How do you bring a horse back into work who won't walk out hacking?

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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Andy has been off since the beginning of december, vet said I can get back on in 3 hot, he is turned out for most the day and is constantly moving. On any other horse I'd walk out hacking for a good few weeks and build up slowly so he'll be walking for an hour and the slowly add trot and slowly add canter then I'd do light schooling but this is probably 4-6 months down the line.

Andy jogs everywhere and if given his head he'll just go. I've spent over 2 years trying to calm him and he's a little better but we have a long way to go. Will he damage himself doing this? Is there something else I could do rather than walk out hacking? He won't walk in hand either but he may be slightly better if someone led him. He's worse in company as well.
 
With my tb mare who sounds similar I have lunged a few times then started gentle schooling. First day did 10 mins walk and trot, second day had a small canter etc. She needs a job and to focus, out hacking she just wants to be going all of the time even in a frame, leg yielding etc so we generally work in a deep frame power trotting when out.
 
Long reining? Could start off in the school and gradually go out and about as though you were hacking. Wear gloves, a body protector and a hat though - just in case he gets a bit - erm - exuberant ;).

P
 
I'd just get on and go as normal. He has been out in the field, and hasn't had 'that' much time off. Not like he has been on box rest for months.
Enjoy! He is a clever horse, very unlikely he will hurt himself jogging. Start with 20/30 mins though and not hours!
 
My old lad is like that - not been ridden for a bit, but out 24/7

Took him out Thursday, he walked fast so I thought sod it and did walk, trot, halt transitions to keep him on his toes ( even did a little canter :))

Went super well :) and he wasnt so nervous or spooky either :D. We both had a great time so I'd say just go for it - it's not like he's been box- rested :)
 
My tb was like this that I had years ago. She came back to work after 6 mths off for tendon. Amazingly she walked like a dream in a pelham wiv 2 reins but I hardly ever picked up curb rein..she just knew it was there!
 
He has a Pelham for xc and its just makes him bounce :p long reining is a big no, he's ace in the school but drags me out hacking. Vet has said not to lunge as he needs to go in straight lines.

I think I'll just go for it and at first keep to routes I know he finds less excitable and hold on tight. I planned to just do 10- 15mins to begin with anyway or should I do less?

Thanks for advice everyone.
 
Go "hacking" around the yard. A while back I boarded at a place which was literally in the middle of a city, so hacking out was impossible. When rehabbing a horse, we would just ride them at a walk around the yard.
 
What do you mean he won't walk in hand?! This is a basic ground work problem - if he hasnt got the trust in you as his leader to be able to walk next to you calmly its no wonder he wont do it with you sat on his back - hes on red alert for danger all the time.

So Id use this as a golden training opportunity :D

Sort out your body language and his - so when you go to set off with him somewhere, he takes the first step - you indicate with your rope hand which direction you wish to go and wait for him to take a step before you move your feet. If he doest go use your other hand to put pressure on him - ie tap his hind end. Once youve got movement set off at a determined pace - he keeps up with you he doesnt over take or slow you down. When you stop do so like you've hit a brick wall, he should stop instantly - one hoof movement more than yours and he gets backed up 3 or 4 steps.

Once this is sharp start on moving his hind end away, then his front end etc - then start taking him out utilising these rules!
 
Use it as an oppotunity to get him long-reining properly. My TB is coming back into work at the moment, and although I could walk her in hand, she's a bit of a slug in hand but on the long-reins gets more into "work" mode. Great exercise for me too, up and down the hills we have round here! I've found long-reining invaluable for bringing her back into work, and I think it's something that all horses should be taught at an early age so that in the case of injury and having to come into work slowly, it's already something that's easy and not exciting for them. I also think it's safer for the handler than leading in hand.
 
I should be more clear, he is fine to walk in hand 99% of the time but I would not want to lead him down the main road (no way to avoid it sadly) just in case for that one day he's being a knob. Its not a training issue he's just an excitable little chap and on the odd occasion he has one on him its like walking a racer down to the start. He's not naughty in the slightest just sometimes his brain which consists of 3 marbles wizz around his head too much and wind him up. Its the same issue with long reining 99% of the time he's fine but sometimes he's an idiot and I don't want that coming out on the road and him ending up under a car.

I think I'll try going up and down the drive a bit and gradually venture a bit further out the gate. Will also give hacking around the yard a go as I don't even think he'll find that exciting. :L
 
Fools Motto said:
I'd just get on and go as normal. He has been out in the field, and hasn't had 'that' much time off. Not like he has been on box rest for months.
Enjoy! He is a clever horse, very unlikely he will hurt himself jogging. Start with 20/30 mins though and not hours!
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I think the only option you have is this.
We had a horse that was not meant to do more than a trot(post fractured pelvis) and it galloped everywhere. Lived til it was 37! Just get on and see. Good luck
 
If there is a danger in taking him out in hand, fit a chiffney [high in mouth] lead out in hand using only long lead ropes on his bridle/heacollar/control headcollar, he must learn to walk in hand, but you also need the "emergency backup" to avoid . .... an emergency if out of the confines of the yard.
I have ridden hundreds of racehorses, and the first thing the learn when they arrive at the training yard is to behave in a clam and orderly manner. The worse ones are usually those previously ridden and / or handled by their owners who consider that exuberance = potential performance. It does not.

Long reining will keep you fit and build muscles round his frame. It will educate his mouth, so he wont "need" a flash / dropped/ grackle / mexican noseband, or any other contraption.
Wear a hard hat and leather gloves at all times and don't put up with any more nonsense.
Most horse will walk out hacking if kept behind the leader, some must lead however, just find a long long hill and keep walking up it.
 
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Either keep it short. Or, if you are concerned he'll strain something/ damage himself you could use valerian, or even a low dose of acp until he's fit enough to work in a way that keeps him occupied & therefore behaving.
 
how about trying some sedalin. I have the same problems bringing my mare back into work, I've been sticking to walking round the school as she is fine in there but when we hack out this takes the edge off as she doesn't see the point of short walks round the village and it just winds her up knowing she isn't going out for hours.
 
Teach him to walk when under saddle. Yes it's a long slow process but it can be done if you are patient with him and have a couple of weeks to commit to this walk training.
 
Honestly this is going to sound like in dismissing everyone is saying but I'm really not im taking it on board im just struggling to explain what Andy is like.

He's got a ridculously sensitive mouth so I wouldn't put a chifney in him, when he's silly being led he isn't strong but jogs and swings his bum around which is why im worried about traffic as they drive like maniacs. He's been taught to lead and leads beautifully but of something frightens him etc he'll get wound up which is his instinct and imo not easily trained out of him. Especially with riding, he's 100 times better than when I got him where no one could lead him to or from the fields and after just 20 mins hacking your arms would be killing where he would just want to go all the time. And for the record he has a beutifully soft mouth no flash, grackle, martingale or gadgets needed and that is down to his training as 2 years ago he would have needed it all. Training only goes so far and eventually it just boils down to the fact he is sharp and quirky and enjoys himself and it is unlikely it would be trained out of him, its just him and I have accepted that.

I'll give him a go without the sedalin at first and see how he is then if I still think he's going to harm himself then I might give it a go.
 
A chiffney is not going to make him fussy in the mouth, it is only there as a back up in an emergency. You can slip it in with a headcollar when leading.
Otherwise lead in a bridle with a long lead rein, but remove the bit before you turn out in to a field, as he may take off with bit still clamped in teeth.
 
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I understand K what he is like, my TB is similar. I cannot walk him out in hand after being on boxrest for any more than 4 weeks (I have tried everything). He plants and rears every few steps, even with a bridle/chifney/2 lines/parelli training & headcollar and this is from the moment he is half out of the stable door.

I am expecting the same when I have to get on him in 2 weeks after 4 weeks box rest for a slightly tweaked tendon. I have been told to ride for 20 mins to start with and build up from there, would never just go for it even if they have been turned out! (was on box rest prior for a fracture, got turned out but never go to the ridden point).

I am considering moving yards for the short term so I can plonk him on a horse walker as he is fine on those (vet has also suggested it as a possibility). failing that if I have to ride I will be doping him up on either valerian or forking out for Zylkene calmer as this is the only known to calm him a little. If I have to turn him out after time on box rest I have to get the vet to sedate him and walk fast as he can fight an entire tube of domesedan (tried that) and then goes skywards all the way to the field.... I normally only ride him after a week of 24/7 turnout.
I might need the valerian too!

My only suggestion is to try a bunch of calmers, one will work hopefully (magnesium based ones do not work for Red, they send him more loopy). Good luck :)
 
You said he's ace in the arena so why can't you do walking around the yard and in there. Make a loop including the arena. Put some ground poles down to get him focused and picking up his legs.

FYI, I agree with your take on walking him in hand down a major road. You know your horse so I don't think you need advice in that department. Why all horses absolutely have to be perfect is beyond me and sometimes it makes them worse. Work with the individual horse as OP seems to do. Long lining if you're not very confident can be a disaster.

Ponying is great. Well I call it ponying. Riding one out and leading the other. Again can take a little getting used to.

Best of luck
Terri
 
indie999 said:
I think the only option you have is this.
We had a horse that was not meant to do more than a trot(post fractured pelvis) and it galloped everywhere. Lived til it was 37! Just get on and see. Good luck
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I think there's an element of discomfort or remembered discomfort with horses like this. Is there anywhere you could jog him in big circles so he knows he's not 'going anywhere' and will eventually relax when you give with your hands?
 
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