Spooking on hacks - what to do?

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Spirit3106

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Hiya!
I ride out a few times a week with a woman who lets me ride one of hers, and she rides another. I've ridden for years, and he's my second ever "part loan" kind of situation, but I've always struggled a bit with nerves and anxiety. The horse I ride is a 5yo, usually very sensible. I've never been very confident, but he's actually been great for me because he's the kind of horse who will look or startle/jump at typical Scary Things, but all he needs is his rider to reassure him that it's ok and he's happy then. So I've been really able to trust him because I know that he'll trust me back 😊 We normally do a mix of arena work + hacking (roads mainly but the occasional field/track).

However, today we were coming down the hill on a road next to a field where a herd of cows were moving. Normally we've no big issues, but today the cows were a bit flighty, running up to/along the hedge, and my horse was really freaked out by them. He was a bit joggy, spinning etc,. His owner was able to remind me to keep calm, hands down, etc,. which I was able to do the first time and he responded well. But it happened again and I felt myself really panic. I could feel him getting very agitated by the cows, and I knew at this point I was too anxious to be able to reassure him properly from the saddle, so I hopped off and led him till we passed the cows. His owner let me ride her other horse back to the yard, and I got back up on my usual guy to just do a few laps walk/trot in the arena when we got back.

I'm just wondering, does anyone have any tips for handling a situation like this better? I think today it was the right call for me to dismount, I had a similar experience back in the winter with my first loan where he tanked off down the road with me and the situation today kind of triggered that same anxiety. I don't mind the odd start or look at something, but I really struggle with any situation where I feel the horse I'm on might bolt/take off, and given that we were coming down a steep road, I really didn't want to relive that past experience! Normally with this horse I'm able to trust that I can stay calm and he'll relax too, but I just found my legs turned to jelly and I couldn't think properly, even if I know what I should be doing - something that happens often when I get nervous. He's a young horse and I didn't want to risk the situation spiralling into something really negative and distressing for him either.

I think it kind of helps just to write out what happened when something like this happens, so that's kind of just what I'm doing now. His owner was very kind and seemed happy with what I did today. If anyone has any tips though, if I find myself again in the saddle on a horse that's blowing out like a dragon and feels on the verge of taking off at a million miles an hour from something scary, what are some good things to tell myself? Any tricks or advice on keeping control? Riding anxiety is something I've always struggled with and I'd really like to be able to handle things better and keep me/my horse safer!
 
Personally I'd do exactly what you did in the situation. You say this was a steep hill - and you were on a youngster basically. So you hopped off. Very sensible decision, and IMO totally the right choice. If he'd have slipped on the road, going down a hill (especially in the recent wet weather which has made everything very slippy indeed), he could have hurt both himself, and you, and possibly caused an accident.

The other thing I'd say is that you obviously have the ability to self-analyse & self-reflect: this is a valuable skill in a rider and I commend you for it. You've written down what happened, to allow your brain to process it. Well done!

Management tips? Well a lot of the problem is that we can get anxious about being anxious can't we. We then tense up, and its a vicious circle, coz the horse immediately feels that. My instructor/mentor always says "breathe". It may help you to learn some deep breathing techniques; I am a dance teacher and we use various types of breathing when we are dancing & moving (there is "Deep" breathing; also "Synchronised breathing" where we breathe in rhythm with the movement; also we utilise yoga breathing techniques like sustained retraction (where you hold the breath in and release it slowly). If you can find a Pilates or Yoga class you would find this helpful I think, as you would learn relaxation techniques. You need to learn how to consciously relax your body, under your control. It is a skill that can be learnt; a drama class is also a good place to learn this, as actors need to be able to totally relax their bodies. As do dancers.

The other thing my instructor/mentor says is to laugh! And to sing. Tell yourself a joke if you have to. Sing something, out loud. It works. Crazy but true.

Hope this helps.

And well done. Do not let anyone ever belittle you because you get off and walk in a situation. It's often the very best choice.
 
I also think you handled it exactly as you should have done. Writing it out was also a great choice, you can see the logical sensible choices you made so the only tiny thing I would add is that being anxious in situations like this, and being anxious after, is absolutely normal and fine. It wasn't a safe situation, your body knows that. Just like a horse, your adrenaline will take time to come down so make sure and remember that for the next day or two and absolutely do not beat yourself up if you find yourself being a little unsteady! Your brain is full of chemicals and you can't logic away chemicals, though I agree with MJR2BT that breathing and body awareness is extremely useful for managing them.

For cows specifically, I use a LOT of positive reinforcement. We can cope with rowdy young bullocks behind a hedge now (when last year we couldn't get within 50ft of a stationary one) because every time she sees a cow and looks at it without panicking she gets a gob full of grass nuts and told she is brave and wonderful 😂 appreciate this is not your horse so treat rewards maybe not an option but I also do what you did and just hop off when things get too much and it really just brings the tension down. The more times you just lead them calmly past something scary, the less scary the thing is and eventually you can ride past it and they won't remember it was scary in the first place!
 
it’s never a cop out to get off and lead past something - you’re putting yourself in the safer position, and giving the horse confidence and stability (usually!). my 13.2 is usually pretty brave, but i don’t hesitate to just jump off and walk past something scary, it’s not worth a battle and causing more upset to both horse & rider to struggle to get past something, though i admit i have an added benefit of how easy it is to get back on due to her size😂

i find often if you can just keep their feet moving they get over it quicker - i trot past if i can, but anything helps, even if that means going sideways or turning round and reversing past it😂 pretty doesn’t matter as long as it’s safe and effective.

sounds as though you handled the situation well, i can understand the worry of them suddenly shooting off though - lily is more of a “starfish” spooker, but diva went through a phase of shooting forwards and then stopping dead, nearly catapulting me over her head, i’m glad she seems to have grown out of that one😂
 
Thank you so much everyone! It really helps having some kind words and reassurances that it's ok to dismount (and often the right thing) if things get too overwhelming :) I was riding again today, just in the arena on him today but we had a great time! Hoping next time we hack that I'll be able to remember to stay calm and just give him confidence too ❤️
 
smolmaus said:
For cows specifically, I use a LOT of positive reinforcement [... ...] because every time she sees a cow and looks at it without panicking she gets a gob full of grass nuts and told she is brave and wonderful 😂
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Love that.

I've only read two replies so far but I agree with MJR2BT and smolmaus.

Even if the going is not slippery, I think getting off while going down hill on the home stretch, especially if a hairy situation pops up, is a great thing to do. Why let a good ride fall to pieces when an issue crops up when you can dismount and lead your horse the rest of the way? It's easier on his legs, your mind, and gets your legs straightened out again.

That was interesting about the breathing, MJR2BT. I didn't know dancers did that. I thought they just knew how to control their legs.
 
Getting off is sensible but my long experience of hacking(mostly solo) is that it is very important to actually ride the horse one is sitting on. Throughout the hack and however well one knows the horse. Keep your legs on the horse so it knows you are riding it. Ride transitions, leg yield, do some steering from side to side of the track.
 
I've done the same with the horse I share when solo hacking, but I always try to get back on as soon as possible after leading past the scary thing.

I do try to not to let him slow up when passing something scary, when he stops and freezes with his head up is the biggest red flag that he might be about to lose his marbles.
 
I would have hopped off as well, I know my pony won't go anywhere if I hop off and has never not followed me past something but I know sometimes we stress each other out if I stay on. we both trust each other more now I know when to push on and when to wait but I don't hesitate to get off if I get that feeling.
 
I find that sometimes using Airpods/headphones works well and box breathing (inhale for 4 hold for 4 exhale for 4) especially when you're nervous. As for the horse I find that bringing them on a hack on the ground with a headcollar works (bring treats for positive reinforcement) this can help over time. :)
 
Freyaloveshorsesxxxx said:
I find that sometimes using Airpods/headphones works well and box breathing (inhale for 4 hold for 4 exhale for 4) especially when you're nervous. As for the horse I find that bringing them on a hack on the ground with a headcollar works (bring treats for positive reinforcement) this can help over time. :)
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Airpods etc not safe on the road and therefore not a good idea.

Another that thinks you handled the situation perfectly well OP. We all get a bit anxious in some situations. With experience and saddle hours and just knowing the horse really well, it improves until it stops being an issue unless you have exceptional circumstances. There's never any shame in hopping off and leading.
 
You did fine, and you see that the horse did actually pass without anything awful happening and everyone stayed in one piece.
No to airpods! I've been caught unaware in them just walking my dog through open fields and not hearing something come up behind me. Almost had a heart attack!
Sing, It regulates your breatrhing and chils the horse=, although definitely only somethng I ever do alone 🤣
 
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