How else can i teach him to stand calmly when out hacking?

[kaiko]

I finally got my 17hh ISh out yesterday for the first time in a few months. I only got him last summer so we're still working on things and yesterday's lesson was centred on hacking alone.

He has been known to nap and throw out the odd rear when he's throwing a mother of all strops, he also hates to stand still.

Things were going ok, he was tense and looky but listening to me chatting away to him, dealt with the neighbours killer dogs charging the fence etc. Then he plants, we turn in circles and i push him out the direction i wanted in the first place and continue - this works!!!

We went up and down the lane several times, past my gate the other way etc, turning where i asked etc..... quite pleased with the odd stop and circling when he napped.

But, when asked to stand still he starts backing up and then results in little hoppy rears. The first time he felt nervous so i talked to him and pushed him on but by the third time he was taking the mick so got a whack on the rump and that moved him on.

I then started half halting him calmly and standing for a few seconds before allowing him to move off. I'm going to keep practising this as he needs to learn but is there anything else i can do to help with the standing/nappy issue?

Well done for getting this far

 

[OWLIE185]

The facrt that you hav not ridden him since last year will not help. I would suggest that your horse needs to be ridden out each and every day as this will calm him down long term and he will hopefully eventually chill out. Start with short hacks and then extend up to several hours each day.

 

[kaiko]

I totally agree. Thankfully with the lighter nights that is now an option and in truth i was really chuffed with him. I was expecting to come back in tears of frustration or injured lol.

Fingers crossed I can slowly overcome his napping issue as i only can only hack out with company on rare occasions. I never realised how much I took my old mare's perfect behaviour for granted.

 

[Vixstar]

I'd like to see what advice your given as I have a simular issue.

I hack out (alone - no one else rides at the yard) about once a week/fortnight and he can be very nappy. Two weeks ago he planted his feet, spins and/or backs up really fast into ditches, trees etc! Stupid pony! I got really firm with him and even though he is really stubborn he did walk on again. Took him out last week, and he had a little moment right at the beginning but I didn't give him the chance to spin round and he did walk on - and was good the rest of the hack (Major breakthrough!). But if I had to stop him, I know he would refuse to go forwards again. Or he will stop, then do a jig on the spot and getting anxious and trying turning for home... advice please!

 

[kaiko]

Sounds like my boy. At one point i looked at a hedge below me and thought "at least it's softer than the floor if land on it".

What was harder was trying to explain to a group of walkers why i was going up and down the lane on this crazy horse. They looked horrifed while he danced about and being quite big i can only image how it looks from the floor. Even the local farmer looked bemused by my repeated laps of the lane

I think it's just consistancy, repetition and balls, i'll admit i was a tad nervous before i got on him. Good luck with your boy Vixstar.