Was good to hack alone but not now?

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 July 2008
Messages
4,437
Location
uk
Visit site
Does anyone have any experience of a horse that was good to hack alone but over time that changed?

My welsh mare has always been sharper to hack in winter, just more prone to being spooky and having a little jog. She’s never worried me, Ive always been completely confident with her.

However this winter instead of just being more sharp, that has developed into nappiness. We have many hacking routes, most circular and so of course Ive tried always doing different routes and also hacking for several weeks just in walk as faster work winds her up. However she is VERY smart and knows her way home from everywhere so no matter where we go our hacks are ending with the same result.

Take today for example. She went out fine, relaxed and on a long rein. Got to a point where there is a track we cold turn right at to go home and she ‘suggested’ we went this way. I said no and made her carry on but this is where the behaviour escalates. She doesnt nap in the traditional stop and plant or refuse to go forward way but as soon as she has it in her head that we should be heading for home she stars flinging her head about (we are now always in a martingale) and jogging sideways. As soon as we actually ARE heading towards home this develops into leaps and bunnyhops and she keeps trying to grab and ****** off flat out. Today I had to jump off as she was doing it on the road and I was worried she would slip and bring us both down. I led her for a while and then got back on to ride the last bit home as i didnt want her to win. I also always carry on a bit past home and go a few different ways to try and mix things up a little at the end of our hack so she isnt anticipating home so much.

Back , teeth, saddle is all fine and recently checked and we’ve experimented with feed, cutting her right back to just adlib hay but its made no difference.

The thing is, I strongly suspect that come summer she will be fine again!

I just wondered if other people have experience of a horse that was fine to hack on their own and then that changed? Im wondering if I just have to accept this is her now. When I got her she was immature and fairly weak (6) and had no stamina at all, I wonder if she just didnt have the strength or energy to be bothered. Whereas now, (she will be 10 in Sep) she is mature and much stronger. For a native she also seems to hold fitness on next to no work. I also dont feel as if Im letting her away with it as such and I dont think its any lack of confidence on my part thats caused it - I can keep her going where ever I want to go but the behaviour is a complete pain in the backside :( Ive also tried schooling on hacks but when she gets like this its like a switch has flicked and you cant get through to her - Ive found sitting quietly and giving her as much loose rein as i can seems to be best.
 
Last edited:
Will be watching this thread with interest but in afraid have no useful advice, other than what your doing with the schooling etc. mine is rising 6 and I've made a point of her hacking alone, something she has always been bold, confident and very well behaved at. We also have lots of circular routes to try. Her new 'thing' if we go on a longer hack is to nap on the way out. Plant and absolutely refuse to budge, no matter how much I do to take her mind off the nap point. Once past it (eventually!) she will go beautifully, then start rushing (not to the extent yours goes to) the nearer home we get. Only started happening recently and I'm hoping I can nip it in the butt before it becomes habitual. Gotta love winter!
 
Last edited:
My lad is more spooky in the winter. I put it down to the fact that his not as out as much as he is in the summer. Sounds like you are doing the right things OP in not giving into her. I don't really know what to suggest - maybe more turnout if you can? Cut any sugars out of her diet?
 
Turks said:
Could it be lack of turnout in winter that's sending her over the edge?
Click to expand...

i wish it were that simple but she is out 24/7. I did wonder last winter if being in a smallish paddock which was wet (where isnt!) was causing her to be more razzed up so i actually secured more grazing in spring and have been resting 3 acres since June, which they have just gone onto at the start of Jan.
 
Maybe she is getting bored of the just walking bit. If I only walked my horse all the time when out hacking he would start to play up. Sometimes they need to do a bit more to get the 'tickle out of their toes'
 
Foxy O said:
Maybe she is getting bored of the just walking bit. If I only walked my horse all the time when out hacking he would start to play up. Sometimes they need to do a bit more to get the 'tickle out of their toes'
Click to expand...

this started before i decided to stick to walking for a while. Fast work makes her worse, its very much a mental thing, she gets very busy and anxious in her head with too much fast work and it never has the effect to just take the tickle from her toes unfortunately. I decided to try just walking out on hacks to try and keep her in a relaxed way of going and break the habit, not thats is worked though :/
 
A friend of mine had a similar problem, although all year round with a TB. She recently had some lessons. She has learnt how to get the horse listening to her and working on the bit. Problem sorted ... no more bad behaviour.

Would also suggest ground work (natural horsemanship stuff) to get the horses respect.

These things take time and effort but the horse does need to learn to respect you both on the ground and in the saddle!

Don't get me wrong I had a 17.3 WB that napped .... his thing was reverse gear, many a time I was seen reversing up the road in the direction I wanted to go and he didn't! He could also nap when leaving the yard, I got round this by distracting him with treats, most unconventional but it worked, where as normal methods would result in bucking or full aerial explosion.

Just need to find what works for your horse !
 
Are you able to box her somewhere different to ride, so she won't know she is on her way home? Or would she just find that too exciting?
 
thanks all. CMH again wish it was that simple, we have regular lessons, at least once a fortnight and she is very well schooled and goes beautifully. She really is an amazing wee horse who for all that she is a pain to hack at this time of year, I took her out before Christmas and she won 2 prelim classes with having done very little inbetween times as we dont have a school at home. We also do lots of ground work as being a Sec D she would be bolshy if allowed to be but she isnt.
Foxy O thats an idea! ive only ever ridden away from home with a friend so thats def something to try:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top