Hacking Veteran TB

Hippophilia

Hippophilia

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Saskatchewan, Canada
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I bought my veteran TB mare last year from my RI. She had been a lesson horse for 5 years and prior to that competed in high-level dressage, as far as I know she has never been raced. But she has never been hacked out either. My RI had never taken her out and advised me not to - as I live on the Canadian prairies she was concerned that all that horizon might trigger some TB instinct to run.
However, I recently left her yard and my my mare seems a lot more relaxed at our new place where she lives out 24/7 in a mixed herd of 14. I recently had a baby and while I still love dressage I think I am veering towards becoming a happy hacker. I guess my question is : would you hack this mare and how would you start? I was going to hand walk her in her bridle on our route (off road around the yard) and build up slowly from there. She can be sharp but I also think she deserves some chill-out time in her dotage and frankly I am getting bored with the arena.
Any advice?
 
God go for it i've never heard of a horse having a 'Tb instinct to run off into the sunset' unless it has other issues. However as she's never been hacked out DEFINITELY walk in hand first, go with a sensible companion, do very very short hacks to start with - but I bet she';ll love it. Be careful and build up slowly, but I would defintiely give it a go if i were you.
 
What a lovely story for your girl.
I would hack out in company with her closest buddy if you can, if they are a good hacker. Or take her hacking with whichever horse is in charge of the 14 horses. She should take her lead naturally from that horse

Good luck!
 
I agree with guido. Unless you have a better relationship with your horse on the ground than ridden if they do play up I'd rather be on board. And you have to get her used to hacking so when baby is old enough for a pony you can do ride & lead!
 
Thanks for the suggestions - I like Guido's advice of heading out with the herd leader. And I was never convinced by my old RI's idea that she would take off as she's a TB. I suppose people do have funny ideas about them, such a shame I wouldn't have any other breed now :D
 
As you say take it slowly and calmly and see what happens.
You may well find that she takes to it like a duck to water and becomes a hacking superstar.
I have ridden in Central London in weekday traffic with two thoroughbred grand national winners and both of them were well laid back and did not blink an eye lid at anything.
 
I would advise leading from the ground first for a nice little walk if shes not used to it. My tb was always much better behaved when being led around that if you were riding him.

On the other hand if shes going to be dreadfully behaved don't do it!
 
I had a similar problem with my TB. I took him on a year ago now and he came with the statement of 'He does not hack out'

I spoke to quite a few of the people on the yard to find out what the problem was and the stories ranged from rearing, running away to your standard spooking, some feedback was pretty much don't bother. I am a novice but no way was I going to be defeated without trying.

I took him for walks in hand for about 2 months before attempting to get on him. Starting very short with a 2 minute walk up the lane, I made sure I made him stand often based on the stories of him running away, I wanted him to learn he had to stop when asked. Every time he did as asked he got polos (got through quite a few in the period, I am all for bribery)
Gradually we built up the evening strolls we took so that we walked quite a distance of the main hack route. Whilst I was on the ground the worst he ever did was spook but he did it in a 'acceptable way' He is a very spooky horse so one of the things I had to accept.

Eventually I got to the point whereby I was ready to ride him out, again we started with very short walks with a friend walking alongside his head to reassure him (and me), slowly building up the distance and introducing other horses. Again nothing major bar spooking.

After about a month of doing this we braved our first hack with another horse and no minder on the ground. He was different I have to be honest but it was all excitement, nothing malicious. He got very excited and did the whole jogging thing but as I say nothing terrible. The only time he has tried to run is on two occasions when he spooked really badly and bolted, he only went about 6 strides before pulling up, so again not to bad. We are now about 9 months on and he is not an angel but he is getting better and better the more we go out.

A lot of the guys who knew him before can't believe he is doing so well but it took a long time. I am pretty sure there were a lot of people who found it funny to see me taking my horse for a walk like a dog but it seems to have worked, it also helped build the bond which I think is a big part of it. Definitely worth the effort!!!

Sorry for the long response but I remember being in a similar position and thinking what the hell do I do.

Good luck, it will be worth it in the end.
 
They may be thinking of a horse that had been in training who associates grass with being on the gallops though those tend to hack quietly round lanes and soon adapt but I think the only instinct a prairie would trigger in my failed racehorse is the instinct to eat as much of it as possible.

As others have said find a nice quiet chaperone that she knows as the biggest issue is likely to be that she is insecure out on her own and far from heading to the horizon you may find her unwilling to leave the safety of home.
 
Thanks all! I feel really motivated to do this now. Unfortunately due to birth complications I am not allowed to ride for another 6 weeks (boo hiss), but this will give me a chance to walk the route a fair few times and figure out who is best to take along on our first attempt...I will keep you updated as to our progress :)
 
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