How to get over a fear of hacking?

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I am petrified of hacking. Like I will do it if forced or have my brave pants on. Think it stems from me falling off at canter and rolling down a very steep hill. I took my pony out for a hack last night and he was amazing but the second he does something I don't expect, I tense up and panic. How can I stop this? I don't want to hack out with anyone else because I'd feel like a burden.
 
I'm terrified too and I am having lots and lots of lessons on my boy with a good instructor. It's hard but baby steps is the only way and a bit of back up from a professional. I love my instructor because she doesn't push too hard and talks through my fears with me, helping me see how daft they are. Sometimes they are not and it's good to hear that too. Be kind to yourself and you will get there. I panic as well and ALWAYS lean forward.
 
You have taken the first step by admitting that you are not happy hacking, so congratulations. From here, things will get better.

Do you have an instructor that you could hack out with? Perhaps pay to hack out from a school? Meanwhile, start with small steps with your own horse. Go out for a walk in hand, do you have a friend that can accompany you on foot or on a bike? Start small - go out for 10 or 15 minutes in walk and reward yourself with a walk around the comfort of the school (or whatever else you and your horse enjoy in the school). Please, build up gradually - just try different routes, but don't go mad increasing the duration.

Ask around, is there someone bringing a horse back into work from injury? If so, they may well be pleased with some company as they will only be walking at first (trust me, I would and am doing this with a share horse).

When you feel comfortable, try a few strides in trot - and then transition back to walk. You can do lots of transitions, leg yielding etc while out on hack; keeps the horse interested and listening to you.

If you realise you have stopped breathing or are otherwise tense, start singing. Doesn't matter what - but it stops you tensing up and transmitting that to the horse (also gets them listening to you).

Oh, and there is absolutely no shame whatsoever in using a neckstrap - better to hold on to that than their mouth.

So, just take tiny steps towards your goal and you will get there.
 
I lean forward because I've heard so many horror stories of horses rearing on hacks. I know Alf would never dream of doing that but still. Yay for irrational fears.
 
I have confidence issues hacking and 12 months ago couldn't even hack my mare back and forward to the school I used (literally 2 minutes up a quiet country road). It's taken lessons, lunging her, walking her in hand round routes, being walked with, small routes only and OH on the bike to get me feeling ok to take her on my own. My mare is great, not perfect but sane and I just tell her as we go on our hacks how we look after each other. One of the things that's oddly helped me the most is realising that sometimes she is scared of things (mainly noises she can't identify like a dog behind a hedge) and she needs me to be positive and tell her it's ok - I've found if I do that (a little squeeze with the leg and rub on the neck) she settles. Take it slow, do everything you can to feel safer (BP, rstor/neck strap etc) and enjoy it. Best of luck.
 
This makes me so sad. The best times I've ever had are me and my horse out in the country, by ourselves. Don't feel like you are a burden, everyone has to gain their confidence somehow, it's just finding the right hacking partner to help you. Is there an instructor you could pay to come out with you hacking rather than a structured lesson? Hacking really is practice and building up enough confidence in yourself and your horse, to be able to deal with different situations as they occur. You will get there, it just takes time. Also whatever advice you are given it will depend a great deal on your hacking terrain, ie roads or open fields or best of all leafy tracks. Good luck, stay safe. Do what you are comfortable doing.
 
My mare and I have helped a lot of nervous riders and their horses to get out, hack and enjoy it and we've enjoyed it helping them, so if you can fund a sympathetic rider with a good nanny horse do this.

Tiny steps are best with no pressure to ride. To start with walk your horse out in hand and no, do not tack up. Do this along the same route several times, stop for little grazes and looking at views along the way and just enjoy being out with your horse and your friend. Eventually, when the sun is shining and the air is sweet you'll be walking alongside someone riding and you'll want to hop on, but no tack so you can't.

When the time is right and your desperate, your horse is chilled enough with the route pop a saddle on, but lead from the yard as usual but don't try to ride.

Take things slowly and only hop on if it feels right and if at any time you feel uncomfortable, hop off again and lead.

This has worked several times and the smiles I've seen from both horse and rider on that first enjoyable ride is worth diamonds.

Good luck and just enjoy.
 
I'm the same OP, after a few bad falls many years ago (what finished me off was a horse who bolted through a barbed wire fence into a field and then a week later bolted with me down the road, and then a pony I was on falling off a big bank/wall where we landed on a barbed wire fence with her getting a bleeding nose and a large gash to a leg). So I hate hacking too and have forced myself to go 5 mins down the road probably about 5 times in the past 8 years. I would be fine hacking out in company, but I dont have that option as I keep my horses at home and only I ride. I am desperately trying to make friends with some local riders who hack past occasionally so I can go out with them, but the thought of going out on my own is pretty terrifying. I've only recently started riding my current horse (who I've just backed) so as part of her education I have been leading her out in hand which I think will help. Hackings fun so its such a shame some of us hate it, and its crazy that I'll merrily gallop round a XC course etc. but walking down the road is now scary even though I used to hack out for hours on my own as a child!
 
Find someone to go with who wants a steady hack.

Seems very strange to me as I have hacked out regularly on my own since I was a child and never thought anything of it.
 
I'm another who worries about hacking! I think for me it's a combo of a loss of confidence and a fear of the horse running off if something happens and we part ways.

Today, my girl and I hacked for the first time completely on our own. When I bought her I knew she would hack alone like a plod. I watched her do it! With me she will spook (only a look, that's it, no real movement to speak of!) As she knows I've been a bit scared both generally and going out. We have built up by going up and down the track which is long but enclosed, where she cheeked me but we just kept doing it til we were both bored which meant it wasn't scary. She pranced and bounced and danced and called but it was all safe with gates and in the end I just decided that I trusted her, bounce or not. Things have been different since, we have a stronger bond and I feel quite safe. Today on our hack she was looky Lou so once onto the road we got into trot and kept a good rhythm. It was hot and she soon was very happy to walk and we walked on the buckle end. I can honestly say I had a brilliant time and feel very proud of myself for going. It feels like there's a big world out there now!

You CAN do it OP. If I can anyone can, and it's so worth it. Go somewhere enclosed if you can, your brain will know your horse is safe but you're still motoring somewhere new. Box up if need be! Lots of excellent tips above. Good luck!
 
You've taken the first step by admiting it to yourself that you're scared. I was absolutely petrified, still am at times, of hacking. I decided that I wouldn't pressure us both into something we didn't like. I'd go with others and we'd be fine but I couldn't quite bite the bullet and go it alone. I'd keep dreaming and imagining scenarios where I'd be out hacking with Rio and I remember just waking up one day thinking "sod it", got dressed, tacked up and went! I had one hand on the neck strap all the way and I still do now. We took a well ridden route and I told him stories the whole way and before I knew it, an hour later and we were back on the yard! Dont pressure yourself, take it easy and do what you want to do, you won't be a burden to anyone im sure they'd love to see you progress and get more comfortable hacking so you can all go further together.
 
I was like this when i first got my horse. We went right back to basics and sorted it from the ground up. for ages i rode in an australian stock saddle. This almost glues you to the horse and gives you the confidence to stay calm and reassure the horse. Although the saddle is old and now gathering dust i m not parting with it ..i will no doubt use it again when i get another horse!
 
Hacking is scary these days! It's a tough one, I used to be pretty scared but then I moved to somewhere with minimal roadwork and I have a few places to go but now my horse gets stressed because we haven't been out on our own much.

Have lessons to improve your seat so you will feel like you've got to necessary skills, and don't pressure yourself into cantering or even trotting if you don't want to, heck you can get off and lead your horse if you want! However long you are out for and wherever you go, even if it's just round the corner, you are OUT! Repetition repetition repetition. Tack your horse up, see how your nerves are that day, if you really feel awful and nerves do vary I find, you can stay at home and ride in whatever area you have at home, and maybe take your horse out in hand after, you might want to get on!

Stay within your comfort zone for quite a lot longer than you think is 'necessary' and soon you will be getting fed up and wanting to move on :-)
 
I sing... or talk to the horse im riding, makes me feel a bit better although when singing im completely out of tune and don't know half the words :D the latest is just humming GOT's theme tune!

But i would hack out with others if you are worried but make sure they know you want to go steady
 
Sing loudly! That's what i used to do and talk about shopping, how to make dinner. It gets your lungs working right and enough oxygen into your muscles. When nervous or tense we don't use most of our lung capacity so muscles tense.
 
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