have own field but would horse be better suited at yard?

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Pc2003

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My horse has pretty much hacked out alone for the past 3 years since I acquired our own paddock. I have a pony companion but he does all ridden work alone. He hasn't been in consistent work due to on off lameness on his part (spavin) and pregnancies on my part! He is now in the most consistent work he has been in a long time. He is becoming very sharp to ride. Very spooky, very silly. I feel he needs to do more and hack out with others as he is becoming a weirdo. If he sees another horse out hacking he flips. Something he wouldn't have batted an eyelid at a year ago now sets him off in a joggy tiz.
I have tried to buddy up with someone but he is so forward going it's tricky and due to spavins there are limits as to what he can do so I don't want to impose on folk. I can't school him in field as he needs a totally level surface. I have the most amazing paddock but no facilities at all.
I can't bare the thought of a yard again but I feel he needs it. What should I do?!
 
I certainly couldn't go back to a yard!

Have you considered joining a RC, not just for the organised activities but so that you can make new hacking buddies and friends to help you generally?
 
I know I have the most idyllic place at the moment and 2 young kids so it's ideal in that respect.
I recently took him to the local rc show to have a mooch around etc but he totally flipped and ditched me twice. In fact, he hasn't been the same since that rc show. He has just got sharper and sharper! I suppose what I am asking, is it fair to expect a horse to do all ridden work 100% on its own 100% of the time? I only hack due to his spavins but the fitter he gets the sharper he is
 
I have always had mine at home and it is only now my children are older that I have the opportunity to hack with company. But when they are at school I still ride alone!

My horses have always been pretty well adjusted to other horses as I go to competitions and lessons etc.

But then I am a loner and like my own company, I couldn't imagine being on a yard :)
 
Aghh you see I too love being on my own. The thought of a yard turns my stomach!
My daughter is 3.5 so too young to come with me!
My horse just seems to have lost all his confidence hacking out and is becoming weird if we meet others hacking out! It's like he needs a good nanny which is a shame as a few years back he would have been the nanny. Or maybe it's just he is fitter and this is what he is like.
 
Have you had him checked over if this is a change from normal and it seems to be escalating maybe there's something wrong?
 
Could you get a friend to join you with another horse? or if the companion pony is rideable could someone ride out with you? We bought our own land a couple of years ago and would hate to go back to a yard (have 2 children as well) I have 2 horses of my own and a friend will come out for hacks/schooling some times on one of them which is nice! But saying that I do mainly hack out alone as it fits in around school/work hours, my horses don't seem bothered either way. Sound like your horse is just feeling a bit fitter and well in himself at the minute!.
 
Bonkers I wouldn't send him away for the reason that I know what he is physically capable of and what is too much for him. I would hate someone to push him to far physically. I have however had a local racing yard girl hack him out who thought he was great fun but sharp.
Rhodders it has absolutely crossed my mind. However, the vets, saddler and physio think he looks great. In fact, he feels sounder than he has in the last 4 years. He looks incredible. I kind of let him call the shots re riding. If he feels like jogging I let him jog etc as we have had so many lameness up and downs I am just thankful he is rideable but he is just insanely sharp now. He is probably quite green for his age due to his issues and I have expected a lot of him over the years I.e not ridden for 6months then popped on and hacked up out a busy road with no issues but now in consistent hacking he is very different and I don't know whether he needs some horsey help!
 
For me, I have a companion for my ridden horse as he is happiest with someone to graze with. When it comes to work he is happy with people galloping past him, (New Market Ride) horses along side, or hacking alone. That is what I expect, that is what I have trained him to do. Hard at times, but worth the effort. If I were you, I would look at hiring outside facilities, joining a riding club/clinics. Personally, I want to do my sport without being reliant on anybody else. Good luck.:) (ps I would hate to go back to a big livery yard)
 
Well it's prob been 2.5 yrs since we have hacked out with anyone. Is that too much to ask? Half of me thinks no it's not. He has 2 companion ponies in the field. All I am asking is an hour of his time 4 times a week. I can hire out a local school but he behaved so appallingly last time I haven't done so since!
Maybe I just have a fitter horse on my hands
 
I moved my ridden horse to a yard in Nov. Still have my field, my old mare and Shetland are there and my friends pony has moved in for extra company

I love being back on a yard, as I have so much more support, but I know I can take him back, if I ever needed to, even if it was just for a holiday
 
Pc2003 said:
I kind of let him call the shots re riding. If he feels like jogging I let him jog etc as we have had so many lameness up and downs I am just thankful he is rideable but he is just insanely sharp now. He is probably quite green for his age due to his issues and I have expected a lot of him over the years I.e not ridden for 6months then popped on and hacked up out a busy road with no issues but now in consistent hacking he is very different and I don't know whether he needs some horsey help!
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I wonder if this is the main problem by letting him be in charge and taking control of when to jog and being allowed to he is feeling insecure, I would try being tough on him, do some basic schooling on your hacks, give him more to focus on by getting him waiting and listening to you, he may be fitter and sharper so needs some boundaries putting in place, you may find a few hacks where he is really working, it can be in walk leg yielding and shoulder fore, a few transitions will help get you back in charge.
I know my sharp spooky horse is worse if left to think for himself he spends more time looking for the next scary leaf or blade of grass but if I set off with him listening to me there is less unwanted behaviour although he will never be a relaxing ride.
 
I think moving him wouldn't necessarily help him, and definitely not help you!

You sound to have an ideal set up, and theres no point in changing it and potentially adding another factor to affect his behaviour.

You say he's sharp and he sounds to be getting a bit worked up: could you feed him a calmer just to help settle him down a bit and give you more control in sticky situations?

If he's ditched you at rc events its completely understandable to not want to be going back any time soon (!!) - but how about practising boxing him over to a nearby event and then leading him in hand for a short while and then going home. Maybe lead him in a controller headcollar or chiffney to give you a bit more confidence and control if something goes wrong.

Have you tried getting someone to walk out with you? Maybe a girl friend with her dog, or your OH if you have one. Maybe even someone on a bike? Just an idea, but maybe some company is better than none!

I think be positive has got some good ideas too.

Keep us posted:)
 
Agree with a lot of previous comments. If you have transport could you take him to an outdoor school and taking it slowly, almost as if he was a baby, lead him for a bit and then go home. Then gradually increase what you ask of him as he becomes accustomed to going there. You could perhaps build up to having an experienced horse to walk round with you and eventually have lessons alone and then with others. I think that a similar regime would probably help with the hacking difficulties too. Good luck.
 
be positive said:
I wonder if this is the main problem by letting him be in charge and taking control of when to jog and being allowed to he is feeling insecure, I would try being tough on him, do some basic schooling on your hacks, give him more to focus on by getting him waiting and listening to you, he may be fitter and sharper so needs some boundaries putting in place, you may find a few hacks where he is really working, it can be in walk leg yielding and shoulder fore, a few transitions will help get you back in charge.
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Exactly what I was thinking!

As for RC, I wasn't thinking so much of taking the horse to things at first, more that you should get involved, OP, so that you get to know people locally and possibly find someone to help you with your horse, or to be an occasional hacking buddy.
 
Pc2003 said:
Bonkers I wouldn't send him away for the reason that I know what he is physically capable of and what is too much for him. I would hate someone to push him to far physically. I have however had a local racing yard girl hack him out who thought he was great fun but sharp.
Rhodders it has absolutely crossed my mind. However, the vets, saddler and physio think he looks great. In fact, he feels sounder than he has in the last 4 years. He looks incredible. I kind of let him call the shots re riding. If he feels like jogging I let him jog etc as we have had so many lameness up and downs I am just thankful he is rideable but he is just insanely sharp now. He is probably quite green for his age due to his issues and I have expected a lot of him over the years I.e not ridden for 6months then popped on and hacked up out a busy road with no issues but now in consistent hacking he is very different and I don't know whether he needs some horsey help!
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If mine was able to call the shots, she'd be a lunatic though I class her as an excellent hacker and perfect nanny. He may be feeling like he needs to look after you both as you're being a passenger and it's too much pressure.
 
Rhodders said:
Have you had him checked over if this is a change from normal and it seems to be escalating maybe there's something wrong?
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This.

If he has always hacked out on his own in the past with no problems then I would be questioning the change in him. Also what do you mean by a "weirdo" ??

I would guess he is out of practice maybe if he has been having breaks/time off and just needs to get back in to a routine. He may need a bit of a confidence boost and regular work to settle him back in.

As for is fair for him to be always ridden on his own then yes - imo it's only an hour or so without company so I see no problem in this!
 
To me it sounds like he is feeling good in himself and he is testing you.. then you are perhaps being a little soft with him... Maybe also he is just feeling so good that simply hacking isn't really doing it for him?

I would stay in your field but maybe invest in a trailer and take him to places to engage his mind and maybe do some charity rides
 
Could you get a livery to join you at your field and then you'd have someone to hack out with? Not all the time obviously, but maybe once or twice a week? I much prefer hacking with a friend and I'm sure the horses do too.

I'd also take charge a bit more on rides. Allowing him to do as he pleases might be giving him responsibility he doesn't really want and is therefore stressing him out a bit.
 
Agree with the above about him getting in control. Try ground exercises where he learns to obey you. Also as said, take to events and lead around to desensitise him.
Very importantly stop all feed, with the light work you're doing he has plenty of sustenance from grass alone. You would be amazed the difference when feed is cut back to a horse that's being buzzy - that might be all you need.
 
Some great advice, thanks.
I mean he is a bit of a weirdo in that if we see another horse out hacking he can't stop staring at them and if I meet another horse going the same way as we are he does the whole lip sniffing thing and jogs and squeals.
I don't think hacking is enough for him. Pre spavins he was on full work and competing every weekend plus weekly lessons. He is no way capable of that now. It's a miracle he is hackable!
He is going the best he has done soundness wise since spavins and is now reached a level of fitness where he feels very good and looks amazing. It's like he needs a good blast but I'm not sure whether that would be good for him physically!
I have had him for 6 years and the first year I had him pre spavins he did behave like this but back then I could work him a lot and have weekly lessons to over come. He isn't capable of that now.
The basics are still there in that he is fab in traffic, amazing to handle and I would trust him with my life, but he is very sharp!!
I going to hire out the school down the road and see if he could do a bit of basic schooling!
 
And ye if someone walks with me he is a lot better and almost like he used to be so I guess he is lacking in confidence a bit
 
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