What to do about very strong horse when hacking...

NU ABO

NU ABO

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As the title says really.

Absolutely lovely boy in the school, does whatever you ask him to, really tries hard when learning new things, doesn't get distracted by anything, if getting strong is easy to get under control again etc etc

Out hacking though, it's a completely different story. He can be absolutely fine for ages, and then something will grab his attention and be either exciting or terrifying and he pulls his head into a contact, back end under ready to go and it's only really me staying as calm as possible that stops him from actually taking off.

Are there any recommendations you can give me for how to make him a safer horse out hacking?
 
NU ABO said:
As the title says really.

Absolutely lovely boy in the school, does whatever you ask him to, really tries hard when learning new things, doesn't get distracted by anything, if getting strong is easy to get under control again etc etc

Out hacking though, it's a completely different story. He can be absolutely fine for ages, and then something will grab his attention and be either exciting or terrifying and he pulls his head into a contact, back end under ready to go and it's only really me staying as calm as possible that stops him from actually taking off.

Are there any recommendations you can give me for how to make him a safer horse out hacking?
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How about schooling out hacking to keep his mind occupied? Lots of transitions, if safe then leg yields etc... Might keep him busy and more responsive?
 
I do try leg yielding while out hacking, but unfortunately we have terrible hacking at the moment, almost everywhere 'safe' is flooded and now frozen solid, so I've had to go to hacking around the village and last time he got excited by the car headlights.

The leg yielding works down tracks mostly. I'll have to try lots of transitions when the weather improves somewhat ie, the ground becomes less slippy everywhere :rolleyes:
 
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