Hacking

[Bevjane]

Hi all looking for some advice, I have a ottb, he’s been on a long road of rehab after an injury since I got him in sept 2020, I’ve started some light work with him in the ménage and even been to camp with him we’re he was an angel, he is still very green as got him straight from racing so not done anything other than race prior to owning him, yesterday tried to go for a hack on my own (friend walking with me) he started off very tense, but forward, not spooky, nothing fazed him, but he got increasingly tense and stressed, when I came to turn back we had cantering on the spot, going backwards and just wouldn’t go forward, I’ll be honest I was very worried to really kick him on as I think he would have just gone and I would have put both myself, and dog walkers in danger, I ended up getting off, I walked him home and he was fine, my question really is, has anyone got any experience with ex racers and hacking alone? Is it possible with patience and work? He’s 9, loves other horses when we’ve been out, always more relaxed with other horses around, I don’t have anyone to hack with, work long and wierd shifts so quite difficult to meet you with regular people that work mon-fri ? thanks

 

[humblepie]

Mine raced for 8 seasons so is a proper ex racehorse. It did take him some time to get confidence to hack on his own as they are used to going out in company on the whole. I did need help which initially was my other half leading my older horse with us then coming out on foot and then hacking paying someone to ride my other horse out with us I got him into a happy route he was knew and started on our own on that. We did have quite a few moments but now he is the most fabulous hack on his own
The other thing is an you find a route you don’t have to turn back but can do circular. Turning back often means turning at the bottom of the gallops so go.
I would say to really get his confidence in the arena then plan hacks when you can have someone with you and take time. It is patience and confidence
Good luck

 

[humblepie]

Ps. I have got off mine plenty of times in our process to lead him as he takes confidence from the ground person.

 

[scats]

Do you have any routes that you can do that don’t involve turning back on yourself?
I can’t talk from an ex racer point of view, as I’ve not had one of those, but I’ve got multiple horses to hack sensibly alone and the best thing is to try and find a circular route so you don’t turn back on yourself at any point.
About getting off, provided you have control of the horse, I’ve never seen getting off and making them go in hand as a problem. I have a nappy rearer who will go from nothing to just standing up right if you put your legs on when she doesn’t want to go somewhere. I got her hacking alone by hopping off without a fuss, no nonsense leading her for a while, then hopping back on and carrying on.

Im of the opinion that you can train anything to hack alone and like you, I’d far rather go out alone than with others, so everything I buy learns to hack out alone. It’s just time, repetition and not making a big deal about issues that arise.
Good luck x

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I agree with the suggestions above. Having had a very tricky exracer to hack , turning back on yourself really can set them off. Unfortunately I never sorted it out as he was pts due to psd. My current exracer rushed on the way home for the first couple of years. I took no notice. Yes it was frustrating but there didn't seem much I could do!! He was far happier going his pace. We now plod everywhere on the buckle end!! Break everything down in to small steps. Don't give up!!

 

[Bevjane]

Thank you everyone for your very valuable advice, he is such a sweet boy and I know he wasn’t being naughty as such just doing what he knew, I was so frustrated with myself for getting off! Never done that with any horse before, but hearing your advice it was probably the right thing to do at the time, yes will look at short routes that I don’t turn round, maybe not the best thing I did but we live and learn, thank you so much everyone, much appreciated This was him before we turned back ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

He is lovely. I really don't see the problem in getting off if you feel its safer. It's best to difuse the situation, the horse will then trust you more to get him out of scary situations.

 

[humblepie]

I had a horse years ago like one of the posts above. He’d get stuck. I’d never win the argument so instead of making an argument I got off led him
a little way got back on and carried on. That solved it as he never really got stuck in that situation as by leading him I kept him moving.
And your horse is very smart. Good luck with him.

 

[Bevjane]

I had a horse years ago like one of the posts above. He’d get stuck. I’d never win the argument so instead of making an argument I got off led him
a little way got back on and carried on. That solved it as he never really got stuck in that situation as by leading him I kept him moving.
And your horse is very smart. Good luck with him.

Thank you

 

[Squeak]

Lovely looking boy. I'd give a circular route a go. Even my most placid horse would perk up on the way home if I'd just turned them round so hopefully it might solve the problem.

 

[YorkshireLady]

Agree wholly with circular - would get a steady pal...do a route a few times with pal then do same route on his own