Stressed while hacking. Help please

[Welly]

Hi, has anyone tried global herbs instant calmer on a horse for hacking out. A horse we bought a couple of months ago has started to be very stressed if not a little dangerous while hacking on his own. He wont use a flyover over a main road the noise of the lorries and cars upsets him and he wont approach the bridge now, also smells pigs, dead things, waste, etc. he stops and won't go forward. We have tried all the other ways kindness, talking to him, even the strong approach but he becomes stressed again. Has anyone overcome this problem I'd love to hear how you did it, we love our boy and will try anything.

 

[Taboo1968]

Anxi calm calmer is fab!

 

[nuffield]

Can you find someone to go hacking with you, or even walk, on foot, or ride a bicycle with you to give the horse confidence?

 

[RhiannonE]

I read somewhere (might be absolute rubbish) that calmer only works on horses with slight digestive problems (or something like that) - basically the magnesium in the calmer aids digestion and stops them feeling all bubbly and uncomfortable so they actually feel happier and therefore calmer.... my friend at my yard, after much research, feeds pure magnesium as cheaper than a calmer and her horse is now a super star BUT it may be different for your horse as his tummy might be fine.
My old horse was a nightmare and no feed, calmer, "confident riding", beating or sobbing would make him better behaved out on a hack so calmer was not for him....

 

[Welly]

He hacks out with company ok it is only on his own he has a problem

 

[Queenbee]

I haven't trried the herbs, however i can reccomend both lincon valerian or magic 5* by naff, I used the magic 5* on ebony at her old stables, and I find lincon valerian takes the edge off shantia's nerves, I used it when she had to go on box rest and have also started to use it when she is going to be ridden, just to get her used to being worked in the calmest possible way which is important. Both have made a huge difference to my girls, and just helped to make new situations a bit easier for them to deal with.

 

[Queenbee]

I believe that magic 5* is a magnesium calmer but valerian is just valerian extract

Magic
http://www.croftequestrian.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=184

Lincon Valerian
http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Lincoln-Valerian-Cordial-500ml/productinfo/HERBCORD/

 

[Cyberchick]

Truthfully, I wouldn't hack out on my own for a while and do lots of hacking in company to build up more confidence for now. If it is not an option to always hack in company then I would get a friend to walk the dog or ride a bike with you to help. It is a confidence issue.

 

[Kayfm]

Yes i agree, somebody walking or on a bike etc gives the horse more confidence. i just starting schooling a 18hh german warmblood to hack on his own as i always hacked in company until my riding partner left the yard. At first my daughter walked either infront or behind which just gave that little bit of confidence to him. After about four goes with company i tried him on his own. i ride out early and not on main roads. he is doing great. now and then he stops and looks but moves off within seconds. so keep at it and have patients. having someone with you will help.

good luck

 

[LadyRascasse]

i have had problems with my mare hacking on her own so i hacked with another horse over the winter and got her confident to lead the whole way round the ride, and i hoping i should be able to try again on my own soon,

i would get your horse happy leading first, go out with a confident horse that will go past anything, so that if you can't get yours to go in fron t they have the confidence to go past with the other horse.

good luck there are no quick fixes i have been hacking out with my friend since feburary 2-3times a week and she is just starting to come round, but in the long run it is so rewarding when you finally get there.

 

[Annagain]

Agree with all the comments about hacking with company, however as somebody who has tried all the calmers for a horse who is actually great hacking but throws his toys out of the pram if you're asking him to do anything new in the school and he doesn't understand it, Nupafeed is definitely the best. You can also give them an extra syringeful of a stronger version of it an hour before something particularly stressful. Look them up on the internet and give them a call, the people are really helpful.