Someone up there hates me

Penny Less

Penny Less

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10 March 2009
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Been having trouble getting my horse out on a hack. We have a blind corner on a v narrow road where the village starts and if anything or anybody is round the corner horse digs his feet in and refuses to move or goes backwards. Could be a car parked, someone in their garden, or noise of children playing. Have to go this way to get out. I have done all the usual things to try and get him to go forward, but only time he really doesnt take notice is if I go out with another horse, which unfortunately doesnt happen often. Anyway the last time I got him out I trotted him straight out of the yard and got him round the corner before he realised! This morning those nice highways people have erected a road sign just outside the gate at horse eye level !Cleverly hidden behind a bush so it appears out of nowhere, so cant even get him out the gate at the moment.
 
if its not far, could you not just lead down and get on at the bottom? that way avoids a fight and you win and maybe he'll soon realise h's gotta go that way regardless!
 
Have led him out a couple of times and got on round corner, does work, but isnt that giving in ? Must admit easier that having a bit battle every time, but everyone says dont get off!
 
Getting off works for me - on my small cob that is. She is genuinely frightened, I hop off before she's even realised it, lead her past, hop on again and on we go. She actually gets better after repeated rides out alone anyway. I wouldn't worry about getting off - it might just give him confidence and build up good impressions of the world out there.
 
Get off and lead past, I presume you're in a position to hack fairly frequently so keep doing this to make it a non event , in time you'll find you can get on earlier and ealier.
 
Last edited:
alicemary said:
Have led him out a couple of times and got on round corner, does work, but isnt that giving in ? Must admit easier that having a bit battle every time, but everyone says dont get off!
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Its not giving in at all, your caring about the wellbeing of your horse. Isnt it better that you lead him past, he stays calm and happy then you hop back on and carry on your way? Its safer for you and other road users. I have done this in the past with my boy, when something new pops up, it make it a more enjoyable time for the both of us all for 20/30 seconds that it takes to lead past and get back on. Not only that, the more you take him past and not get fazed by it the quicker he will learn just to ride past and not take any notice.
 
That makes me feel better! The other fly in the ointment is that I cant get on from the ground too easily, I have sneakily mounted from a memorial bench but dont want to do this too often as disrespectful!
 
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