Older spooky horse and confidence advise

[Tronniehead]

Hi
Hi am a novice rider about 8 months in to a loan/share with a lovely old highland.
Who all though is gentle, is also sharp as a button and cheeky and mischievous. He is never nasty just a little testing.

My confidence has never been the greatest out on hacks but I am much better in company as is he. But would like to be able to get to the stage where we are both confident in each other to go it alone.

The times I have ventured out he stops and turns to look back, making me nervous, making him nervous and I get to freaked out I have to go back or do a 5 min rounder!

In the school I am fine but it gets boring and with my limited experience I am limited to what to do in there. I think he gets bored to as it gets harder to keep him forward. He jumps at his own shadow almost at times in the arena. But he has lead a shelter life now for many years. When I do get to go out on hacks with his companion he can still have his moments but its still always fine. But traffic no issue at all! Quads cyclists other horses big farm machinery nothing! But a twig snaps! He jumps backs up! But he does not bomb, just jigs about. But I worry he will!

Any advise greatly appreciated

 

[Tayto]

I would continue to hack out in company to help get your confidence up.

To start hacking alone, could you get someone to walk out on foot with you – this way, your horse will not be relying on following another horse and you will feel more confident having someone on the ground to chat to and keep you relaxed. This is what I did with my horse when I first got her – to start with my partner would walk out in front of us then he moved along side us and now he walks a good few yards behind us so it’s like we are out on our own. I got to a stage with my girl where we were hacking out for hours alone and we were both confident and could tackle most things. I recently moved yards so she has gone a bit nappy on me so I am having to go back to the start with her at the moment.....

You could also do ground work with him. At my old yard, I built a spook busting course where she had to walk over tarpaulin, through streamers, past umbrellas and various other scary objects. This was really helping our bond as she had to trust me to help her past the “scary” objects. In hand work in the school would also be good i.e. pole work etc.

If you feel confident enough you could also hack out in hand – some people would not recommend this but I do it with my girl. Also long reining would be good although I cannot offer advice on this as I have not mastered the art!

Good luck – I am sure with time and patience you will get there. With my first loan horse it took a good 10 months for me to gain confidence hacking alone and with my new horse that I recently bought, we are still working on it as mentioned above we have had a slight set back!

 

[Tayto]

It wont let me edit my post - but would also like to add that taking lead file when hacking in company is a good way to build your horses confidence. Start by taking lead file on the way home and then add in, leading out of the yard but swapping once on the route then swapping back when on the way home. Just build it up until you can lead a whole hack

 

[showjumper1998]

Try walking out in hand with him first few times just in a head collar or bridle, then when happy, try with tack on, again when happy try getting on fw minutes from home and gradually increase ensure you never let him be in control. You must always be incontrol!
Try this in company and alone
Good luck

 

[rach1]

I know exactly where you are coming from and my advice is stick with it. My boy is the same, 22 and he should know better! It took me at least year to really get to grips/be confident with him in all 'spooky' hacking situations. (He actively looks for scary trees/pieces of grass) Three and a half years on and I know him inside out and I'm happy that although he regularly spooks, 99% of the time I know what to expect of him. The school is a bit different for us as he's much worse than out hacking.

If he doesn't 'go anywhere' and just 'jigs' you sound like you need to get used to him and perseverance is key. Has he bolted/bucked/reared with you when he spooks? If he doesn't actually do anything apart from jump, from my experience you do need to take a brave stance, as the more you go through it the more confident you will be in his spook.

I found company out hacking helped a lot in the early days while I gained my confidence. I built up my solo hacking and although he's worse hacking solo, it's important to be able to do it. The days I go out solo hacking and he's a saint are worth more than anything else!!

Also, I would get an instructor over to help with flat schooling. Do some research and get someone local, explain the situation and ask them to help with his nervousness in the school. It will also help you gain knowledge of schooling activities and creativity in schooling. Any work you put into him in the school will reflect out hacking.

Good luck! I would recommend sticking with it as I love my boy for his quirks and spooks out hacking - no hack is boring!

 

[gembear]

Just wanted to say, i've been here and still am to some extent.

I've been riding for nearly 2 years, had my loan for 7 months. He's 17, bolshy at times and loves to act like the big man but out on a hack he's convinced a leaf is a ruthless monster.

It just takes time. Go on lots of hack with more experienced/confident riders, they're good at being a calming influence (in my experience) and this in turn makes the pony less anxious. It's hard to tell yourself to be less nervous when you are, but they can tell.

I've since been out hacking alone, which generally has been fine but it does take time for them to trust you.

Also do as much schooling as you can if possible, the more you keep the brain thinking the less chance they have to notice any invisible monsters. I've even done the odd schooling sesh out on a hack. And if your budget allows, lessons lessons and more lessons!

Just keep with it