Hacking with difficult horse

[Eve_ja]

I have a 8 year old cob mare who just wont hack alone. When we first brought her, hacking was fine, she would still spook but not as bad before. I dont know what has happened as it seems to be quite a recent thing of her refusing to hack alone. She can be quite dangerous now when trying to hack, she will bolt at certain points but does stop, she will spook and spin when not happy, and sometimes refuses to walk on and will back up and buck when you keep pushing. She hacks better with others, still spooks etc but is so much happier. She does love hacking and going out, but once in fields or on road its very difficult to calm or get hre going nice. I dont want to have to pay and arm and a leg to have a professional come try help her, but do really need help. I dont know what to do and want some advice on what would get her confident out hacking again?

Thanks for everyone who has given advice and tips!

 

[Nasicus]

What investigations have the vets carried out? There's a difference between 'the vets been, poked and prodded a few places' and 'The vet has been, they've scoped for ulcers, performed and thorough lameness investigation, taken xrays.'

For my two penneth is worth, I struggle with anxiety. If it's just the anxiety that's bothering me, I can usually knuckle through things, although I'll be close to my limit the entire time.
I also suffer from chronic pain. When that comes into play as well as the anxiety, my limit is severely reduced. Things I could previously knuckle through, I'm no longer able to, and being a human I get to make the decision not to put myself through those things. The few times I've had to, I've been a bit of a mess and if I were a horse, I'd probably bolt, spin and buck too.

 

[Goldie's mum]

She had had previous problems, so vet has been and there is nothing wrong. She’ll go fine in school but it’s a different horse out hacking.

Can I ask what her "previous problems" were please, in case that's useful.
Also if you don't mind saying, how long have you owned her? Was she with you last spring? What kind of life was she living before you bought her?
Thank you.

 

[kerrieberry2]

if you're certain pain has being fully ruled out (xrays, scoping etc). assuming she's not overly bonded to another horses on the yard and is playing up because she doesn't want to leave them. then I would say go back to basics and do something with her every day! start with the in hand walking, once she's okay with that, get on and walk her out with a friend on the ground next to her, then get the friend to walk behind, once she's better with that! get the friend to cycle off and wait in the distance to make sure you're okay, and eventually build up her confidence slowly until you're able to hack a small loop on your own!

I had to do similar with my gelding after his ulcer treatment, he used to be a nightmare, but with in a few weeks of doing this I could take him for an hours hack without any napping!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Yeah, I’m gonn start getting someone to come with me. She is currently in a universal bit, but everything physically and tack wise has been checked

Then I would get 2nd opinions on all the checks.

 

[Where’s My Cow]

Mine will happily hack with others but is very reluctant alone. He was fine when he was new to the yard, but now he knows that his friends are on the yard and I’m asking him to leave them he gets upset. It’s definitely separation anxiety in his case. I tried riding, tried getting off whilst riding to lead, and just leading him in hand from the get go. With all of this he’d just plant and refuse to move.

BUT… long-lining and he goes like a champ! I’ve only done it with a friend at the front, walking alongside him, mostly to help if there is any traffic. But it’s definitely the long-lining making the difference as he won’t go if the pressure comes from the front.

We started on a small circular route and have built up. Next step will be to try again onboard, with the same person walking alongside for repetition.

If you haven’t tried long-lining it might help. I honestly didn’t expect him to be so much more confident with the long-lining.

 

[New Forests Rock]

Long reining (provided you are doing it correctly) is a brilliant way to get horses going out alone. As a driving pony Chief will be going out on his own the vast majority of the time, which is why I have spent so much time long reining him. If I meet someone riding then he is just told to calmly walk past them, if he is going in the same direction then he is not permitted to speed up to join them.

 

[paddy555]

one aspect that I don't think has been suggested is can she see? This could produce many of the problems that you describe. Riding around a school she will be happy as she will "know" everything about it. Going alongside a hedge or wall will be easier as it will be a guide. Further from home or different routes she will be less sure. Spooking/panicing then does she see or half see with blurred vision something in the distance and freaks as it is not clear. Riding with another horse she has a guide, someone she can hear and relate to.

I have had all that you describe and it took me a long time to work out that the horse was blind. I thought it was me until the horse did exactly the same with my OH. Up until a late stage there was nothing about the eyes ie weeping, swelling etc to suggest this was the problem. I had him vet checked especially for his eyes and the vet told me he would pass a 5 stage vetting. It was very difficult to determine.