hacking out alone, how long did it take you to pluck up the courage.

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sue12345

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Please give me your good vibes and tell me it took ages so that i feel better. Bought a wonderful steady boy, a cob, to just potter about on. I am a slightly mature rider but haven't ridden out on my own for many many years. At the mo i'm feeling so unmotivated as I can not bring myself to go out on my own. So i just school and wait for some one to be available to ride out with, Which is not very often. Luckily my boy is happy to do just that with me, and is likely to be the most fussed and cuddled horse around. But I'm getting bored with schooling and just want to saddle up and ride out when i feel like it and not have to wait for some one else. Please be nice to me, feeling really low.
 
I had issues hacking out alone too - you're not alone!

I wrote into Horse magazine and was lucky enough to have Sue Palmer come out and do a "School For Scoundrels" article about it. It's not been printed in the magazine yet though!
She gave me some great tips such as setting small targets, e.g. just going to the end of the drive and back, then a bit further each time. I also enlisted the help of my OH to walk with us (or he could go on a bike?) the gradually get further and further away from us until we were on our own.

As time went on and we faced more "scary" things (such as crisp packets, cows, tractors etc!) I found we could deal with them, even if it meant crossing to the "wrong" side of the road to get past it safely. She gave me "permission" to get off and lead him if I felt it necessary - something I'd been told never to do in the past as it is "giving in"! Sue explained that horses live in the moment, they have no concept of "giving in".

It has taken time, and we still only have one favourite route I feel totally safe on, but it's a work in progress.

I'm also having some lessons so my position is becoming more secure, that way I feel I can stay with him if he spooks.

I hope that helps a bit! x
 
Hmm, not much help I'm afraid as i have een hacking out since I was a kid and never even thought twice about going off on my own. Well, we used to just be dumped at the field for a few hours so were left to our own devices!

My advice would be to (on a nice day/evening) decide on a route you fancy going on and just get on and go! Once you are on and ambling along you'll wonder why it took so long - it definitely helps when the sun's shining though!
 
I did it in the first week of having Bob. To be honest I still get nervous (7 years on!) but force myself to do it!!

I have wimped out a few times - rain, wind etc - but I am very proud of myself for getting on with it. :D

Good luck - you CAN do it! xxx
 
ladyt25, yes did all that as a youngster, going off all day sometimes.But now it's just not in my mindset and yes i try all the time to set small goals and find all sorts of excuses to chicken out of it.
 
sue12345 said:
Just jasper. Thank you. But how long has it taken. I'm not confessing to how long its been yet.
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Sue Palmer came in March this year, so it's been about 4 months. There is no time limit though, you just need to take small steps, and as elsbells said, the first step is always the hardest.

Rate your fear on a 1-10 scale, that way you can monitor your progress. For example if riding to the end and the drive and back has you at a 7, keep practising until you are at a 3-4, then go a little bit further.

As Geraldine said, you CAN do it! x
 
why not set yourself a little goal... can you 'hack' round a field at your yard? Can you 'hack' to the end of the drive and back? Just little teeny steps each time. Also, how about an inhand hack? Pop a bridle on your horse and highviz for both of you and go for a nice relaxing walk.Also ditto getting someone to come with you on foot.Ive found making sure Im as safe as possible helps my confidence as well- highviz, mobile phone, id tag on bridle, BP, barnes buckles on stirrups.
 
I always hacked in company at my old yard as you had to travel a good 15 mins down a main road with a 40mph speed limit and numerous buses and farm machinery (odd combination i know!) passing by. Therefore, I wouldn't have felt safe hacking on my own in case anything bad happened and the horse headed home on the roads.
However, at my new yard theres very minimal roadwork involved in hacking (bar a part of the motorway you have to cross - terrified me at first) and not always someone to ride with so I had to brave it and go alone! First few times were not sucessful as pony hadn'y hacked out alone in a lonnng time and lacked confidence which i was unable to give her as i was nervous too!
But after a few short hacks - even to the end of the road and back - I felt much happier and ventured out on a few longer hacks. Pony was a saint and i had a blast - sometimes its nice to get out on your own and enjoy the scenery and spending some quality time with your horse. I am also able to go at whatever pace I want and take whichever route i want without running it through anyone, and also can sing as loud and out of tune as I wish without complaints lol!
Go for it, building it up over a few weeks/months or whatever feels comfortable and yoyu wont regret it!!!
 
samlovesprilly. much the same situation for me. I can get to the end of the farm lane about 1/4 mile but can not get myself out on to the road to go anywhere else.
 
I can empathize with you totally. When I first got my horse this is how I went about it. First I would hack out with someone else so he could get to know the route. When He was happy with that I saddled him up and walked the same route in hand. At first just round a short block so he could get used to just me and him. After that I would walk him out in hand and then ride him on the way back home. Then, we progressed to riding the whole thing. Did the same sequence with different routes and now we are good to go. The in hand walking was great for the waste line too.

Don't despair, you can do it. I used to feel physically sick a lot of the time before I set out but bloody brilliant when we got back having achieved our aim.

Take your time. Set yourself up for success always and don't put yourself under too much pressure. There is a world of difference between stress and distress. Good luck.
 
Totally with you - i used to hack all the time in my teens on my own and then suddenly in my 30's with new youngster i got 3 1/2 yrs ago just couldnt do it, she would nap and i would fall to pieces. Long story short did the same as some of the other posters, did 20 yards up the road and back then 30 then 40 then didnt do anything at all (lost my bottle for 2 years!!) FINALLY after 3 1/2 yrs literally no word of a lie last weekend a friend asked if i wanted to meet her to hack but she didnt want to come all the way to my yard so i had a 20 min ride to meet her, not sure why i did it but i just thought sod it... i almost bailed but then realised i didnt have my phone to canx her!! So set off, she was really nappy to begin with so i just did a spanking trot along the road singing to myself and waving at all the cars to slow down (then yelling 'its our first hack' with a smile i think they thought i was mad) anyhow long story short we made it :) there and back!! AND even met 3 motorbikes, 2 horseboxes and a tractor AND survived!! So you can do it i promise you!! but it did take me 3 1/2 yrs!! :) Just sing a lot!! thats my tip!
 
I've had my boy for five years now (since I was 14) and began hacking him out on my own a couple of months after buying him as he was only a baby and had never been hacked out alone before! We started off just with little walks down the lane with my mum walking with me and then progressed to going a bit further, then we did this without my mum coming with us and worked up to doing an hour's hack on our own. This soon became two hours and even three hours sometimes! I will now take him anywhere and love hacking him on my own. I also now own another pony who is only young and I have been hacking her out on her own since the week I bought her!

Is there anybody who could go with you on foot to start with until you feel confident enough to go completely alone?
 
Have you thought about someone coming out with you on a bike?? or with a dog that way you will have some one with you if you run into trouble. Start with a short local ride then gradually go further :)
 
Switchthehorse said:
Totally with you - i used to hack all the time in my teens on my own and then suddenly in my 30's with new youngster i got 3 1/2 yrs ago just couldnt do it, she would nap and i would fall to pieces. Long story short did the same as some of the other posters, did 20 yards up the road and back then 30 then 40 then didnt do anything at all (lost my bottle for 2 years!!) FINALLY after 3 1/2 yrs literally no word of a lie last weekend a friend asked if i wanted to meet her to hack but she didnt want to come all the way to my yard so i had a 20 min ride to meet her, not sure why i did it but i just thought sod it... i almost bailed but then realised i didnt have my phone to canx her!! So set off, she was really nappy to begin with so i just did a spanking trot along the road singing to myself and waving at all the cars to slow down (then yelling 'its our first hack' with a smile i think they thought i was mad) anyhow long story short we made it :) there and back!! AND even met 3 motorbikes, 2 horseboxes and a tractor AND survived!! So you can do it i promise you!! but it did take me 3 1/2 yrs!! :) Just sing a lot!! thats my tip!
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~This could so be me lol - had my boy 3 1/2 yrs, youngster and only in last couple of months gone out on my own! I still make excuses as we have to go out straight onto a 60mph road from the drive which does scare me but little by little we do it! First time out we met huge tractors, 2 men up a tree chainsawing it down and a fire - but we got passed it all no problem! Just go for it when you know there is the least amount of traffic about i.e. early on a sunday morning. Good luck and keep us posted x
 
Get someone to go out on a bike with you (your other half would be a good idea) and invest in a bottle of Rescue Remedy.
Read up on some NLP and spend some time alone with yourself visualising how you will feel when you come back from your first hack alone on your horse. Imagine all the great feelings you will have, the stories you will tell your friends - and the lovely people here on the Forum, how proud you will feel about yourself and your horse! Keep replaying this in your head until you really believe it. Keep thinking positive thoughts. Work out a route beforehand - and visualise yourself riding along it on your horse having a lovely time. Keep your thoughts positive ones and think about how you will feel at the end of it. (This technique is used by some of the top sports people in the world, so it really does work).
On your ride do anything and everything to keep you breathing in a regular way (this is why Rescue Remedy is really helpful). Sing to yourself/your horse, talk to your horse, say hello to anyone you meet, smile.... take in all the lovely scenery as you proceed on your ride, you get the picture.
BUT the most important thing is - DO IT! and then tell us all about it. And keep doing it - practice makes perfect! Your horse will also love you for giving him a change of scenery.
Soon you too will be giving people on this forum the benefit of your advice, think about how great you will feel when you can do this :))
 
it never used to bother me and i always went out alone, preferred it actually as i could go at my own pace on my own route and relax and talk to myself lol, then a year ago we had an incident with a lorry:( i haven't hacked out since and i haven't told anyone:o I'm going to ask my hubby to walk out with me one weekend, i think once i have done it once i will be fine to go it alone again:) ...i hope.
 
My tips would be: walk him out in hand and plan the route you are going to take. Rescue remedy really does work! :-) Get on, set yourself a place a short distance into your hack and tell yourself U are going to get off there and walk him the rest of the way! Don't feel silly getting off if U feel unsure :-)
 
JustJasper talks a lot of sense. When I got my current boy,my confidence was destroyed by a previous horse and all I wanted to do was go out hacking by myself or with friends. The with friends was OK but the by myself was not good.

I realised that what I was scared of was the coming home. i worried that my boy would gallop down the road towards home (and it wall all downhill). So I decided to hack out, get off half way round and walk him home. After a few times of this, I startedto get get off further and further towards home until one diy I did the whole route. Take it in little steps and you will get there.

Good luck. xx
 
A month for us. Walked out in hand in the area we'd start our hack every day. Progressed to hacking with someone on foot a few feet away. Then when we trusted each other we went it alone and had no problems :) However we only go out in the park where traffic is minimal, people stick to paths and most dogs are under control. Road work will be approached the same way, in hand, lead reined, company on foot then eventually alone if he proves sensible as the roads here scare me! At the moment we aren't riding him on tarmac as he's barefoot and we'd like to hear what the farrier thinks of him and whether he'd need shoes tomorrow.
 
What they all say! But definately rescue remedy, I got so scared of horses at one point I had to use it to get my horse in from the field, and she was a angel to catch and lead. I don't understand why it works but it does.
 
I used to hack out on my own all the time on my old loan horse and loved it! Then we had a succession of falls whilst out and I totally lost my bottle.

I got my new horse last December and at first he was really nervous going out in company and only got to the yard gate on his own! (then galloped up the neighbour's garden!!)

Now he is so much improved and is starting to go on new routes (with his friend in front) and has even lead a ride successfully round a familiar route and seemed very confident.

I think he picks up on my nervousness, so I have just lead him a few hundred yards on his own and this week I am going to ride him that same short ride (with a friend or OH alongside) working up slowly. I don't know that I particularly want to go out on my own (I actually think it is rather risky), but I know that one day I might HAVE to! So we are going to have to practice a bit more!

I think the key is baby steps - just set yourself little targets and you will get there. I have done it over the past 8 months, increasing my own confidence back up and with the help of some fantastic friends at the yard I have gone from only being able to walk out for 20 minutes to 2 hour hacks including new routes and encounters with all sorts of scary monsters! :D:D I feel we will be able to go on our own before the summer is out!

Keep us informed and we'll do it together!
 
I've had my pony for almost a year. I've had to hack her without horsey company from the start as she lives at home with just my old retired pony for company. I had someone walking with me for a while as when I tried her completely alone she was quite nappy.

I have a safe, fairly non-spooky half hour round hack and I used to walk parts and ride parts, gradually increasing the riding bit until I mastered that hack alone. Then I started on the next route, again riding parts and leading parts. Now, I can ride round most of our routes but there are still one or two (very spooky) places I have to lead her as she is still nappy. TBH I have no problem hopping off when we're out together if I'm feeling a bit nervous or I can see something scary or if I just can't be bothered with a big argument but these times are getting fewer and fewer as we gain trust in each other.

I would suggest you start with a walker and then take very small steps.
 
Put it this way, I bought my mare in October last year and hacked out for the first time on my own a week and a half ago. Hacked out loads in company and trust her so much with others - we've had them cantering sideways etc and she didn't bat an eyelid. But a previous horse wrecked my confidence and was terrified of what might happen if we were on our own. Other people have hacked her alone for me, and I just decided it was time and we went on the smallest most local route (about 30 mins). To be honest, I hated every minute of it (she was hilarious really, a granny was going to kill us and a table cloth took a fair bit of snorting and persuasion to get past, a lorry and a hay baling machine actually working right next to us was fine though?!), but I am pleased I did it and will try again soon. Eventually I WILL enjoy it. Just don't do it before you're ready, I tried and ended up getting off at the corner about 50m from the yard!!!!!!!!!! Takes as long as it takes so don't worry about it!
 
It took me 6 months before I went out for the first time on my first ever horse. Since then had plucked up the courage to do it sooner and sooner. I posted about it the other week with along my new boy out and went out alone within 2 weeks.

I would take your time and set small targets as has been suggested..end of the drive etc, round the block to meet a friend at the end etc. If feeling nervy perhaps put a neck strap on for something to grab!? My other great tip is to song to yourself! Took my new lad out and a train came past, I was terrified so sang as it meant I had to breathe and chill out. Goes without saying that he was totally unfussed but the dog walker thinks I am a bit strange.....!
 
To be honest it has never occured to me that it took courage to hack out alone I just do it. Mishaps happen but would probably still happen if in company & these days we all have mobile phones. Worst comes to worst we will be found sooner or later & if it's later , well we all have to die of something & I would prefer to go that way than to sitting in a nursing home dribbling. You may think I am potty but that's how I feel about it. It's no good wasting your life & enjoyment with 'what ifs' that will probably never happen.
 
I canot quite believe what I am reading here! Perhaps you all would be better on rocking horses ..indoors so nothing scarey there either. Quite agree Polldark..goodness what you lot are missing out on. Riding out,spotting wildlife ,chatting to your horse..get real and enjoy yourselves.
 
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