Hacking Tomorrow

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mickey

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I know this might sound a bit odd but tomorrow I am going out hacking on the lead rein!!
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Since breaking my back 18 months ago my confidence has been up and down. I returned to riding 6 months after the accident. At first I was straight back to normal, hacking for miles last summer (mostly on my own) and having a great time. But this winter my horse has pulled a couple of stunts which were not really anything that bad (just in the school he has taken off once or twice for a few strides due to the traffic on the busy road next to the school).

Anyway, that has really shaken my confidence as my balance and flexibility are not as they used to be when something sudden happens (due to metal in my back). Also out hacking I felt tense that something might happen, that tension was felt by him and he started to get very jumpy. So I have stopped hacking (have not been out for a few months).
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Anyway I am missing my hacking, I think it is great for Mickey to see the sights and sounds (he gets bored with just schooling). So my instructor is walking with us tomorrow, and will have us on the lead!! I feel a bit silly but it's going to get me started out hacking again I guess......

Anyone else had similar problems?????
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I have owned Mick since he was 4 yrs old and always taken him everywhere, even on busy roads. He has always been very brave and I was confident. Now everything is different and it's hard to forget the accident and what might happen to me if I fall.
 
I don't think it is silly at all! Much better to do whatever it takes to get you hacking confidently again, rather than giving up all together! I hope everything goes well tomorrow!

PS: You might want to consider some other sources of help. Neurolinguistic programming is meant to be good for these sort of confidence problems - there are books available, such as those listed here:

http://www.positiveriding.co.uk/books.asp

and also NLP counsellors/advisers. A lot of people on this forum have successfully used Thought Field Therapy, particularly via Jo Cooper:

http://www.jo-cooper.com/
 
have a great time tomorrow - its meant to be sunny all day - forget about what others might think of you or what you think you OUGHT ot be doing - just enjoy your horse and his company and the countryside - thats what its all about - the rest will come naturally - maybe in a couple of months or maybe in a couple of years - WHO CARES!!!!!!
 
Thanks TGM I will take a look at the sites you reference. It's been about 30 yrs since I was on the lead rein!!!! My horse is gonna wonder what is going on! But having my instructor there will help to take my mind off things and if I get tense she can help talk me past it....
 
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My horse is gonna wonder what is going on! But having my instructor there will help to take my mind off things and if I get tense she can help talk me past it....

[/ QUOTE ] I'm sure that will help you a lot - I had a bad fall from my youngster when she was first broken and got my instructor to walk out with me for a while (as I had no-one to ride with). As you say just having someone to chat to makes all the difference and helps you to relax rather than worrying that something might happen.
 
I hope it goes well (how did you hurt your back if you don't mind me being nosey? It wasn't a fall from a horse I hope). I actually think that hacking (on public roads at least) is one of the most challenging things you can do these days - with modern traffic levels and people's reduced understanding of horses (I'm not trying to put you off honestly!). Your horse is beautiful though and I love hacking too especially at this time of year. I have used Jo Cooper and found it useful (not a total solution as I haven't turned into Mary King, unfortunately) but worth exploring. Hope you have a good time - I bet the worry before is the worst bit - let us know how you get on
 
Have a wondeful time, don't worry about what other people think, think of it as working from the ground like all the pirelli people! The first time we took the two newish ones out by themselves one of us rode and the other walked. Also the first time we took them in the field to work we walked them in hand in their tack before we rode and then had one of us to hand in case of problems. this is just making sure everyone is safe , what you are doing is the same, IMHO.
 
I just want to wish you the best of luck and you are doing the right thing.

You do whatever it takes to make you feel safe and comfortable, there is no rush and no rule saying you have to be hacking down the M1.

What you are feeling is understandable and a lesser person may have given up altogether, so congratulate yourself on taking the step to go out hacking tomorrow, and enjoy it!
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I don't think you are silly at all. I took a big blow to my confidence after an accident a few years ago and have never learned to enjoy hacking since. I've had period of refusing to do it, then began almost enjoying some short hacks again when a I took another tumble on Christmas Eve. I injured my foot and the ligaments are still keeping me out of the saddle. When I'm back on board, I don't know if I'll hack at all, but if I do, you can be sure my first several times, I'll be accompanied by an understanding human on foot.

Don't feel silly, enjoy
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No you are not being silly....... I had a little 15.2 mare who could be quite challenging at times.... however I had hacked alone with her without problems until one day she took exception to a road sign, I managed to her past it, but there was another one looming up ahead and she just flipped, went striaght up on her hind legs, went over backwards depositing me into the ditch, she then got up and carried on rearing in the road with me hanging on for grim death..... She knocked my confidence that much I would not hack her out.... and it took 11 months to actually attempt to go out in company! even then I refused to ride her, and another livery rode her whilst I rode her horse. I remember all the way round the other livery kept saying to me, she's not doing anything, you'll be fine.... but it didn't convince me! In the end I got to the stage where I knew I HAD TO hack her out, and I only went 500 yds down the road, onto the bridleway, had a canter and then came back, ok it wasn't far, but at least I did it..... However it has left me with a horrible feeling about hacking anything new out, and I always get someone else to ride "it" out first before I'll do it!

Its an excellent idea to have someone with you as they will distract you and keep you talking, and as long as you are talking you are breathing..... it doesn't matter how silly you look, your doing this for you so you can get back to enjoying your horse.....

Good luck and we expect a full report afterwards!
 
Nt at all silly! I used to take a 40something woman out hacking on lead rein in Spain. She had had a really bad fall and lost all confidence and the practise REALLY helped. Within 6 months she was hacking out alone again and jumping the schooling jumps around the campo!
 
Your not been silly, you have the wherewithal to admit that you are not happy to go out and to have your instructor with you will boost your confidence and if anything does happen that your not comfortable with, at least you can get off.

I'm itching to get out hacking again,but since both horse and I tipped up in Jan this year I've been too frightened to go out since.

Good luck for tomorrow, hope you enjoy it
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You are not being silly at all! I have been in the same situation as you - had a bad accident, metal work in knee and had lost all confidence, not to mention fitness. My long suffering husband walked with me to start with - with a lead rein at the ready. I bought a new horse 7 months ago and am now hacking out quietly on my own and with another steady rider - we haven't got to the cantering stage yet, but I am only doing things I feel happy to do. Good luck with you hack
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Hi
I am afraid I did break my back in a riding accident. I was jumping (only 2ft 6 or so) in a rubber menage!! Basically horse took a stride out, put in an enormous leap and was also turning in the air so I had little chance of recovering my balance. I just came out the side door. As far as I am concerned it was rider error, you can't blame a horse for being enthusiastic. Anyway that was 18 mths ago but I had to have metal put in to stablilise the rather nasty fracture.

I am OK schooling but really used to love my hacking and I believe it is good for the horse so I am keen to get out again. My horse was always good hacking and has only become spooky since I have got nervous.
 
Hi!
Due to unforeseen circumstances we weren't able to get out yesterday !!! I will post again once we have gone out. May be a little while now due to instr being busy....
Thanks for all your support everyone. I will post again once I've been out!
 
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