How to get ex racer used to big open spaces?

[zoon]

I have recently bought an ex racer. She has had some time off and is now gently lunging and schooling. I'd like to get her out hacking, but we only have off road hacking (never thought I'd moan about that!) Tried taking her out with another sensible horse and she was great on the little lane that leads down there, but as soon as her feet touched grass shes was jogging and cantering sideways. So, how do you get them to be sane in open spaces? Working in the school getting her used to aids from my seat, but generally brakes seem good anyway.

 

[TheMule]

If you're confident sitting on her when she's playing up then just repetitive hacking at walk as much as you can. If not, riding and leading off another horse can really help to settle them or long reining if she does that happily in the school.

Good luck!

 

[zoon]

in company or on her own? Not sure if the other horses wind her up (even though they are sensible)?

 

[hannahmurphy]

Just practice! Keep taking her out, sometimes walk on the grass, sometimes canter, sometimes trot ... repeat, repeat, repeat until she learns it's at your speed & not hers. She'll understand soon

 

[TheMule]

in company or on her own? Not sure if the other horses wind her up (even though they are sensible)?

In company with sensible horse is normally more useful as it gives her some security but if she's confident on her own thats fine too

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

Personally I would hack her out every day for 6 weeks. That way she will learn very quickly what is expected of her and you get to build on what she is learning. You will have sticky days but sit up, sit light and if possible do transition work out on a hack, when she goes to jog make her stand, then walk on, if she jogs again, stand, and then walk on... they soon get the message- just make sure she is safe enough and isn't likely to rear! You need to teach her to walk on tracks, then build in walk and trot. Only when you truely trust her out on a track should you canter her. At the moment it sounds like it could blow her mind!

And remember- ABORT THE FOETAL POSITION!!!

 

[amage]

Agree with everything everyone else has said but also when she starts jigging around do not take up a firmer contact.

 

[Waffles]

I would definitely just stick to a walk for about 6 weeks - can you go out with a very quite hairy cob or something like that that won't wind yours up at all - a sort that doesn't ever want to canter?

 

[bumblelion]

Keep taking her out, remain in walk, keep a light contact. She'll soon learn.

 

[Miss L Toe]

She will naturally get ready for the off if you tighten the reins, so learn to sit relaxed with the hands quiet, don't worry if she jigs about, just sit light, do plenty of groundwork so she knows she is learning new things, trotting poles, leg yield, long reining to make her soft in the mouth.
If she has been in training she will be have learned to canter by holding her head at the rump of the one in front, so try going out with a safe type who will canter quietly, walk back and do it again, walk back and do it again., this time upsides, on a relaxed rein [bridged reins]with your hands on the withers.
You can revert to normal riding BHS style when you are both happy to do so, but at an early stage she may expect to increase the pace when you gather her up. It is safest to canter up a hill rather than try to hold her on the flat.

 

[trottingon]

Never mind trying to find a "hairy cob the sort that doesn't even want to canter"!!! The only two hairy cobs on our yard are loony-tunes, I wouldn't hack out with them if you paid me!!!
OP I'm sure there must be a plod you can go out with, whether warmblood, hairy or ex-racer, who will give your horse the confidence it needs to calm down. It will just take time. Good luck!