How to teach a horse to hack alone?

[Tori3610]

I bought a 7 year old gelding 3 weeks ago and he has done absolutely nothing so I’m starting him from scratch. He had never been for a hack in his life so I started off leading him down the road, then driving him, and he was absolutely brilliant, especially for being on his own. I then decided to ride him down it and I got him down quite far before he spun around and wanted to go home. Every time I tried to turn him back around or just ask him to stand he would start hopping and leaping forward, nearly throwing me out of the saddle. I got off him and lead him down a bit further before getting back on but he still wouldn’t go forward so we just went home. At our yard we have no one to hack with so we can’t even get him out with another horse to show him it’s not scary. Does anyone have any advice? I’m anxious about taking him out again as I’ll be waiting for him to spin round and I’ll be transferring those nerves to him. Any advice is greatly appreciated thanks

 

[MotherOfChickens]

do you have anyone that can come with you on foot? or on a bike? he may just need a bit of a lead to begin with. also, are you able to do circular routes? Can't tell from your post whether youve been leading him down and back in a straight line.

 

[Follysmum]

If you have no one at all to hack with for confidence I would get someone to walk on foot with you. I am doing this with a friend at the moment as she is having problems hacking alone.

I walk so far with her in front then after a while I slowly lag behind and let her carry on. This has been working really well.

 

[Skib]

You did right. But all too soon.Lead and drive then ride with a foot soldier. But little by little and covering more and more of the route. That is what is done t our yard. But it is easier if you have a lead horse and regularly switch

 

[scats]

I hack everything alone. First few times, see if you can enlist a foot soldier and do a small circular route. Then build it up to having your foot soldier for back up, but try setting off alone (ask your foot soldier to follow on a little way back) but stick to the familiar circular route.

 

[Carrottom]

I agree circular routes are best if possible, do the whole thing in hand first. Then lead out and mount after half way to ride home. Also mounting and discounting when there aren't any problems can help.
When we bought one horse I think I spent more time leading in the first month. The other important thing is always go out when you have plenty of time, never be in a rush.

 

[DD]

this is what i am doing at the moment teaching my horse to hack alone. little and often circular route if possible and lots of rewards. even leading in hand can give confidence to the horse. just 5 or 10 mins to start with will do I appreciate that you have to turn round to go back home but so long as you don't always stop in the same place I find it isn't a problem
then just build up from there go slowly and don't always keep pushing for a longer distance do 15 mins one day 30 mins the nest then back to 10 mins . so far its going good with ,mine hope this continues.

 

[DD]

I agree circular routes are best if possible, do the whole thing in hand first. Then lead out and mount after half way to ride home. Also mounting and discounting when there aren't any problems can help.
When we bought one horse I think I spent more time leading in the first month. The other important thing is always go out when you have plenty of time, never be in a rush.

totally agree

 

[The Trooper]

If you have no one at all to hack with for confidence I would get someone to walk on foot with you. I am doing this with a friend at the moment as she is having problems hacking alone.

I walk so far with her in front then after a while I slowly lag behind and let her carry on. This has been working really well.

This is how I taught Bonnie to walk forward unled during backing whilst long reigning. I'd go with this if you are able to.

With my two i've just gotten on with it and kept them going forward, but neither of my two are the type to throw a proper tantrum with spins/rears/plants etc.

 

[luckyoldme]

I had a youngster a while ago and hated the feeling of relying on other horses to hack out.
I got her going by doing a lot of long reining. I suspect a more confident rider would have been able to get her going a lot easier...but we got there in the end!

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

Long reining with someone on foot, then alone then hacking in company, then progressing to someone on foot before going alone. I used to mix it up a lot too.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

My old lad was exactly as you describe yours OP when I got him, he'd done nothing but follow the bum ahead in a trekking centre and I couldn't get him to leave the yard alone!

What I did, after trying on my own and getting nowhere (except frustrated) I asked a professional to help.

She took us both right back to basics, to groundwork, doing stuff at home, walking around little obstacles, making him go away from my hand where you'd put your leg if you were riding, going forwards, backwards, picking up feet etc.

Then we progressed to leading him out in a halti/pressure halter, on his own. Then we put the saddle & bridle on and led him out solo, all the time praising and reassuring when he was a good boy. Then we led him out, all tacked up, and around half the circuit when we felt he was ready I hopped up and rode him home. (we always did a circular route NEVER out and back the same way, this is the worst thing you can ever do for a nappy horse!).

You have to build up the horse's trust, and reassure him that you a Herd Leader that he can trust. My trainer explained that in the wild, horses would never ever venture on their own away from the herd because if they did so they'd be making themselves specially vulnerable to predators who'd pick off a single horse away from the herd, and this underlying fear is what makes them not want to go solo, and that in order to feel safe a horse/pony would need a Herd Leader that would be able to reassure them and to be their defender if necessary, and this has to be the rider!!

3 weeks isn't long in the grand scheme of building up a relationship with your horse. He needs to see you as a good Herd Leader who will look after him when he's out on his own! When you change your mind-set to see it the horse's way, it affects your whole way of "being" as a rider and handler.

My trainer recommended Michael Peace's material, think he's got a website, he gives some excellent practical advice. If you DO decide to go for a professional, I would urge you to stay away from so-called "experts" who'll tell you all your horse needs is a good strong whip/spurs/lunging-whip-up-the-bum philosophy, because you're likely to do more harm than good; instead I would suggest you seek someone of the "Intelligent Horsemanship" i.e. Monty Roberts/Kelly Marks affiliation who should have the savvy and experience to be able to help you. (Please note, I'm NOT suggesting Parelli...... but that's another story!!).

Good luck! You WILL get there, you just have to, for now, be prepared to backtrack and put in the work at building trust between you both. We will wait to hear about your first solo hack! That will just feel sooohhh good, believe me.

 

[Tori3610]

My old lad was exactly as you describe yours OP when I got him, he'd done nothing but follow the bum ahead in a trekking centre and I couldn't get him to leave the yard alone!

What I did, after trying on my own and getting nowhere (except frustrated) I asked a professional to help.

She took us both right back to basics, to groundwork, doing stuff at home, walking around little obstacles, making him go away from my hand where you'd put your leg if you were riding, going forwards, backwards, picking up feet etc.

Then we progressed to leading him out in a halti/pressure halter, on his own. Then we put the saddle & bridle on and led him out solo, all the time praising and reassuring when he was a good boy. Then we led him out, all tacked up, and around half the circuit when we felt he was ready I hopped up and rode him home. (we always did a circular route NEVER out and back the same way, this is the worst thing you can ever do for a nappy horse!).

You have to build up the horse's trust, and reassure him that you a Herd Leader that he can trust. My trainer explained that in the wild, horses would never ever venture on their own away from the herd because if they did so they'd be making themselves specially vulnerable to predators who'd pick off a single horse away from the herd, and this underlying fear is what makes them not want to go solo, and that in order to feel safe a horse/pony would need a Herd Leader that would be able to reassure them and to be their defender if necessary, and this has to be the rider!!

3 weeks isn't long in the grand scheme of building up a relationship with your horse. He needs to see you as a good Herd Leader who will look after him when he's out on his own! When you change your mind-set to see it the horse's way, it affects your whole way of "being" as a rider and handler.

My trainer recommended Michael Peace's material, think he's got a website, he gives some excellent practical advice. If you DO decide to go for a professional, I would urge you to stay away from so-called "experts" who'll tell you all your horse needs is a good strong whip/spurs/lunging-whip-up-the-bum philosophy, because you're likely to do more harm than good; instead I would suggest you seek someone of the "Intelligent Horsemanship" i.e. Monty Roberts/Kelly Marks affiliation who should have the savvy and experience to be able to help you. (Please note, I'm NOT suggesting Parelli...... but that's another story!!).

Good luck! You WILL get there, you just have to, for now, be prepared to backtrack and put in the work at building trust between you both. We will wait to hear about your first solo hack! That will just feel sooohhh good, believe me.

Thank you so much, this answer has been so helpful! 😊

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Thank you so much, this answer has been so helpful! 😊

You are only 3 weeks in. Give things time, don't rush it, as what you do now is all about setting bedrock for your future together.

I know I harp on about Michael Peace but there are two, nay three things he says which I find helpful. Firstly:

"Think Equus". So basically that means adopting a mind-set which thinks as your horse does.

Secondly: "Make it easy for the horse to do the right thing". So you make the "correct" choice easy and reward the horse for making that choice.

Thirdly: "If you do what you've always done, you'll get the results you've always got". Sometimes you have to dare to think outside of the box, especially with horses!!

 

[Nudibranch]

My last 2 I've had to do totally on my own as we live in the middle of nowhere and OH has to look after our toddler while I'm doing horse stuff!

I ride and lead, then walk in hand, then long rein, then ride a circular type route (just don't turn round in the road). The current one isn't as bold as the previous so we are doing some walking/long reining out and riding home. That works well with more nervous types.

 

[Tarragon]

I am another advocate of a circular route that you do in hand first, and then start in hand and only mount near the end, then start to mount earlier and earlier in the ride until you are able to start mounted. Hacking alone is one of my prime requirements of a horse so I tend to not start by riding out with a nanny horse, though I can see that being helpful in some instances. I do like to ride and lead a real baby though, as it is a great way to introduce it to the big wide world.
Also, have someone walking or cycling with you, if you can. I think that sometimes, a low key ride where you chat away happily with a friend on foot, relaxes and settles the horse more than one where you are 100 focused on the horses.

 

[JoannaC]

With youngsters I always get them trotting and going forward until they start to feel settled and then come back to walk and go for as long as possible. I've always found the further you get away from the yard the more they are interested and less likely to nap.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Lots of good advice, a small circular route is ideal.
I walked mine out lots, then upgraded to long lined and then eventually rode. He then knew the route so it as no issue and we then added another circle onto the old small circular route etc. 4 years on, he'll ride anywhere on his own.

Someone on the ground will help.

 

[Santi]

Just started my three year old. Have only ever taken him out with another older horse. He is being very brave and good in traffic but there are some things he isn't sure about and then the older horse goes first. I think its difficult for a young horse to feel safe on his own. Definitely take someone on a bike with you at the very least. We are doing a short circular ride too. If you haven't got a circular road, you maybe try and invent a small loop somewhere at the end, to avoid turning in the road? He wasn't very good in the field/school, not very forward, so we went straight out on hacks. He is a much better ride after a month of hacks, (2-3 x week of 3km), much more obedient.

 

[Hack4fun]

I have had this too. Here is how I overcame it. I would get a few yards away on the road and she would stop, turn around and generally be really difficult. So I taught her that the way to go back was to go forward. When she took a pace forward for me I would ask her to turn and return. If she turned herself then I would turn her a full 360. The only way I would let her go back home was to take that step forward. When we did go back home I would go past our entrance rather than turn in, and she would stop a few yards down the road in the opposite direction. We would do the same thing again. In the beginning I only got 10 yards out of the entrance before this started. That didn't matter - the key thing was that she would not head for home until she responded to my request to take that step forward. Over time the 10 yards became 50 yards, then 100 yards and then 200 yards, and then we went for it and never looked back. That's how I overcame this.

 

[Dollbird]

I know I'm incredibly boring. But check teeth, back and tack are all ok. Don't rely on previous owner saying all ok. (sorry no offence meant to previous owners). Make sure feed/ routine re exercise is similar to previous home. Start off slowly, circular route if possible. Remember 15 minutes of positive work every day is better than nightmare hour now and again. I prefer to ride/stay on board,, but believe if necessary, getting off to show all is well is not failure. I am no expert, but my arab will go anywhere for me now, had him from 4, now 15. Take your time, choose your routes, and your battles. No such thing as giving in. Its choosing when and where to persist. Good luck,

 

[Gloi]

Go back to long reining out for a while. If you are confident long rein out on a circular route, then get on and continue.

 

[Mrs B]

Some great advice there - good luck and keep us posted.

(And when a horse really trusts you, they'll never hack alone again ... because you're with them.)

 

[Barton Bounty]

I am doing this with a friends horse just now, shes very spooky on her own but all the way round kept patting her and telling her she was a good girl, when she stopped at something i just let her look, grab her bearings and off we went again ♥️ Id upload the video but i dont know how lol

 

[albeg]

I am another advocate of a circular route that you do in hand first, and then start in hand and only mount near the end, then start to mount earlier and earlier in the ride until you are able to start mounted. Hacking alone is one of my prime requirements of a horse so I tend to not start by riding out with a nanny horse, though I can see that being helpful in some instances. I do like to ride and lead a real baby though, as it is a great way to introduce it to the big wide world.
Also, have someone walking or cycling with you, if you can. I think that sometimes, a low key ride where you chat away happily with a friend on foot, relaxes and settles the horse more than one where you are 100 focused on the horses.

I did this, and when he was happy with foot soldier alongside, we switched to going opposite ways around the loop so we met her a little over half way, where he started to get a bit worried, then he had his safety blanket back.

 

[twiggy2]

Start if you can by just hacking round his own field and back to the stable, ideally when other horses are out then work up to own field when other horses are in, then neighbouring fields and then all the fields when empty if possible. It can be very small steps to build confidence and he is still in a new environment with someone he does not know if he can trust just yet.
I would start with someone walking with me if I can use the field snap even then would possibly have a Walker depending on how confident the horse feels.

 

[sam72431]

My mare didn't like hacking on her own she was fine in company though. I started by going out in company on all of the various routes at the new yard and making her go in front! Then progressed to getting my other half on a bike in front, then I went in front of him then on our own. If ever she got worked up I got off and led her and then got back on so she realised it didn't get her anywhere and became quite boring! Did lots of this walking past things about 100 times until now she will go one her own even in the dark in the morning and is absolutely fine! So long answer short, time, repetition and patience

 

[Tori3610]

Thanks everyone for all the advice! The only thing about the foot soldier is I’d be worried he would get used to having someone beside him and therefore not want to go out without them. Am I just being paranoid? I used to have a horse that reared vertical when I took her out on her own so I can sometimes get a bit nervous 😅

 

[redapple]

You've had lots of solid advice here but just add about your concern about getting attached to the walker - You can do tricks to help with this like getting them to hang back more and more as the ride goes on, or start with them behind you once you've had a few good confident hacks out with them by her side.

I did, however, have a horse that when the walker was there she was okay but we always struggled to get her to go without. With her it was just a case of finding a hack or a place (for us it was off-road wood tracks) where I had all the time in the world and little danger to cars, getting in the way etc. to work with her. Once she started napping (in her case rearing and trying to turn back) the rule was she wasn't allowed to turn around. I didn't tell her off or reprimand her I just put pressure on with my legs/reins to get her facing the right way and then released. Eventually, it was a case of making 'doing the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard' and she started to move forward. The first few rides this took a while but now she's confident and easy to hack on her own. Took a bit of time but she's come so far that I'll even take her for a ride bareback.

 

[Tori3610]

Hi Guys, just a little update. We tried the foot soldier and he did the exact same thing, spun down and dragged me home then started to hop when I asked him to stand still. The foot soldier couldn’t even get a hold of him to lead him forward. Someone at the yard has offered to try and get him him down the road for me as she has more confidence than I do at the moment and I can be the foot soldier, does this sound good?