Hacking troubles

skully

skully

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Does anyone have any experience with nappy/planting horses while hacking? My Connemara gelding is getting worse and worse when we hack, with or without company. For a while he's perfect and then as soon as he gets bored he'll plant and simply not move unless we turn towards home, then he'll rush off and I'll be yanking on the reins trying to get him to slow down! He's not a spooky horse and his back, saddle and teeth were checked last week and he's absolutely fine. He can be quite naughty to get out of work, but we've never had trouble hacking before so I was wondering if anyone had any tricks I could try? Thanks!
 
Have you tried sitting still until he gets bored?

Whatever you do, don't let him turn for home, but if he won't go any further then play him at his own game! Even if you are sitting there for 10 minutes, he will soon realise that if he stops he's going nowhere!
 
I would only ride circular or lollipop shaped routes - no turning on the spot and going back the way you came! Plus I would get off and lead the horse the rest of the route, if it was required (eg too much traffic about to have a safe battle of wills). Basically the horse needs to learn that forwards is the only option.
 
He's absolutely terrible to lead, I think that's part of the problem! I've just cracked his planting while going through gates and now he's started doing it while hacking. It really feels like I'm getting nowhere! He's just so stubborn that I'm not sure trying to wait him out would work. We never ride on roads because of this problem but I want to hack more in the summer so I'm trying to sort the problem out now. Is it worth just trying to be firm with him? I carry a jumping whip but he doesn't seem to take any notice of it when he's decided he's going to stop!
 
Ok, you need to tackle the in-hand problems before you can get anywhere with the ridden one as they are linked.

If you aren't making any headway, there's no shame in getting some help from an instructor. Your horse either has massive holes in his basic training or has got your number.
 
It does sound like he has a serious stubborn streak how frustrating for you! I would definitely not be afraid to be firm with him he does sound like he is just being naughty, swap the jumping stick for a schooling one so you can keep both hands on the reins or if you are able to take the hand off safely to give him a reminder behind the leg then do so! Do you ride with spurs on?
 
What I have found helpful with a nappy, rearing horse is to have a companion ride behind with a long schooling whip and flick them on the bum when they stop. The horse doesn't seem to register where it is coming from, which can be quite effective. The last time I resorted to this method, the horse I was riding actually trotted forwards (she had been just sitting up on her back legs).
Don't whack them, just a gentle flick should do it - it is encouragement, not punishment. Then some praise when they move forward.
 
Have you tried turning him in three tight circles then asking for forward again? If still planting then three in the other direction and ask again. This is the only thing i have found that works with my gelding when he is being nappy.
 
Depending on where you are I've had some success in hand and ridden with turning the horse round and making it back up the way I want to go, then turn them forward and suddenly/magically they seem able to walk forward again !
 
I had a highland pony years ago which was very stubborn and would plant out on a hack. Fortunately these were off road hacks (so no traffic). I out waited her and it did finally work. To start with, I had to sit at the same spot for 1.5 hours...and then she suddenly decided "ok, you've won" and walked on quite freely. It was a little embarassing, as I met the same dog walkers on their way out and back from their walks! saying "are you ok, luv? Is the horse alright?"
 
RLS said:
I had a highland pony years ago which was very stubborn and would plant out on a hack. Fortunately these were off road hacks (so no traffic). I out waited her and it did finally work. To start with, I had to sit at the same spot for 1.5 hours...and then she suddenly decided "ok, you've won" and walked on quite freely. It was a little embarassing, as I met the same dog walkers on their way out and back from their walks! saying "are you ok, luv? Is the horse alright?"
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1.5 hours! Wow!

Just out of interest, did the horse ever do it again? Or did the time get shorter and shorter?
 
CobsGalore said:
1.5 hours! Wow!

Just out of interest, did the horse ever do it again? Or did the time get shorter and shorter?
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We never had an episode like that again. She did have a little try a couple of times again, but with firm encouragement from voice and legs she moved off again. Fortunately, she did nothing else - no rearing, backing up, bucking, kicking or anything. She just STOPPED. The word stubborn does not cover it! lol
 
RLS said:
We never had an episode like that again. She did have a little try a couple of times again, but with firm encouragement from voice and legs she moved off again. Fortunately, she did nothing else - no rearing, backing up, bucking, kicking or anything. She just STOPPED. The word stubborn does not cover it! lol
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Well done you for sitting it out for that long!
 
My record for sitting it out on a hack is nearly 6 hours. Then it got dark and I had to give up and get assistance, I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of getting off and leading her so I rang my husband and he had to drive out and give her a lead. We then rode home with the tractor right behind her so she couldn't stop again. Sitting it out never worked with her. On several occasions I've sat on her all day just 20 meters from her stable.
 
Re the in hand issues do you use a control halter? I use a Dually on my youngster and has made the world of difference as he now respects me as the leader.
 
Faracat - Yes we've been doing a lot of groundwork since I first began loaning him in June. He's an ex-riding school horse so he's 'been there, done that' and knows how to get away with just about anything! He's improved so much and I have been thinking about getting an instructor if I can't improve the situation within the next month or two.

Sam_ - Haha yes it's very frustrating! I'll definitely try a schooling whip next time we hack, I hadn't thought of that before. Also no I don't ride with spurs as I think I'm probably too inexperienced to use them correctly and wouldn't want to hurt him. He literally has two speeds, fast and stop!

Flicker - Thanks for your advice! I'm hacking with a friend on Sunday so I'll give it a try and see if it helps.

CobsGalore - I'm in the West Midlands so it's not really horsey country! There are a few good trainers around here so I might call in some favours if it gets much worse.

Emilieu - That's interesting, I'll try it when I next go out. I'm just worried about him taking off as soon as we turn for home! I think it might work well with him if I can master it because he gets bored very easily so hopefully he'll realise it's no fun to plant.

zandp - Haha I can imagine just how quickly they decide to walk forward again! That worked for us while leading I'll try it out riding and see how it goes.

RLS - Your story made me laugh! You must have been so bored but well done for winning that battle! Planters are so frustrating. I do mostly off-road hacks too so I'll try waiting him out although if previous experience has any bearing he'd probably win.

SuperH - God I bet you were annoyed! Sadly I don't have a tractor so that wouldn't work for me but I've got a pretty impressive record of 6 plants in one hack! My horse a complete wuss in the dark so getting stuck out would terrify him, the goofball.

Sidney - No we use a standard halter. I've looked into Duallys but my friend's had limited success with hers so I guess it's down to the individual horse. I might try it in the future to work on his leading issues.


Thanks for your help everyone! :)
 
SuperH said:
I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of getting off and leading her
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I don't think that horses think that way. I used to live in a high traffic area and have dismounted to get my mare out of a nappy situation (I would remount when safe to do so) and it never made her worse. In fact it helped and the next time I rode the same route she wouldn't try stopping at that point.
 
Even if you got yourself a pair of small round ones you really can't do much harm and it might just help you back up your leg aids and a few flicks with a schooling whip so everything you are asking is urging her forward! I would be tougher because it doesn't sound like fear it just sounds like pure stubbornness!
 
Hello there, I have a Connie who does not like hacking. I can feel him blowing out his tummy and refusing to go forward. He is very bright and very quirky. He loves being in the school, either ridden or on the lunge. If you hit him, use spurs or any other bullying, you won't improve him! With my boy I just sit and wait for a response, rock him 'side to side' and give him encouragement. Some will respond to bullying, others will get worse... I have had my Connie for 4 years and working with him has developed a fabulous dressage pony xxx
 
When our big lad naps like this, tapping him with the whip just makes him buck! A tight turn left, then a tight turn right soon has him moving on again.

First time we were turning both ways until we were both dizzy, but he soon twigged that I wasnt going to give up.
 
Faracat said:
I don't think that horses think that way. I used to live in a high traffic area and have dismounted to get my mare out of a nappy situation (I would remount when safe to do so) and it never made her worse. In fact it helped and the next time I rode the same route she wouldn't try stopping at that point.
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I do agree that sometimes getting off and leading is the way to go.

In that particular situation I had already got off and led her over a mile and a half before I had the opportunity to get back on (synthetic saddle that slips when mounting unless you have a stirrup holder or something to stand on) and I wasn't going to let her learn that every time she stopped I got off, especially as I knew that was what had been happening with her previous owner.
 
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