caramel
Well-Known Member
We've been hacking out a lot recently, in order to bring the Handyman back into work after a longish layoff (8 weeks).
Normally we only go out with 1 or 2 other horses, and he's absolutely fine, goes off in front, he's quite a confident chappy really, however he's a TB and can throw some lovely TB stunts (spinning, backing off), he has a tendency to jog and pull, although he is getting better.
Today was our first hack in a big group (there were 5 of us), and I've changed his bit to a snaffle, so had some slight reservations. I need not have worried, as he was amazing! again he went off in front, striding out nicely, stopping and waiting, looking at everything (it's a route he's very familiar with). He was awesome! So relaxed.
Then we turned round and headed back, one of the other horses started playing up and was desperate to go back to the front, so we all stopped and let her past (was rather amusing, we've not been out with her before). Handy got all excited and started head tossing, jogging, going sideways, but he soon calmed down and gave her plenty of room, walking sensibly to join her! I was very surprised that he didn't try more to catch up! He led the whole way home too
Was a real proud mummy moment, first hack in a big group and he was amazing! Felt great too (if a little bit stiff).
This was a horse, who, buy previous owners was labelled as 'unrideable' and dangerous, my theory is he hadn't been retrained properly, and they simply were inexperienced with ex-racers straight out of training, which is probably why they had so many issues.
What's nice is that he's changed peoples ideas about ex-racers and TB's in general, some people on the yard were a bit sceptical and assumed because he was a TB he was going to mess around/gallop off. He's actually really safe and sensible, getting more confident by the day and not a lot fazes him. Got a lot more hacking lined up for him, and I really couldn't be happier, he was happily splashing through puddles,and showing everyone else the way
Choccy brownies for all
Normally we only go out with 1 or 2 other horses, and he's absolutely fine, goes off in front, he's quite a confident chappy really, however he's a TB and can throw some lovely TB stunts (spinning, backing off), he has a tendency to jog and pull, although he is getting better.
Today was our first hack in a big group (there were 5 of us), and I've changed his bit to a snaffle, so had some slight reservations. I need not have worried, as he was amazing! again he went off in front, striding out nicely, stopping and waiting, looking at everything (it's a route he's very familiar with). He was awesome! So relaxed.
Then we turned round and headed back, one of the other horses started playing up and was desperate to go back to the front, so we all stopped and let her past (was rather amusing, we've not been out with her before). Handy got all excited and started head tossing, jogging, going sideways, but he soon calmed down and gave her plenty of room, walking sensibly to join her! I was very surprised that he didn't try more to catch up! He led the whole way home too
Was a real proud mummy moment, first hack in a big group and he was amazing! Felt great too (if a little bit stiff). This was a horse, who, buy previous owners was labelled as 'unrideable' and dangerous, my theory is he hadn't been retrained properly, and they simply were inexperienced with ex-racers straight out of training, which is probably why they had so many issues.
What's nice is that he's changed peoples ideas about ex-racers and TB's in general, some people on the yard were a bit sceptical and assumed because he was a TB he was going to mess around/gallop off. He's actually really safe and sensible, getting more confident by the day and not a lot fazes him. Got a lot more hacking lined up for him, and I really couldn't be happier, he was happily splashing through puddles,and showing everyone else the way
Choccy brownies for all