to go alone or not to go alone...

[JessMannion]

i've had henry for 2weeks and i havent hacked him out on my own or worked him on his own in the field... because the first time i tried to ride him in the feild on his own i fell off and have been hacking him out with a pony and he's a bit jumpy but okish so do you think i should just go out on my own and see how it goes... or should i continue to 'take it slow' or will this make him worse later? advice ect please

 

[PaintboxEDT]

ive had my boy a couple of months now and still havnt hacked him out alone yet !!
i have taken him in to the paddock though he was a little nappy but nothing bad !
im in no hurry to go it alone and prefer to go out in company anyway even going in front he seems more spooky but hes been use to being in a carriage 4 in and at the back so i suppose its a little strange for him to go infront !!
id take your time and not rush things,it really depends on how you feel with him,you dont want to be alone and something happens !!
and you havnt had him long give it time and get use to him more

 

[malibu211211]

It took me nearly two years to hack D out alone

so don't rush things, take your time and you'll know when you're ready

I had an accident on my new horse, Monty a few weeks ago whilst in company so although I'm happy to hack D out alone it may take me another 2 years to hack Monty out alone

 

[PaintboxEDT]

two years strop !!
im glad im not the only one then i keep thinking i should take him out alone soon but i feel better now !!!
im happy to go out as and when in company anyway !!

 

[Fantasy_World]

When I first got Doug last September I went out on a short hack the following day with a friend from the yard and her sensible mare.
However when I have been out on my own with him ( not very often due to one reason or another) he has been very nappy.
He is not a comfortable ride in that respect in that he gets unnerved by simple things like a bin and a bench even.
I think maybe that he was not used to being out much on his own as he used to go hunting so would be used to safety in numbers.
I have just persevered with him to be honest and that is what I would suggest you do.
Don't do anything that makes you feel nervous or uncomfortable though otherwise you may find you are taking one step forward and then going backwards.
Take it steady build him up slowly to his new surroundings and getting used to hacking out alone.
However I cannot stress enough that seeing as he has had you off once already you may be better riding in company to begin with until you both feel more settled and comfortable.
Don't feel ashamed to ask for help?
We are only human and as such many of us have doubts and the need for self preservation.
Even getting someone to walk with you while you hack would help whether in the field or on tracks.
The more your confidence grows the more your horse's will because he will sense any nervousness through your body language. You don't know you are giving those signals but you are.
A good book to get is Understanding Nervousness in Horse and Rider (Hardcover)
by Moyra Williams (Author), Yogi Breisner (Editor).
I certainly found it a very good read as I lost my confidence after a fall a few years ago in a riding school.
These are my first horses and last year was the first time in over 24 years of riding that I had hacked out alone.
If I have overstepped the mark or offended with my post please accept my apologies as I was trying to offer advice based on what you had posted and drawing upon my own experiences too.
Good luck

Cazx

 

[Bert&Maud]

Have you got someone who could come out on a bike with you? That way you have some moral support and feel safer, but the horse begins to get the idea of going out without another horse for company. I've introduced several youngsters to solo work in this way, but I'm lucky enought to have an OH who enjoys mountain biking! Also he does the gates for me!

 

[malibu211211]

Too bl**dy right!
That's why we're called The_Stropster, right stroppy git who likes to throw his front and back feet about

Nobody to scrape me off the floor if I'm on my own

 

[PaintboxEDT]

lol yes very true !!

 

[Persephone]

I got Star in february and rode her the next day with some friends. We got two minutes from the yard and one of their flash straps fell off the end of their horse's nose, so they all wanted to go back ands do it up again. I thought this would be setting a really bad precedent so decided to go on alone! It was a little hairy to be honest but kind of glad we got it over and done with straight away. She was a bit nappy for a couple of weeks but I never let her win and now it's fine. We go off on our own nearly everyday. It's quite rare for us to have company. Incidentally out of the other 12 horses on the yard only one can be ridden out alone.

 

[Shilasdair]

Why don't you compromise, and take him short walkies on his own in hand. Then try long reining....then when someone is hacking out, join them.
That way you both build confidence.
S

 

[Gorgeous George]

I hacked George out on his own after about a week, simply because the school was busy and there was no-one to go with me, to be honest I prefered it and George seemed calmer. I make sure I've got my body protector on, hi-viz on, phone in my pocket, and a dog tag on my saddle with my number and yard phone number on so I feel safe!