How do you get over the fear of cantering or galloping on hacks

[cobalobM]

Horse bolted with my last summer and I came off right next to a road, didn't want to get on a horse for a couple of months but got a new share and have cantered on a hack once- although was v.v.scared and she was a bit strong but I could tell she wasn't going to take off. Im sitting here watching youtube videos of people galloping on hacks so casually, if that was me I would be shaking like a leaf! I have had a couple of good gallops on a beach when we went on holiday- but obv that was riding school horses who knew their job.

anyway anyone ever had a fear like this? I want to go for a nice long canter soo bad, or maybe one day even a gallop, just don't see it happening

 

[ladyt25]

Sorry, don't know the answer but do you have any gallops near you you can use/hire? They are great places to have a good run (go with someone on a nice, steady companion). Means you can just let go and go with it - you know the ground's ok and you have a long way before you have to stop!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I think you need mebbe to take this in small chunks? I'm not too confident a rider if I'm honest with myself, but one of the reasons for that is because I've got a weak knee on one side, so know that I'm not always terribly secure in faster work, and jumping is out of the question.

But instead of thinking "I MUST gallop/canter" etc., why not aim for a few paces of canter, in a safe place like a school. Then you could progress to perhaps a few paces in a slightly more challenging environment out on a hack, like a bridlepath, where you are not in the position of being out in the middle of open space.

I've always had "safe" horses, up till now anyway, which meant that I never really had to deal with any of the issues that a lot of people had; then I got a horse that could and did throw in a nifty little buck occasionally, and that did dent my confidence a bit TBH coz you never knew when it was coming. Hence I never relaxed into canter, and the horse, of course, picked straight up on that. Result, vicious circle.

I broke it by asking a knowledgeable friend, who's helped me a lot with my current horse, to come out for a hack with me. She boxed her horse over, and off we went. Soon I was cantering and hooning along like a loon. It just needed someone else there who knew my confidence-level and wasn't going to scare the living daylights out of me, BUT she did challenge me and took me to a new confidence level where I was perfectly OK to canter across a green field in the open!!!

So, I'd recommend a good instructor. Be honest with them and ask them to take you out for a hack and help you deal with the issues. OK so you may have to start out by staying in the school, but there's nothing like being out on a hack and progressing into faster work, for building up your confidence. And be gentle with yourself too! A few paces of canter where you're feeling OK and confident, is better than nothing.

Go for it!!

 

[Shantara]

When I started hacking Ned alone, I literally had NO clue if I had breaks or not. I've also been tanked off with and bucked off (not from Ned) and that shook me right up, even though it happened 10yrs ago.

I know how you feel. I would see pictures and videos of friends galloping with no issue and I felt totally left out!
I mostly walked and trotted him, but one day I felt brave and decided to let him go in a space where I knew he couldn't go far or jump anything. He was perfect! I didn't even have to pull the reins to stop, I just sat up and used my voice, I was so proud of him!

Are you by yourself that you're having trouble, or can you go with someone?

 

[metalmare]

Go out on your own, so that you don't feel your horse's attention is elsewhere or that other people are setting the speed and choose the right place, which should be in an ideal world:

- long enough so you have plenty of room to stop
- away from a road
- away from anything off putting like ditches or rivers
- uphill so you feel the horse is slowed a little and so the horse will naturally feel more balanced

Then relax, ask your horse to go and take your weight out the saddle. Don't hold too tight to your horse's mouth so he isn't tempted to pull against you.

Maybe at first just count 5 canter strides then come back to trot and build up from there.

 

[Mahoganybay]

I could have wrote this post! I too am nervous cantering on hacks, the last time I tried with my friend & her horse the big lad bucked me off! He gets excited & I just can't sit his massive bucks!

Am ok in the school, even have started jumping lessons to get my seat sorted but am still nervous out on hacks!

Took him out tonight with the purpose of having a canter across a field and bottled it, I was so worried he would buck again! My problem is I have such a defensive seat when asking for canter out on a hack it's no wonder he bucks.

We have a local gallop which I am going to take him with a steady friend but I have nervous sweats at the thought of it! Need a serious kick up the bum!

 

[Pigeon]

I agree, the trick is to go somewhere with loads of room, so it doesn't matter even if you can't stop!!

 

[YorksG]

I think hacking out with others that you trust is the best way forward. If you know that your companion and their horse are safe and reliable, you can relax a lot more. Don't go out with someone who is so gung ho that they will not understand your problem, but not someone who is also nervous. It may help to put the other horse in front of yours, so that there is a natural barrier to stop yours running off

 

[Shantara]

Maybe at first just count 5 canter strides then come back to trot and build up from there.

Also this

The first time I galloped up the "big hill" I let him go to the top of the hill, then checked him at the top and when I realised I had control, I let him go again

 

[ladyt25]

Whereabouts are you?

 

[emandbee]

As said above, having a reliable friend is invaluable. My mare isn't easy to stop and likes to be first, so having someone that can let me go first and can pull up easily is so important. My first big canter was up a decent hill, so she was knackered at the top! It will take time but you'll get there

 

[jumpingjasper]

Are you worried about cantering in a school/enclosed feild? If not then think about the hack as schooling. ask for lots of transitions, get her listening and before you know it (in a safe place obviously) u have asked for a trot canter transition and your cantering.... Then bck to trot and if still safe back to canter bck tp trot ect.

 

[Gusbear]

I'm at that stage at the minute. Bought my boy who was much loved by his previous owner but only sold as he tanked off on her once and scared her silly.
I've only cantered/galloped him once and I was frozen solid with fear. Friend took off unannounced on his hunter, my boy did the piaffe special dance followed by a capriole to canter and then took off like a bat out of hell after them. Cue me hanging on akin to a rider in a Thelwell cartoon and off we went a great speed passing aforementioned friend and his steed with little me clinging onto the breastplate with my ample bottom bouncing up and down and legs akimbo trying to ride what I can only describe as a stampeding elephant.
Thankfully my trusty stead ran out of puff at the top of the hill or else we'd still be galloping wildly across the south east of England.
Since then I've been too scared to go anywhere past a good working trot for fear my neddy would again enjoy the feel of the wind in his face and take off into the sunset.
I've found a good instructor and I now have good foundations laid in our flat work and our half halts work just as well on hacks as they do in the school. As soon as my brave pants arrive in the post then I'll attempt a canter on a hack (dutifully assisted by a pelham for emergency brakes if required).

 

[FestiveFuzz]

It's so reassuring to see others who have this same issue. Like the OP I too had a nasty fall whilst out riding a friend's horse who just didn't want to stop and since then I've had a fear of cantering whilst hacking and even just riding in wide open spaces even though with my old horse I used to do both frequently.

What I've found to work is just taking things slow and not putting pressure on myself. Lots of transition work in the school and when hacking I've been actively seeking out open spaces just to walk and trot in and prove to myself that it's not as scary as my mind makes out. I'm already feeling the urge to try a little canter the next time we're out which is a huge leap from the usual quivering jelly feeling I get when I think about cantering when hacking out.

 

[Waffles]

I'm not sure what to advise - years ago I had an ex racer, whom, if you asked him to canter, you'd get red mist flat out, smash through whatever was in front of you (he'd only flat raced) - really, really dangerous. Started riding him bitless and that helped amazingly as he would lean on the bit. When, years later after a few years break, I came to buy another horse, I was looking at thoroughbreds as I thought they were not only wonderful, but could get one quite cheaply off the track, as it were. Anyway, tried a couple out, but felt scared *****l*ss. Decided on welsh sec D instead.... still plenty of speed but not the red mist thing. If it's any consolation, the last time I fell off (a few months ago) we were plodding along a bridle path, my horse stepped into some twigs, got his legs tangled, and next thing I knew I was flying through the air backwards over the cantle (and I think my seat is quite good) - taught me that accidents and danger doesn't have to be at a fast speed!

 

[cobalobM]

Thanks guys Im fine cantering in the school, its just out on hacks!

A couple of weeks ago was the first time I had cantered on a hack since I had been taken off with and ended up in a bramble bush next to a road it was on my share who I know wont do anything silly! I was behind another sensible horse and it was fine, but because I was nervous I was sort of pulling on her mouth as soon as she cantered so she pulled against me, but we did stop and did have breaks, but im still so nervous!!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Go out with a mate with a horse with great brakes, plan it in advance, where you're going to start/stop. It really helps to do this. I went out with a kid who insisted on galloping past me, I tried to hold back my mare as we were running out of field and got bronced off having flown up in the field. Totally broke my confidence.

 

[Clava]

Thanks guys Im fine cantering in the school, its just out on hacks!

A couple of weeks ago was the first time I had cantered on a hack since I had been taken off with and ended up in a bramble bush next to a road it was on my share who I know wont do anything silly! I was behind another sensible horse and it was fine, but because I was nervous I was sort of pulling on her mouth as soon as she cantered so she pulled against me, but we did stop and did have breaks, but im still so nervous!!

What about cantering in a field before out on hacks? That way you can test your brakes in a bigger area but not out in the open.

I would also suggest going with a trusted friend

 

[Kat]

I would find a friend or instructor who has a calm controllable horse who will go with you and be sensitive to your confidence.

I often volunteer my girl to accompany people who are worried about being tanked off with as I know she will stop when asked and won't go until told. Then I let the nervous person set the pace. I will go in front so they can use me for brakes and this normally goes well but I will go behind if they prefer. I will also go out with them and just walk or trot in canter spots if their horse tends to take off.

 

[Kat]

Also learn to bridge your reins and how to do a one rein stop

 

[Tilda]

I agree about going with a trust worthy companion and having lots of room. After a year of happily cantering and even galloping my horse he took off with me twice in a week once in the school and once on a hack and my confidence, which I had built up from rock bottom after my previous horse bolted and I nearly died, took a severe dip. Since then I have only cantered on hacks with my friend and her very sensible mare. We started off with me behind on a very enclosed track so we couldn't go past and we are building up slowly. I think the idea of hiring gallops is also a brilliant idea as you are unlikely to run out of room before pony runs out of steam!

 

[YardGeek]

When I lost my confidence after a serious back injury it took me a long, long time to build up the courage to do more than trot out hacking.

For me, I overcame it by firstly only riding with people that I fully trusted to be safe; secondly, putting in a lot of hours on the ground and schooling to develop a bond and trust the horse again; and finally, I took the pressure off myself!

I literally said to myself, "it doesn't matter what I'm doing as long as I'm enjoying it". Then one day we were riding through the common and I just said to my friend "lets go", and we went. From there we just took it a little further each time, a little faster, and I still have a clip of me going flat out (ex-racer) along the common with the biggest grin on my face!!!

It took me about 18 months to get there (inc 6 months without riding due to back injury!), but I kept well within my comfort zone and didn't push myself to 'be brave' as that's what caused all the problems in the first place!

Sometimes a little fear is a good thing

ETA... That was 5 years ago now and even on my most recent horse I didn't take him out until I 100% trusted him in the school! We even went on to hunt!!!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

The best place for me is uphill. My friend lost her nerve and near us is a curving uphill where the soil is actually just sandy (soil is sandy here but this is pure stuff) this takes all the oomph out of the horse that they can't go fast.

The same friend is doing a week long trail ride this week out in the wilds )))))

 

[TommisMum]

This thread could be me!!
the way I got over this was to go to a local riding school and have a canter hack. This proved to me that its me and my horse not me!!
Now I have 2 horses an 18yr old ex hunter and a 4 yr old CBx. I merrily canter the 4 yr old anywhere but the 18yr old......
took him on a fun ride and it was anything but fun. (Broken wrist to prove it)!
That said I canter etc happily in the school.
A professional friend is taking 18yr old to see where the brakes are.
Then we plan to go out together with me on my 4 yr old so I can see what she does (monkey see - monkey do!!) then it will be my turn.
With mine it also a case of teaching him green doesn't mean go which we have more or less conquered.
I say more or less as I haven't taken him into an open field on his own yet. But we will behave in company!

Good luck.

 

[skint1]

I'm a very novice rider so the last person who should be advising anyone but I can share my limited experience and what helps me.

I went through a stage last autumn when I very first started to ride my mare where if we went at a fast canter I would grab the front of the saddle and just drop the reins, my mare would just GO and I felt she was out of control, but once I let got of the saddle I found that a couple of half halts would bring her back, but even though I had no reason to be, I found sometimes I felt scared, even though in my case I had no reason to be, my horse is totally trustworthy, the problem is (in my case) always me.

1. Only go out with people you trust and who you know can control their horses
2. Canter up hills
3. No pressure, you don't HAVE to canter to have fun, you don't even have to trot
4. Maybe try a Western Saddle, when I was first learning my friend had one of those for the horse I learned on, really helped me a lot
5. Rescue Remedy because it relaxes your body thus relaxing the horse

 

[kinnygirl1]

Hi Am also a bit of a nervous rider and have been trying to regain confidence since a bit of a nasty fall back in Feb when my normally saintly boy bronked me off in the school. Would echo only going out with people you trust. I go out with my friend who has quite an elderly mare who is happy just to go at my speed. She goes in front when we have a canter and we trot until I feel happy. Also I only canter in places where I know there is no way we can end up near a road. Lastly, don't beat yourself up. Doing it when you are ready will bring much more reward than forcing yourself and getting scared. There is no rush.

 

[Jill Crewe]

agree with taking a babysitter who is sensible and sympathetic, only doing a few strides at first and building up and mainly taking the pressure off...don't plan to do it..just let it happen when it feels right

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

That's a good point about babysitter horse going in front, I did that with my friend,the uphill track wasn't really wide enough for her pony to pass mine so I was acting as an equine brake for her pony.