Karran
Well-Known Member
Background.
Since Easter I have part loaned a lovely NF x TB 3 days a week. We do mostly flatwork and occasionally pop a small jump.
I do love my hacking but unfortunately there is a lot of roadwork involved to get anywhere. I've taken her out a few times in a group where she got very over excited as she'd not been out regularly hacking and I was new to the yard and perhaps unwise in my choice of hacking buddies.
A few times with one other very calm nanny horse where she took the lead and strode out for 2 hours no problems.
I wanted to get her used to hacking out alone - I'm very often unable to hack out with nanny horse and the others as mentioned are perhaps too excitable at this stage and anyway, I'm often on my own.
Horse's owner does not hack her alone as understandably worried about accidents but is happy for me to do so, provided I pick my times wisely (eg not the school run and when the half hour bus isn't due!) and that I suitably boot and Hi-Viz myself which I am happy to do so.
We've spent a few weeks pottering along the same halfhour lollipop shaped route which is all roadwork.
Today I decided to put my Brave Pants on and take her a 40 minute route to a field, have a sedate walk and trot round and head back.
So off we toddled, she was a little snorty which I put down to the excitement of a field and being on her own but I tried to keep her mind in gear by doing a few transitions and circles in suitable places.
Unfortunately on the way back to the entrance we met a lady and her dog.
Cue meltdown. There was spinning, there was bouncing, there was rapid reverse. In the end for my own safety I got off, walked her past and then tried to remount only with the same effect. I got genuinely scared and walked her back to the yard as I felt safer and had more control while she skittered about behind me.
Got back to the yard, and I jumped back on in the school and cantered her around a bit, figuring she clearly had excess energy to spare and then got her working and thinking, transitions, shapes, leg-yields etc.
I then took her back out and we did our usual lollipop roadwork route and apart from one little spook she remained responsive and listening to me.
Did I do the right thing? I do mean to check with my usual RI and Horse Owner but I took the assumption that I had pushed too much too soon and put us both in this tizzy. I will continue on our little route for a bit longer and then try and find some other short road hacks to get her used to other routes and keep the exciting field for when I can go out with Nanny Horse as she is perfect then - we only walk and trot around that field so I don't think she was anticipating a good canter, I just don't think she had enough trust in me to tackle that yet.
Since Easter I have part loaned a lovely NF x TB 3 days a week. We do mostly flatwork and occasionally pop a small jump.
I do love my hacking but unfortunately there is a lot of roadwork involved to get anywhere. I've taken her out a few times in a group where she got very over excited as she'd not been out regularly hacking and I was new to the yard and perhaps unwise in my choice of hacking buddies.
A few times with one other very calm nanny horse where she took the lead and strode out for 2 hours no problems.
I wanted to get her used to hacking out alone - I'm very often unable to hack out with nanny horse and the others as mentioned are perhaps too excitable at this stage and anyway, I'm often on my own.
Horse's owner does not hack her alone as understandably worried about accidents but is happy for me to do so, provided I pick my times wisely (eg not the school run and when the half hour bus isn't due!) and that I suitably boot and Hi-Viz myself which I am happy to do so.
We've spent a few weeks pottering along the same halfhour lollipop shaped route which is all roadwork.
Today I decided to put my Brave Pants on and take her a 40 minute route to a field, have a sedate walk and trot round and head back.
So off we toddled, she was a little snorty which I put down to the excitement of a field and being on her own but I tried to keep her mind in gear by doing a few transitions and circles in suitable places.
Unfortunately on the way back to the entrance we met a lady and her dog.
Cue meltdown. There was spinning, there was bouncing, there was rapid reverse. In the end for my own safety I got off, walked her past and then tried to remount only with the same effect. I got genuinely scared and walked her back to the yard as I felt safer and had more control while she skittered about behind me.
Got back to the yard, and I jumped back on in the school and cantered her around a bit, figuring she clearly had excess energy to spare and then got her working and thinking, transitions, shapes, leg-yields etc.
I then took her back out and we did our usual lollipop roadwork route and apart from one little spook she remained responsive and listening to me.
Did I do the right thing? I do mean to check with my usual RI and Horse Owner but I took the assumption that I had pushed too much too soon and put us both in this tizzy. I will continue on our little route for a bit longer and then try and find some other short road hacks to get her used to other routes and keep the exciting field for when I can go out with Nanny Horse as she is perfect then - we only walk and trot around that field so I don't think she was anticipating a good canter, I just don't think she had enough trust in me to tackle that yet.