Spooky hack

[Pmf27]

Hello all! It's been a while since I've posted here, hope everyone has been well.

I'm wondering if anyone has advice on solo hacking spooky youngsters?

I'm loaning a lovely mare who I've really fallen for, but our first attempt at a solo hack did not go terribly well.

She's young and still quite green (only 6) but she hacks fine with company and is good in the school as well.

I couldn't get her through a gate when we hacked because it was apparently the most terrifying thing in the world and she was absolutely not having it, I ended up hand-walking her back because she also wouldn't stand still long enough for me to get back on.

I'd suggested trying some in-hand walks, but my instructor does not think this will do much good. Just wondering if there is any advice I've not considered?

I only very occasionally get a chance to hack with others, so would be great if there were some things we could work on alone so that I'm not confined to the school on 'my days'.

Any ideas?

 

[throwawayaccount]

How is the horse to hack for her owner?

shes only young - maybe try a few hacks in company if possible and have those horses give you both a lead?

 

[Nari]

When you've done a hack in company try to do the same route on your own the next day. And when in company don't tuck her in behind all the time

Always allow plenty of time for a ride, that way if she has a problem you can give her chance to look at things and be calm. Until you know and trust each other try not to put her in situations you know she'll find challenging.

I know it's not easy but try to stay calm and soft, don't add to her doubts.

Could you get someone to walk on foot with you?

 

[AntiPuck]

Does she stop and look at spooky things, or just immediately start shying away from them?

I often find that if I sit and let mine look for a while (and sometimes it is a while), when I then ask her to go forwards again, she is much happier to go past the scary thing. Usually then, she either won't look at all or won't look for as long the next time past the same object.

Getting someone to walk with you on foot can also be very helpful.

 

[scats]

Get someone to walk on foot with you, a short circular route if possible. Do this several times over a couple of weeks and then ask person walking to wallet let you set off first. If you run into any trouble, they can nip in front and help out.

 

[Peglo]

I’ve gotten off my horse to get her past very scary things. I’m quite happy to jump off if it means she’s more confident. I also did the same route quite a lot if we were going out by ourselves. I let her stop and asses situations in her own time. And I also walked her out in hand which I think helped. She got better each time. This might be a big no for a lot of people but I always give her a treat when I get on. That way her attention is always on me and not moving forwards.

this year she is so much more confident in herself. It’s lovely to see. Although she can still be spooky its not in the same unsure way she was.

 

[Pmf27]

How is the horse to hack for her owner?

shes only young - maybe try a few hacks in company if possible and have those horses give you both a lead?

I'm not sure tbh, because I don't believe that she has been hacked out alone much full stop.

There is very rarely anyone to hack with at my yard, so 9 times out of 10 I can't have any company, which does make it tricky to build up her confidence!

 

[Pmf27]

When you've done a hack in company try to do the same route on your own the next day. And when in company don't tuck her in behind all the time

Always allow plenty of time for a ride, that way if she has a problem you can give her chance to look at things and be calm. Until you know and trust each other try not to put her in situations you know she'll find challenging.

I know it's not easy but try to stay calm and soft, don't add to her doubts.

Could you get someone to walk on foot with you?

That's a great idea about doing the same route the next day, I'd not thought of that.

There isn't usually anyone at the yard to join me, either on horseback or on foot, so most of the time I'm on my own.

We've had about three hacks in company and they've all gone okay, so I've been waiting until someone can join me before I go out again. Problem is, I've been waiting quite a while now, hence me wanting to try going solo again as otherwise I'm confined to the school or not riding at all.

 

[Pmf27]

Does she stop and look at spooky things, or just immediately start shying away from them?

I often find that if I sit and let mine look for a while (and sometimes it is a while), when I then ask her to go forwards again, she is much happier to go past the scary thing. Usually then, she either won't look at all or won't look for as long the next time past the same object.

Getting someone to walk with you on foot can also be very helpful.

The only time we've done a solo hack, she spooked at a gate and just would not go through.

It's the same gate she goes through every time she hacks (in company) because it's the gate off the yard.

I had to get off her to open the gate, she was spooking around before I'd even dismounted, but then she wouldn't let me lead her through at all - she was also not staying still for me to get back on and was trying to tank off back in the direction of the yard.

I didn't want her to 'win' because I didn't want her to think that if she throws a paddy she can get out of doing work, but she was clearly upset and it was all getting a bit dicey so I reluctantly walked her back.

We've not tried a solo hack again since, but have had a couple in company and she was fine at that very same gate!

 

[Pmf27]

Get someone to walk on foot with you, a short circular route if possible. Do this several times over a couple of weeks and then ask person walking to wallet let you set off first. If you run into any trouble, they can nip in front and help out.

I'd love to try this as I think it would really help, unfortunately I'm limited with this sort of support as it's often just me on the yard when I go. The other liveries are kids that are in school when I go, as I am usually there during school hours due to my job.

 

[Pmf27]

I’ve gotten off my horse to get her past very scary things. I’m quite happy to jump off if it means she’s more confident. I also did the same route quite a lot if we were going out by ourselves. I let her stop and asses situations in her own time. And I also walked her out in hand which I think helped. She got better each time. This might be a big no for a lot of people but I always give her a treat when I get on. That way her attention is always on me and not moving forwards.

this year she is so much more confident in herself. It’s lovely to see. Although she can still be spooky its not in the same unsure way she was.

This is what I'm hoping we can work towards, as I have no issue with a horse being generally spooky and needing some encouragement, but it was clear from our last venture out that it was more "absolutely not!" Than "hmm maybe" on her part haha

 

[J&S]

Can you pop down and open this gate so you dont have to stop when you go through? ( You could leave a message to warn the yard it is open.) Maybe as an interim to leading and riding you could long rein her? This way she would be on her own but have you on the ground as a driving influence? Just go a short way, go back and repeat.

 

[Pmf27]

Can you pop down and open this gate so you dont have to stop when you go through? ( You could leave a message to warn the yard it is open.) Maybe as an interim to leading and riding you could long rein her? This way she would be on her own but have you on the ground as a driving influence? Just go a short way, go back and repeat.

I had considered if this would be an option, so I think I'll ask YO if that would be okay. It does seem like a simple solution so I hope that it's as simple as that, while we work on upping her confidence.

Oh I'd not thought about long reining, thanks for the suggestion. I've not tried this before, so I'll ask my instructor if this is something that she could help me with!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Choose a short circular route and walk the horse in hand on that route a few times then try the same route on board, just stick to that until the horse is happy and relaxed then repeat with a different route then hopefully she will become more confident.

 

[Pmf27]

Choose a short circular route and walk the horse in hand on that route a few times then try the same route on board, just stick to that until the horse is happy and relaxed then repeat with a different route then hopefully she will become more confident.

Thank you, this was my initial instinct so I'll definitely give it a go!

 

[canteron]

I’ve gotten off my horse to get her past very scary things. I’m quite happy to jump off if it means she’s more confident. I also did the same route quite a lot if we were going out by ourselves. I let her stop and asses situations in her own time. And I also walked her out in hand which I think helped. She got better each time. This might be a big no for a lot of people but I always give her a treat when I get on. That way her attention is always on me and not moving forwards.

this year she is so much more confident in herself. It’s lovely to see. Although she can still be spooky its not in the same unsure way she was.

Getting off isn’t bad - but practice getting off and on in random places so she doesn’t associate getting off on a hack with scary things!!

 

[Peglo]

Getting off isn’t bad - but practice getting off and on in random places so she doesn’t associate getting off on a hack with scary things!!

yes that’s a very good point. I don’t get off often but get off for gates etc as well so she doesn’t think anything of it. But good to keep that in mind.