Hacking with others

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Footlights

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I got my horse last Summer and to cut a long story short he had a few issues that we have been working through when bringing him back into work, but the one issue that I am struggling with is hacking out with others.

I have now got to the stage where he is well behaved when hacking out by himself, but as soon he sees another horse or if we hack out with another horse, even if that horse is being really well behaved and only walking he just gets so excited and wants to tank off.

I do lots of circles but this just seems to wind him up, especially if the horse then walks in front of him, he just thinks every horse wants a race!

I don't know how to break this habit. I understand that horses are herd animals but this is just silly! He gets himself so wound up and starts sweating loads.

It would be really nice to go out with other people from my yard and for him to be as well behaved as he is when he is by himself!
 
Usually infront because he has such a fast walk its just natural for him to be in front. I would ideally like to ride side by side if possible though - I can but dream!
 
if theres someone on your yard that you'd want to be hacking out with, how about just leading the two horses off the yard together a few times, doesnt have to be far and then progress to really short ride together and build up from there, maybe if he sees things as 'everyday stuff' it'll no longer be exiting, if they are turned out together as well rather than strangers it might help him
 
Thanks for the advice, I think I have lots of different things to try!

Just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem and how they over came it.

It's so weird cos horses should be more settled when with their pals, not the opposite!
 
a gelding i had used to be more on his toes sometimes if we were out in a group, his 'buddies' from the field and main hacking companions were mares though and he was very protective of them... so don't know if its any help to you really, but thats what i narrowed it down to with him, have you any idea if he was like this in his previous home? perhaps the answer lies there, maybe if he went out with others before it was normally a fast ride
 
I got him from a lady who was inexperienced and had basically just given up on him and stopped riding him. Since I've had him the improvement on many things has been amazing, but this is the one thing I am struggling with.
 
Mine is ok hacking with others from the yard. But if we are out and someone else is hacking or he sees another horse in a field he gets all excited and starts being a bit silly not dangerous - just a bit of OMG there is another horse woo hoo!

Interesting to see what advice you get as this may also help with my horse. Good Luck getting him sorted!
 
Yeah he isn't dangerous, he doesn't buck, rear or anything, he just wants to gallop off into the distance!

He sticks his nose right up in the air almost vertically when he gets excited - does anyone think a martingale would help keep his head down and then in turn keep him calmer?
 
I'm experiancing the same problems at the min with my gelding, he is golden on his own but as soon as we are out with any other horses and on the hills if he is not lead, he locks his mouth and goes for it making it impossible to hold him back... the other issue I have is his excitement he has been known to put in the odd buck just before we hit our normal canter route (which is nothing) but if we come across different horses or he is behind, half way round he will just lose the plot, its like there is no reasoning with him, I've brought him back many times totally white from sweat and lather he gets himself in a right state... I've been advised to turn him in circles but sometimes on the bridal paths you cannot do this...

I'm currently looking at his feeds and also wether a calmer would help but at the min I am totally confussed as there is so much about.

Any advise anyone?
 
What's he like schooling with another horse in the arena?

Perhaps you could just 'happen' to finnish your schooling session at the same time as someone else, do a couple of laps of the school together and wander out of the arena together and off down the lane to cool down?
 
This is just it, in the school on his own or in company he is golden, its just when we hit the hills..

He is fine up until a certain point whilst we are out, we hack along side others and take in turns to go in front on the lanes and he is happy with this but you get him on the hills and starts cantering on spot, head shaking, bucking and bolting... I keep putting this down to excitement but am questioning his feed, wether he should be on a calmer, is he being naughty, does he need a strong bit..

At present I am overwelmed by the different feed types, he is currently on Alpha A, dodson & horrell leisure mix, small scoop of garlic and very small amount of speedy beet.. he has a handle full of each as he holds he weight well... he is also on haylage.. I could say it was his feed but he was like this through the summer when he wasn't being fed hardly anything at all...

Ive noticed a change in his personality over the winter months as this is our first winter together, he's very moody in stable, kicking out at horses next to him whilst in stable as he eats, and just generally not a nice horse, but this is not the horse I know or brought and yes ok he can be a little miserable (particulary when you are tacking up) this is a extreme change in his personality... what could be wrong????? :(
 
I have exactly the same problem, I feel for you. My horse is brilliant in both indoor and outdoor schools when there are other horses riding in there and is pretty good (getting better) when out by himself. It's just when we are hacking with others, he gets himself so wound up, and once he is wound up there is no calming him down.

I had a huge problem with him with hills when I first got him, I think his old owner only used to gallop up hills so whenever he saw a hill he tried to take off. We have almost overcome this now by ALWAYS walking up hills, it's like having to re programme his brain.

Just the other weekend we had a lovely hack by ourselves, then right at the end I was letting him stretch out and we came across two other horses - he went mad, head up in the air trying to take off with me, I did lots of circles but just from this he got himself in such a sweat.

I don't know what to do!
 
karen.close said:
This is just it, in the school on his own or in company he is golden, its just when we hit the hills..

He is fine up until a certain point whilst we are out, we hack along side others and take in turns to go in front on the lanes and he is happy with this but you get him on the hills and starts cantering on spot, head shaking, bucking and bolting... I keep putting this down to excitement but am questioning his feed, wether he should be on a calmer, is he being naughty, does he need a strong bit..

At present I am overwelmed by the different feed types, he is currently on Alpha A, dodson & horrell leisure mix, small scoop of garlic and very small amount of speedy beet.. he has a handle full of each as he holds he weight well... he is also on haylage.. I could say it was his feed but he was like this through the summer when he wasn't being fed hardly anything at all...

Ive noticed a change in his personality over the winter months as this is our first winter together, he's very moody in stable, kicking out at horses next to him whilst in stable as he eats, and just generally not a nice horse, but this is not the horse I know or brought and yes ok he can be a little miserable (particulary when you are tacking up) this is a extreme change in his personality... what could be wrong????? :(
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Right. Feedwise, if he holds his weight well cut the sugary mix, cut the alfa a and instead feed hi-fi lite and if you want a little variety just some high fibre cubes. Speedi beet is great but it CAN heat some horses up so I'd advise that if he is still excitable on the revised diet, you cut that too. Also look at feeding a broad spec vit and min supp. you can cut the garlic too... doesn't really do much. there is no harm in adding a calmer... perhaps just on the days that you want to hack? Magic calmer is meant to be good and my farrier recomended temprelax too.

I think someone has previously bombed about the countryside on him and he thinks every hill is for galloping up! bless him... I would persist in just walking untill he starts listening to you make sure you do plenty of transtions in your schooling, use your voice as an aid too as this may come in usefull out hacking...

as for stronger bit - maybe. but before you go changing tack, check his teeth are ok and ask for advice (from your EDT) on what type of bit may suit his mouth. He may not need a stronger bit, just a different mouthpiece.

Re the kicking at horses when eating, I take it he is in a stable with bars at the top half of the partition or similar? I think he'll be much happeier if he doesn't have onlookers while he is eating - not many horses like the threat of others stealing their tea!! throw a spare rug over the bars and do it up round them to prevent it falling down. this should be sufficient to make him feel his feed is a bit safer. A more permanent solution would be to buy a sheet of ply wood and affix it to the partition. Some horses just REALLY hate being overlooked in their stables... This will probably make him a much happier person!
 
Have a lot of sympathy for you. My current mare was like that, but is now so much better. I found these tips useful:

1. Relax yourself. Easy to say, I know, but it really helps the horse. Just nattering to your riding companion will settle you, and what goes on in your brain goes down the reins (and that's not a criticism of your riding by the way). Just try to think of other things than 'my horse who's going to be a prat'.

2. Walk, walk, walk until in all places, on all rides, he is settled. My mare came from a livery stables where they named various rides as things like "Half Mile Gallop". As soon as she put foot to green grass she was ready to win the Derby - because that's what she had been taught/allowed to do. So walk all those lovely gallops on the hills, and later on, trot them (little bursts at a time - 20 strides, then back to walk). It will all get soooooooo boring that Dobbin will gradually forget. Then, if you can, find somewhere to canter where you wouldn't normally do so. Again, a short burst, and if there's any argument, straight back to boring walk.

3. If you can, vary your rides as much as possible, and do them 'back to front' every other time. It's so that you're calling the shots. (There used to be a Shetland in the next village who was always walked with his infant rider on a square route, always taken clockwise. One day I met the shattered parent miles from home, with the Shetland very uppity - they had tried to go a different route, and found the pony would now only turn right-handed. I've never forgotten that lesson!)

4. Finally, I do ride with a running martingale on an eggbutt snaffle - it's just enough to stop her if she does tank - very rare these days. I agree with other posts that changing bits is not necessarily a cure-all. Good luck
 
Thanks, I had looked at Hi-Fi Lite and will go with switching him over to this, I will also try the rugs over the panels in his stable and see if that works also..

I actually have the horse dentist booked for next month so will see if there are any problems with his teeth but agree with not changing the bit, he is only in a eggbutt snaffle and is extremley soft mouthed and I really didn't want to have to go to lengths of a stronger bit as I believe these are problems that can be overcome and I will try everything else first.

I also agree with whats in the brian goes down the rein, I do believe this however sometimes it is difficult when he is totally losing the plot but I do try my best to relax my seat when he does react and it does work most times LOL.

As for hacking him out I'm going to do what is recommended and will keep you posted..

Many thanks for you feedback
 
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karen.close said:
I'm experiancing the same problems at the min with my gelding, the other issue I have is his excitement he has been known to put in the odd buck just before we hit our normal canter route

Any advise anyone?
Click to expand...

My advice is to vary your canter places. Your horse is ok on the lanes because you don't go faster there. He is getting excited because he is anticipating the faster pace. Next time you ride him try walking up your 'canter route', canter somewhere else. Keep him guessing!

Sorry OP, I don't think that your problem will be so easily solved.
 
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