Training

[st8ce]

I’ve had my ex racer about a year now no issues at all hacking herself or with others however , when out the other day with one other horse we went a new route which seemed fine until the other horse took off up the field . Mine didn’t want to move forward and started napping , spinning and rearing. She hasn’t seen this either since I got her we were also on a new route which she was fine with up until then…She was beside herself . Any tips

 

[Red-1]

Did the rider deliberately gallop off? If so, I would simply avoid riding with that person again.

If they were not in control of their horse, I would avoid that situation until they have some control.

Your horse does need training. I would do more solo hacks and also go with another horse to a field, hiring if necessary. I would start together and explore the training field, then mark out a schooling area in your mind and start to work independently, initially close to, then, as the horses become more confident, further away.

I would initially work in walk and trot, doing curves and circles and transitions, to keep your horses' focus on you. Once all is well, I would introduce canter.

I do this a lot, including cantering side by side then circling away, circling back etc. Then cantering along where one leads, the other then overtakes and takes the lead, the other takes the lead back etc. The aim is that the one in the lead holds a working canter and the other overtakes and settles into a working canter in front, while the first horse maintains obedience and holds pace without becoming excited.

Mine will now simply pull up if we are cantering and I wish to. Or, allow the other to canter off and we can trot. A good job as my BF has discovered gallop in his learning journey and frequently forgets that it is rude to gallop off. TBF, he only rides my two and both will hold back, so he simply doesn't know what he doesn't know.

The solo hacking will have your horse more reliant on you for support than another horse. The other exercises mean he will become independent and obedient, whatever the other horses do.

Most horses would lose their decorum in the situation yours was in, without persistent training over several sessions.

 

[paddi22]

most of mine, even the non racers would have exactly the same reaction as yours if someone took off in front of them in a field. it's not fair on the horse, especially a racehorse to have someone gallop off in front of them. if your horse isnt used to it, you need to school in pairs in a field gradually leaving each other, exactly like Red1 says. that was a very unfair position to put your horse in and the horse sounds like it was very confused by the whole situation.

 

[st8ce]

Did the rider deliberately gallop off? If so, I would simply avoid riding with that person again.

If they were not in control of their horse, I would avoid that situation until they have some control.

Your horse does need training. I would do more solo hacks and also go with another horse to a field, hiring if necessary. I would start together and explore the training field, then mark out a schooling area in your mind and start to work independently, initially close to, then, as the horses become more confident, further away.

I would initially work in walk and trot, doing curves and circles and transitions, to keep your horses' focus on you. Once all is well, I would introduce canter.

I do this a lot, including cantering side by side then circling away, circling back etc. Then cantering along where one leads, the other then overtakes and takes the lead, the other takes the lead back etc. The aim is that the one in the lead holds a working canter and the other overtakes and settles into a working canter in front, while the first horse maintains obedience and holds pace without becoming excited.

Mine will now simply pull up if we are cantering and I wish to. Or, allow the other to canter off and we can trot. A good job as my BF has discovered gallop in his learning journey and frequently forgets that it is rude to gallop off. TBF, he only rides my two and both will hold back, so he simply doesn't know what he doesn't know.

The solo hacking will have your horse more reliant on you for support than another horse. The other exercises mean he will become independent and obedient, whatever the other horses do.

Most horses would lose their decorum in the situation yours was in, without persistent training over several sessions.

She hacks fine solo no issue at all and generally doesn’t change gear unless asked so overall very laid back . She has even nannied a pony a few times she’s so calm. We have riden with them b4 but mainly in the forest so hard to tell if it’s because it’s generally encouraged to “go” on soft ground . We don’t have a school or transport and no other livery rides out up here so 99% we are solo with no issues regardless of whether it’s field or trail

 

[SEL]

If someone took off in front of my cob in a field then I'd be swearing loudly and hanging onto my neckstrap as he works through his best rodeo manoeuvres.

I wouldn't worry about a 1-off but I'd be careful about riding with them again

 

[st8ce]

If someone took off in front of my cob in a field then I'd be swearing loudly and hanging onto my neckstrap as he works through his best rodeo manoeuvres.

I wouldn't worry about a 1-off but I'd be careful about riding with them again

Im just weary because if we go to anything down the line ie fun rides i ideally need to see how she is in that sort of company or situation. Ie when they all hit grass

 

[Red-1]

She hacks fine solo no issue at all and generally doesn’t change gear unless asked so overall very laid back . She has even nannied a pony a few times she’s so calm. We have riden with them b4 but mainly in the forest so hard to tell if it’s because it’s generally encouraged to “go” on soft ground . We don’t have a school or transport and no other livery rides out up here so 99% we are solo with no issues regardless of whether it’s field or trail

There was more in my message then just hacking solo. There was the main bit about training your horse to listen to you and be confident when being left by other horses.

Im just weary because if we go to anything down the line ie fun rides i ideally need to see how she is in that sort of company or situation. Ie when they all hit grass

I absolutely would not take this horse on a fun ride until he/she is trained to a position where they are adjusted to the situation and listening to the rider.

For a fun ride, I would do all of what I suggested then do the same with 4 riders, all doing their own thing, but under control as in each rider helping the others by keeping an eye on the situation and not overwhelming any horse. Then, on the fun ride, I would go with a friend who will stick by your side and shield you.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I think most horses would have reacted the same way. My boy is great to hack alone and in company ( ex pointer) . I was hacking with a friend who's horse bolted in the woods, pushed me any my boy into a tree and bolted off. My poor boy didn't know what to do!! He just danced around!! Friend came back and didn't even say sorry!!

 

[Hallo2012]

all of my (very well schooled and very successful horses past and present) would LOSE IT if someone just blasted off no warning.

wouldn't read anything at all in to it other than dont ride with this ignorant person again...

 

[st8ce]

There was more in my message then just hacking solo. There was the main bit about training your horse to listen to you and be confident when being left by other horses.

I absolutely would not take this horse on a fun ride until he/she is trained to a position where they are adjusted to the situation and listening to the rider.

For a fun ride, I would do all of what I suggested then do the same with 4 riders, all doing their own thing, but under control as in each rider helping the others by keeping an eye on the situation and not overwhelming any horse. Then, on the fun ride, I would go with a friend who will stick by your side and shield you.

There are no other people to hack out with tho that’s the only issue . She listens fine otherwise

 

[humblepie]

I think explain that he’s an ex-racehorse and for quite a lot of his life his job has been going with him other horses and work out a plan for when you go hacking together.

 

[nikkimariet]

I think most horses would lose their head at that. Especially an exracer. Honestly I wouldn’t ride with the again, that’s so dangerous and disrespectful.

 

[paddi22]

Im just weary because if we go to anything down the line ie fun rides i ideally need to see how she is in that sort of company or situation. Ie when they all hit grass

I retrain racers and hot horses, and what I do is bring them all on endurance rides at first. it gets them used to open ground/grass and generally the pace is a relaxing walk if you are just a leisure rider on them. the crowd at the endurance rides around here are so polite so horses get used to others passing them politely, and they very quickly get used to horses coming ahead and behind them. plus you have the option to tag onto groups to test out canters. the distance and hills means you can wear them out a bit gradually, and then try trots/canters with others when they are relaxed and slightly tired. once they are happy on those rides, I'd start to do stuff like pair up for xc schooling or on gallops. then hunter trial pairs, and then fun rides etc.

 

[SEL]

There are no other people to hack out with tho that’s the only issue . She listens fine otherwise

I'm not sure where you are in the country but I found a professional to hack out with me. Very sensible escort horse (had hunted so couldn't care less about us bouncing) and as I was paying I set the pace.

It was a year of hard work but he'll now go on fun rides, group hacks etc etc without losing his head. On the first fun ride of this year I met a lady who had seen him as a 5yo and she barely recognised him. It was a lot of work but I like fun rides and I don't like rodeos!

 

[Red-1]

I'm not sure where you are in the country but I found a professional to hack out with me. Very sensible escort horse (had hunted so couldn't care less about us bouncing) and as I was paying I set the pace.

It was a year of hard work but he'll now go on fun rides, group hacks etc etc without losing his head. On the first fun ride of this year I met a lady who had seen him as a 5yo and she barely recognised him. It was a lot of work but I like fun rides and I don't like rodeos!

This is what I did with mine too. I have a friend who I hack with at lower paces but initially paid for an escort for more exciting stuff to safely prepare mine. One of these outing was on the beach. We also did group lessons, initially in an arena and latterly group XC lessons, where the trainer was in charge of building the horses up working with each other and jumping. My steadier friend got hers cantering in the open too, so we could practice splitting up and meeting again.

I didn't think it was fair on me, my horse, other people or other people's horses to take him on a fun ride until he had experience in working in a group in a controlled way. On the fun rode we did about a month ago, he was mildly interested as groups cantered and overtook us as we walked/ trotted in our little group of three. But, he remained sedate. I am older now and like sedate! He would now be ready to go alone or in a faster group on a fun ride.

I always said, people underestimate the training needed to make a sane hacking horse. I have no idea why people think they are worth less and need training less than one for competition. It has to be incremental.

 

[st8ce]

Did the rider deliberately gallop off? If so, I would simply avoid riding with that person again.

If they were not in control of their horse, I would avoid that situation until they have some control.

Your horse does need training. I would do more solo hacks and also go with another horse to a field, hiring if necessary. I would start together and explore the training field, then mark out a schooling area in your mind and start to work independently, initially close to, then, as the horses become more confident, further away.

I would initially work in walk and trot, doing curves and circles and transitions, to keep your horses' focus on you. Once all is well, I would introduce canter.

I do this a lot, including cantering side by side then circling away, circling back etc. Then cantering along where one leads, the other then overtakes and takes the lead, the other takes the lead back etc. The aim is that the one in the lead holds a working canter and the other overtakes and settles into a working canter in front, while the first horse maintains obedience and holds pace without becoming excited.

Mine will now simply pull up if we are cantering and I wish to. Or, allow the other to canter off and we can trot. A good job as my BF has discovered gallop in his learning journey and frequently forgets that it is rude to gallop off. TBF, he only rides my two and both will hold back, so he simply doesn't know what he doesn't know.

The solo hacking will have your horse more reliant on you for support than another horse. The other exercises mean he will become independent and obedient, whatever the other horses do.

Most horses would lose their decorum in the situation yours was in, without persistent training over several sessions.

I’ve no previous issues with any of the transitions whether it be up the forest or in a field she generally doesn’t change gear unless you ask her so im suspecting he done that on purpose

 

[st8ce]

Did the rider deliberately gallop off? If so, I would simply avoid riding with that person again.

If they were not in control of their horse, I would avoid that situation until they have some control.

Your horse does need training. I would do more solo hacks and also go with another horse to a field, hiring if necessary. I would start together and explore the training field, then mark out a schooling area in your mind and start to work independently, initially close to, then, as the horses become more confident, further away.

I would initially work in walk and trot, doing curves and circles and transitions, to keep your horses' focus on you. Once all is well, I would introduce canter.

I do this a lot, including cantering side by side then circling away, circling back etc. Then cantering along where one leads, the other then overtakes and takes the lead, the other takes the lead back etc. The aim is that the one in the lead holds a working canter and the other overtakes and settles into a working canter in front, while the first horse maintains obedience and holds pace without becoming excited.

Mine will now simply pull up if we are cantering and I wish to. Or, allow the other to canter off and we can trot. A good job as my BF has discovered gallop in his learning journey and frequently forgets that it is rude to gallop off. TBF, he only rides my two and both will hold back, so he simply doesn't know what he doesn't know.

The solo hacking will have your horse more reliant on you for support than another horse. The other exercises mean he will become independent and obedient, whatever the other horses do.

Most horses would lose their decorum in the situation yours was in, without persistent training over several sessions.

I’ve no other company so 95% of the time we are solo never been an issue

 

[st8ce]

Did the rider deliberately gallop off? If so, I would simply avoid riding with that person again.

If they were not in control of their horse, I would avoid that situation until they have some control.

Your horse does need training. I would do more solo hacks and also go with another horse to a field, hiring if necessary. I would start together and explore the training field, then mark out a schooling area in your mind and start to work independently, initially close to, then, as the horses become more confident, further away.

I would initially work in walk and trot, doing curves and circles and transitions, to keep your horses' focus on you. Once all is well, I would introduce canter.

I do this a lot, including cantering side by side then circling away, circling back etc. Then cantering along where one leads, the other then overtakes and takes the lead, the other takes the lead back etc. The aim is that the one in the lead holds a working canter and the other overtakes and settles into a working canter in front, while the first horse maintains obedience and holds pace without becoming excited.

Mine will now simply pull up if we are cantering and I wish to. Or, allow the other to canter off and we can trot. A good job as my BF has discovered gallop in his learning journey and frequently forgets that it is rude to gallop off. TBF, he only rides my two and both will hold back, so he simply doesn't know what he doesn't know.

The solo hacking will have your horse more reliant on you for support than another horse. The other exercises mean he will become independent and obedient, whatever the other horses do.

Most horses would lose their decorum in the situation yours was in, without persistent training over several sessions.

Ive done solo hacks since she came and she’s no issue . There is no other company where I keep her in terms of riding out so he is my only option should we have occasional company. But otherwise she’s been really straightforward no issues at all even when you take her somewhere new she doesn’t get fizzy .

 

[SEL]

Ive done solo hacks since she came and she’s no issue . There is no other company where I keep her in terms of riding out so he is my only option should we have occasional company. But otherwise she’s been really straightforward no issues at all even when you take her somewhere new she doesn’t get fizzy .

I'd be avoiding that rider tbh.

Taking off when you are with someone else is rude & dangerous.

 

[st8ce]

So the question will remain in terms of run rides going forward ( when we can get a lift ) we are still none the wiser as to how things will be in more company because we have no way of knowing until in that situation. We did however have a pony near us and she was out a few times with that and she was a great nanny to it

 

[st8ce]

I retrain racers and hot horses, and what I do is bring them all on endurance rides at first. it gets them used to open ground/grass and generally the pace is a relaxing walk if you are just a leisure rider on them. the crowd at the endurance rides around here are so polite so horses get used to others passing them politely, and they very quickly get used to horses coming ahead and behind them. plus you have the option to tag onto groups to test out canters. the distance and hills means you can wear them out a bit gradually, and then try trots/canters with others when they are relaxed and slightly tired. once they are happy on those rides, I'd start to do stuff like pair up for xc schooling or on gallops. then hunter trial pairs, and then fun rides etc.

Yeh that’s a good idea thanks . Unfortunately I can only do something if it’s fairly local as no transport