Hacking out alone - advice please!

MrsHutt

MrsHutt

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Ok - so I need to get H to go out on his own. I know it's not an ideal to do, but I want to hack out at least once a week on my own (and I think it is good to be able to do if you NEED to anyway). I used to love to go out alone on my previous horse on summer evenings - so peaceful and I feel it helped to bond us.

H is absolutely fine in company - just about bomb proof and really enjoys being out and about. BUT he will NOT leave the yard on his own. He will just about go around YO's house which involves maybe 20 yards on the lane and then back in!

I have been out with a friend and taken a different route back - he's fine with that (I guess he knows he's on the way home) and he will lead a hack.

Some of you may recall that I had a bit of a confidence problem earlier - but I really feel so safe on him now that I am getting frustrated, rather than frightened.

OH has offered to accompany us on his bike. I thought I would lead him on foot on the first part of the route as a first step. I wish we had a shorter route - the shortest hack we can do is about 45 mins in a circular route. I don't want to turn back after 10 minutes, which we would have to do if we wanted to keep it short.

Any and all suggestions gratefully received!! :D
 
I would stick to the circular route, turning back at a fixed point is a bad idea with anything likely to nap. I think following oh on bike is a good starting point & if you feel better walking the first part then do. Then just build up to riding more of the route till he's fine with just oh on bike. Then phase out oh, getting him to follow behind for short periods at first & building up from there. Plus when you hack in company, have him hacking in front as much as you can & breaking away from the others whilst out.
 
I had a walker for about 12 months and still occasionally do, helps them to build up confidence in going out without another horse whilst you're feeling confident because you've got someone on the ground :)

One thing I will say is if you arrive at the yard and you're not up for the struggle that is hacking a nappy horse alone, don't ride out, you need to be in 'that' mind frame of 'you ARE going to hack this route alone!!!!' Trying to hack solo when you're feeling a bit tired, very scared or grumpy is a disaster as horse will pick up on this and play up ;o( xxx
 
When I got my horse due to the road I use to get my kids or OH to walk next to me or on their bikes. Even if someone lead reins you! Just for your horse to be on his own is good & build it up. Just do short periods he might call and call and be noisey but they do get use to it. You may do it for a while but well worth it. At end of day its what they are use to.

Good luck love hacking out.
 
45 mins is quite long for starters if he lacks confidence on his own. Will you have options for shorter routes when crops are harvested? If so I would wait until then and then really crack on with a walker to start with and then just the two of you…..hacking alone is bliss.
 
The advice I would give is to hold on and not let go, ever, if possible :p

I started taking my very peer-dependant highland out on an 1 hour circular route at my previous yard (shortest possible circular ride) by himself - never had any ground crew available - and we survived. If you have a biker buddy / walker you've got a good intermediate :)
 
Thanks for the tips. No, there's no shorter circular routes, even when crops are harvested :(

I think I will bribe/blackmail/bully OH to come with us! Probably could get a friend to walk with us, too. I really want to be able to do this, so am pretty determined! ;)
 
Small update! Hacked out today with usual Saturday friend (we thought we'd risk the downpours - which never actually materialized!) and H lead ALL the way round! He was really forward going and up for a good, fast ride!!!

Had so much fun - feeling confident and happy and the sun even shone! :D

We ARE going to get out on our own this summer!
 
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