Hacking question

[canteron]

If you were going for a quiet hack on your young horse and came across a slightly out of control horse and rider galloping about in the near distance, which clearly was stressful for your horse, what would be your strategy?

And if you were going out for a quiet hack on a more experienced horse but had a nervous rider on the horse next to you and came across this scenario, what would be your strategy and advice to the other rider.

This has happened to me a couple of times recently, and I think I need a more considered response so we can all be confident!! Stopping the slightly out of control rider is not an option!!!!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

If I were escorting someone, I'd pretty promptly turn off the track to take the interesting gallopy horse out of sight. If not too rattled, then I'd suggest balanced trotting or at least some simple leg yielding to use as a concentration exercise to get both rider and young horse working together, again this is a good distraction technique.

Worst case in not being able to turn off, then reliable horse in front and young one half up beside or behind. I keep conversation going, helps nervous rider to breathe if they have to answer.

What did you do?

 

[canteron]

If I were escorting someone, I'd pretty promptly turn off the track to take the interesting gallopy horse out of sight. If not too rattled, then I'd suggest balanced trotting or at least some simple leg yielding to use as a concentration exercise to get both rider and young horse working together, again this is a good distraction technique.

Worst case in not being able to turn off, then reliable horse in front and young one half up beside or behind. I keep conversation going, helps nervous rider to breathe if they have to answer.

What did you do?

Thank you, good advice.
I did shoulder in as I could ride along a fence line on my own - but with nervous rider I turned round and I think would have suggested dismounting if it had got any more stressy or if they rider had started to come towards us - hence why I would love thoughts!!

 

[piebaldproblems]

If the horse is really getting wound up and you feel nervous, I would just get off.

 

[Lady Tinseltime]

Strategic exit from area

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Thank you, good advice.
I did shoulder in as I could ride along a fence line on my own - but with nervous rider I turned round and I think would have suggested dismounting if it had got any more stressy or if they rider had started to come towards us - hence why I would love thoughts!!

I really try not to turn round or get off unless things are really dire, but that's just my mindset and everyone has to do as they think best.

Had a similar scenario last week escorting a very nervous friend out (she had had a crashing fall after a loose dog incident) who was riding a very steady horse that her young son usually rides. It took a lot of work, plenty of pissing her off by giving her a mini lesson as we went. Unfortunately (for her) my old coaching days stand me in good stead so while she was grumbling at me, her nervousness was evaporating.....

Another thing I mention when escorting someone off road who has an issue, is : "when we are out of walk, if your horses nose goes past my stirrup, I will deem you out of control"
At least two hho'ers will recognise that comment, one experienced the outcome when her horse was a thug, he didnt like being shoved in a prickly hedge and backed off quite quickly. Not for everyone, but I do have just a few house rules for safety.

 

[Lois Lame]

If you were going for a quiet hack on your young horse and came across a slightly out of control horse and rider galloping about in the near distance, which clearly was stressful for your horse, what would be your strategy?

And if you were going out for a quiet hack on a more experienced horse but had a nervous rider on the horse next to you and came across this scenario, what would be your strategy and advice to the other rider.

This has happened to me a couple of times recently, and I think I need a more considered response so we can all be confident!! Stopping the slightly out of control rider is not an option!!!!

"Sit up very straight and sink your weight through your legs and down into the ground." I'd say this to myself in the former, and in the latter, I'd say it out loud, and do my best to sound in total authority (to save our lives).

Because I would be very worried.

But it's hard to know what I would do in real life. My instincts would take over. Maybe I'd jump off and tell the other rider to jump off too.

 

[Caol Ila]

This is a regular ocurrence. There are some serial offenders around my way. I try to steer clear, turn down a different trail, give a wide birth, and if that fails, there is only the immortal words of Samuel L. Jackson in Jurassic Park: "Hang onto your butts."

 

[SEL]

I talk incessantly to my friend who gets nervous if she sees another rider (they don't have to be out of control!) to distract her.

But I will try and avoid the gallopy crowd routes

 

[Lois Lame]

Talking is good. Being asked questions is really good.
BTW I pictured a spot where turning around was not really an option.

 

[Birker2020]

My friend and I had this scenario years ago when a load of sheep had escaped from a field and came walking towards us round a bend.

Fortunately nothing disastrous happened, we manged to turn our horses in the direction the sheep were going but at an angle that they could still see them and they went past us whilst we huddled together on the verge jumping around a little. I thought it would be a lot worse but our horses were relatively good considering. We hadn't had a lot of time to think it through as we had come upon them suddenly.

Fortunately for us the sheep weren't panicking which would have made the situation a lot worse.

 

[Widgeon]

This is a regular ocurrence. There are some serial offenders around my way. I try to steer clear, turn down a different trail, give a wide birth, and if that fails, there is only the immortal words of Samuel L. Jackson in Jurassic Park: "Hang onto your butts."

Yes...avoid, and if not possible, neckstrap, prayer, and I usually resort to singing "Doh-re-me" badly and repeatedly to get my own heart rate down. My poor horse.

 

[Gallop_Away]

If I was alone I would try to take a different route away from the gallopy loonies in the distance. I would avoid turning around and going back the way I came if at all possible as I don't like to encourage the idea that we turn and run away from anything new/scary
If I couldn't take a different route I would quietly continue, talking away to my youngster (keeps me breathing and calm which in turn keeps horse calm) and would be prepared to jump off and lead past if necessary.
With escorting a nervous rider, I completely agree with Fuzzy, reliable horse in front, nervous rider behind. Keep talking/singing/whatever works, until galloping horse was out of sight.

 

[Annagain]

I am the nervous rider at the moment. I'd get the hell out of dodge in both scenarios, even if that meant turning round and sing if I had to.(I try not to as my singing is so bad even Charlie pulls faces)

 

[Esmae]

In odd situations I just tend to stand still until mayhem has passed and then carry on regardless. I never get off. I was always told you are safer on than off so that's what I do and thus far has worked for me. With regard to livestock we have on 2 occasions rounded up cattle and driven them back whence they came. Was quite fun. My horse was brilliant. should have been a cowboy pony. Rode out one day to meet 4 loose ponies coming at speed towards us. They turned off through an open gate into a garden. I leant down and closed said gate. It was preferable to them being loose on the road. Owner came along and caught them one by one and I just held them while she got organised then helped her by leading one home. Again my horse was brilliant! Arab you see. He used his brains.

 

[Skib]

I need advice on this too. I am an elderly rider hacking solo on the safest possible horse. But when two RS riders came cantering towards us in January, my horse took off like a rocket. I forgot all about the grab strap and fell off heavilly over her shoulder when I tried to turn her off the road. She ignored the turn and continued galloping on without me.

I cant think of anything I could have done to prevent this. Possibly not tried to turn her and allowed her to gallop straight down the straight stretch of sand track ahead, but our excellent RI once fell when bounced off a galloping horse, so no guarantee I would have survived that. And there is tarmac alongside.

I am definitely afraid to ride her on that track in that direction again. And would not know what to do if it happened again.

 

[abbijay]

I have had a few situations like this over the years so I try to get practice in of these things rather than leaving it to chance.
My newbie isn't great about such things so last night when someone on my yard said they were going XC on our (big) field I took the opportunity to have a quiet hack over there. We could see this horse doing his thing in the distance, we even ended up quite close. We have built up to this though, I find unless there is a major concern turning around and telling the horse this is scary is just storing problems up for the future. If I'm out with a nervous friend I will ask them a million inane questions just to keep their mind busy but try to limit the exposure to the difficult situation without doing an about turn.

 

[scruffyponies]

Have you tried signalling to the rider? 'Slightly' out of control, regularly, sounds like just enjoying a good galop to me. She may not realise it's a problem for you at a distance (although, I agree, she should).

With a young or unpredictable horse or a nervous companion, I would give the horse something to think about. Nothing worse than asking them to stand still. Change direction (take a detour if you have to), walk/trot/walk/halt/walk etc. Keep the horse focussed on you.
For the nervous rider, get them singing, counting or answering questions. They need distracting too!

 

[Gallop_Away]

I need advice on this too. I am an elderly rider hacking solo on the safest possible horse. But when two RS riders came cantering towards us in January, my horse took off like a rocket. I forgot all about the grab strap and fell off heavilly over her shoulder when I tried to turn her off the road. She ignored the turn and continued galloping on without me.

I cant think of anything I could have done to prevent this. Possibly not tried to turn her and allowed her to gallop straight down the straight stretch of sand track ahead, but our excellent RI once fell when bounced off a galloping horse, so no guarantee I would have survived that. And there is tarmac alongside.

I am definitely afraid to ride her on that track in that direction again. And would not know what to do if it happened again.

Tricky but I have always found a one rein stop can work beautifully if done correctly. HOWEVER, you need a secure seat and time it perfectly. Do not just yank your horse's head around at a flat out gallop (in fact don't yank anything full stop). You may be unseated or the horse may become unbalanced and fall. Ideally you need to do this BEFORE horse tanks off completely. Apply pressure on the one rein to bring horse's head around. They can't then run forwards, in the same way it works with a rearer preventing them from going up. I then circle the horse and keep circling until horse settles down.
In the situation you described I think I would have allowed my horses to go forwards down the track a few strides as it sounds like it was a safe surface to gallop across and then used voice, rein and weigh into the saddle to steady the horse back down to a walk.

ETA When I say "use rein" I don't mean yank your horse's mouth off. Squeeze and release works lovely with mine along with asking gently "woah"

 

[Cutgrass]

Is this someone a bit out of control in the distance or coming up behind and passing? If the former I'd totally ignore and just carry on doing whatever I wanted to be doing. If the latter I'd think the rider inconsiderate and a danger. I think the more you ride with others but ensure your pony listens to you and not the crowd the less frightening this situation seems. Easier said than done, I know. I find having the odd group lesson really good practice.

 

[Skib]

I was hacking solo. We got to a junction where the track is crossed by a tarmac road.
I always teach my horses to halt as a tarmac road, so I halted and then told her we were going to turn left. I then saw 2 horses cantering towards us from the track straight ahead. I turned her left not realising there was a risk and she tanked off.

In the situation you described I think I would have allowed my horses to go forwards down the track a few strides as it sounds like it was a safe surface to gallop across and then used voice, rein and weigh into the saddle to steady the horse back down to a walk.

Yes, Thank you. I think you are right. That is helpful. I know what ought to have done and hope to do next time. And I did use one rein only, But that had the result of turning her. My problem is that I am not very good at corners. It was also stupid of me to worry so much about the grass edging and spoiling it. I should have put my safety first.