot which helped NO end :)
I wouldnt add anything AT all to a tabbard purely for legal reasons and the possibility you could implicate yourself should god forbid you have an accident!Just basic high vis,sadly it dosnt matter what is printed on your vest,you get the courteous drivers and the knobbers,the knobbers ignore everything anyway!!
L plates i definately wouldnt wear as you are pointing out to people you are a learner and you really shouldnt be on the road with a horse(drivers dont know you are refferring to your horse :) )
 
I advise anyone riding out to wear a long sleeved hi-viz jacket so that other road users can see your hand signals from a distance.

Youngsters should be ridden out with an experienced road safe horse with the road safe horse on the outside of it with it's rider level with the head of the young horse so that it gains confidence from the older horse and is prevented from moving outwards.
 
Lady is luckily quite good on the roads, nothing much seems to phase her so far. I'm not sure what she did in Ireland, possibly she did some over there. But anyway, took her out for short hacks with another horse sandwiching her in. Soon learnt she was fine with it, so gradually did bits with her behind. Then started getting used to her leading. Now she is leading the whole way round confidently, we will start to hack her alone gradually. Has taken us 10 weeks to get to this point. So I took her a little way on her own today, and back, (literally 2 mins each way) and will gradually increase the length with my mum walking behind.
 
I hacked my baby out this morning.

He's 4 in 4 weeks time. He was backed in March and I have moved him to a new yard where there's lots of off-road hacking - we're very lucky.

He has been out for walks in a headcollar and with tack on and has proved to be very brave. Cars, dogs, bicycles, flappy tarpaulins, dustbins or deer don't bother him very much at all.

However, because of a lack of companions he has been ridden out 4 or 5 times alone and he has started to nap - a lot. Refusing to go forwards, stopping at every opportunity to chew, eat or sniff. Clearly, he needs some company and this morning we were fortunate enough to have some. He's brave but his courage isn't limitless and a sensible companion is going to be essential.

I'm going to continue with walks in hand when we have no company and get as much help as I can from other people on the yard.
 
I use the L plates to indicate the horse is young - could not get hold of "young horse" tabard at the time. They have been a godsend - most drivers slow right down and have a laugh ! Now he is fully up to speed (motorbikes, juggernaughts, cyclist pods) we don't wear them. Just too much hi-viz :D
 
A simple hi viz jacket/tabard with SLOW DOWN on it, Hi viz so you can be seen, ''SLOW DOWN'' as a polite request.

I would not have 'young horse' labelled on a tabard because you'll either get idiots speeding by or doing something stupid on purpose to frighten your horse or should you cause an accident, your practically leaving yourself open for a motorist to accuse you of causing the collision because you were out on a young horse that is was suitable/educated enough to be on the roads and you'll get the blame...even if that was not the case.

Also I'd wear a body protector for you own added safety.

Hack out with others, safety in numbers, if you come off, your horse is more likely to panic and gallop off, where as if others are with you they can help catch your horse, go for help etc, however we are not always blessed with other to ride out with.

Hi Viz exercise sheet, if you come off and your horse does a runner, motorists need to see your horse when it charges down the road, no good you being laid up with your hi viz on if your horse doesnt have its own on.

Identification, a tag on the horses saddle or bridle in case the horse is found or caught by a member of public, same goes for you, you can by little wrist band thingys or clips that contain info.
 
I've also stuck to hacking my youngster out with company so far for safety's sake! We have to go out of yard onto a main road so also only go early weekend mornings etc, if I want to hack out other times we box to somewhere with fewer/quieter roads.
I'd also be slightly wary of L plates etc.... at the end of the day people will either slow down for a horse or they won't, I'm not sure that knowing they are young will make much difference sadly!
Stick with group hacks or someone leading you til horse is really confident, for safety. I have taken Roo out alone once up at my parents farm where its all off road and he was OK, bit shouty and bouncy but fine. He is now leading hacks with groups for a while before we do more stuff alone!
 
I have started hacking my youngster (5) this time on her own now she ha had lots of experience hacking wih other horses fun rides etc. But with all that in mind they still fell insecure when on there own. She looks at things occassionally decides she wants to turn back and has a litttle strop but i just talk to her an give her a little tap if she ignores me.
I just wear a hi vis and pull in where possible and dont be rushed. Its probably the worst thing hacking on your own with a youngster in my opinion but the only way to get better is to keep going. ( thats what i keep telling myself anyway! ) They have to go on there on sooner or later .
Good luck x
 
I'm just about to start hacking out my recently backed 4yr old RID mare. I have just spoken to the BHS Road Safety Officer regarding what wording I should have on my hi viz so as not to admit liability in the event of a RTA. I was advised to use PLEASE PASS WIDE AND SLOW or to use the THINK! logo. The BHS Officer strongly advised against using any other wording including young horse, Horse & Rider or L plates. I'd certainly recommend all riders to check with their 3rd party insurers as to what wording is acceptable to ensure they have the full support of their insurers in the event of an accident.
 
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