Is anybodys horse better at hacking....

[skydancer]

ALONE?

My girl is a funny mare in the Summer she is absolutely fine to hack with others but come Winter she is a nightmare - she gets so xcited and wants to gallop everywhere and strops when you dont let her ( i think it is from hunting all her life) When she hacks on her own she is so much better behaved , in fact we can go out for hours yep she will spook quite a lot but nothing terrible its almost like she prefers the one to one relationship. So, as title is anyone elses horse better hacking on their own?????

 

[NU ABO]

No, not really.... he's pretty much the same alone or in company.

Thought, to be fair, he's better on his own than he is with horses he doesn't know well.
We bumped into some people from a yard next to ours and decided to go the rest of the hack together. My boy got so excited and strong and just wanted to go off and play.
Doesn't do it when we just go past other people. He has a good look at them and he doesn't go silly about it.

 

[Pedantic]

I think we are better on our own, as he will do anything and go anywhere, see my youtube vids, he will ride ok in company, but when it comes to cantering it can tend to be whooooo hoooooo head down strong up the backside of the one in front and he tends to forget I'm there, he will go nicely if we are in front, I wouldn't dare take him hunting though.

 

[Shutterbug]

Yes, my boy is definitely better on his own than in company - hes solid and doesnt spook when we are alone - other horses, he tends to feed off their general insecurities - you know, the "if hes scared of it I should be" thing - daft bugger Oh and when hes with other horses, he thinks he is a racehorse

 

[winkles]

Yes!
He's lazier but better mannered in company. Will go for miles on his own, can be looky but isn't spooky

 

[HashRouge]

I like hacking on my own better because then I can pick where we go and when we canter . My girl is good in company too, but we tend to get exiled to the back because she kicks. It's fine when we're just walking as she's a bit of a slow coach, but she ridiculously quick in canter (she's got the Arab turn of speed) and it's a right pain having to keep her behind a slower horse. I can usually stop, but it's nice to let her go at her own pace . There is a new bridleway near us though that is wide enough for us to overtake in canter, so that's pretty cool .

 

[Hen]

Both of my mares are always nicer to hack on their own - but they are amazing hacks anyway; I think when we have company they want to 'take responsibility' for those they are leading out and that makes them less relaxed.
My gelding is not a horse I would enjoy hacking alone - he has no bravery. Amazing wonderful horse, but not a brave one.

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

Yup, mine is better on her own. I went out with two of my friends yesterday and they wanted to canter on the grass verge beside the lane, which is fine as i canter there too. They went first and I wanted Hattie to wait as she tends to race and she started bucking and stropping and then fell down on the ground forward. This is why I always put knee, brushing and over reach boots on her. If we were on our own, it would have been fine- we could have galloped for all i care but with others..nutcase. No fun rides for us as she always wants to race everyone, even at a walk!!

 

[Shantara]

Ned...no, hacking alone doesn't happen...yet!

Archie...yes! I'd say so. He's good all the time, but he's so chilled on his own

 

[JFTDWS]

my old lad is lovely to hack alone or in company, but he's slightly more forward alone - and I prefer to be alone than in company as it means we make our own rules and don't have anyone else to hold up

 

[Isabeau]

In general, my rides are better in a group if I want to walk/trail ride. But if I am 'hacking' (which in the USA probably means trot/cantering and NOT moseying) they are better alone. In a group they tend to get wound up once the tempo/speed increases.

I have access to varied 'hacking' and trail riding, so I can always slow down the spooky nit wits by taking them on narrow, rocky, steep hilly terrain. I find steep hills dampen 'nit-wit' enthusiasm quite well.

By and large I ride alone as I can rarely persuade my ring bound comrades to load up on the trailer and venture outside the 'sand box.'

 

[Snowysadude]

Maybe a little he doesn't plant when on his own, but will try it on in company! Other than that there is not much difference

 

[StormyMoments]

yes but that may be because my friends mare (who is only 14.2) doesnt tend to keep up with him when he is on a mission understandably and when i ask him to slow down or stop to wait for her he argues and gets pissed off and just buggers about and then carries on a mission and also cantering, he likes to be infront but he tends to just go and then other people get left behind so if i let them infront to "set the pace" he throws him self around and rodeos, bucks and just generally throws a hissy fit so its easier to hack alone so i dont have to worry about anyone else! also he seems to be braver on his own and will go anywhere i ask where as with other horses he tends to be cautious

 

[mirage]

Knobberpony is the best hack you could wish for,she isn't spooky or silly and both my 6 year old and 7 year old hacked her off the lead rein from the first day we had her.She isn't frightened of anything on the road and I can put my 6 year old on her in a 40 acre field with sheep,quads,tractors,beast and she'll not run off or act the goat.We usually hack alone,but in company she is still very good,just likes to be at the front and is slightly more forward going than when she is on her own.She hunts like a dream too.

When my girls have moved on to faster ponies,I'm going to keep her for myself.

 

[monkeybum13]

My mare will go past anything out hacking on her own.

When she's out hacking with her 'husband' she stops and makes him "save her" by walking infront. She doesn't do anything naughty, just waits for him to take the lead

 

[icyfreya]

Haha...noooo...complete angel in company, complete nightmare on his own anyone want to swap?! i never have anyone to hack out with so if anything i'd rather have a horse that doesn't hack in company.

 

[LaurenM]

My mare is near enough the same in company & alone. My gelding is an entirely different story!

 

[fallenangel123]

My old girl was great on her own but impossibly dangerous out in company. She would behave like a giant spaz, spooking across the road, cantering on the spot, bucking, jogging all the time, horrendous! Fine in the school with others tho, and a lovely ride out on her own, forward going and confident.