How do you go about...

[Kellys Heroes]

...hacking out a horse you have never ridden before?
What do you do if they start to pratt about?
Got me thinking today as hacking out a friends horse who I know well and we had to go past a guy getting a strimmer out of a van - spook-worthy! - and with her, reins are to be left fairly long, barely a contact, and just ride her past it as normal.
However if it would have been Kelly, I would have had to gather my reins, stop, let her look, start from scratch ask her to walk and keep a contact.
If you've never ridden the horse before and they spot an equine munching monster, how do you go about it??
K x

 

[Damnation]

I try to judge what I am riding first and then after that its getting to know the horse and trial and error I am afraid.

 

[Kellys Heroes]

As are so many things to do with horses!
I suppose all you can do is sit tight and try not to flap about! I find it fascinating how different you have to react to the same thing on different horses
K x