When to start hacking a green horse on their own?

JackDaniels1

JackDaniels1

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..... said horse not seen a lot and she is genuinely jumpy with some noises (ie, car and trailers) - we have buses, tractors, pushbikes, motorbikes, car & trailers (you get the idea!) go past.

Said horse is quite a clingy type and I don't want to get into a situation where she becomes reliant on following/hacking alongside another horse and becomes nappy on her own. When ridden in the school, she neighs and I can feel her trying to head for the gate although she doesn't actually nap...yet!!

Or am I better leading her in hand?

Advice please...
 
Most of our backers we start hacking with a sensible companion - but they have to go in front! Then after a few weeks, we try them alone - if we think it necessary, it will be with a foot soldier.

BUT, it depends on your hacking facilities. I have forestry commission land immediately opposite, with bridle paths, so a chance to do it safely.

If you have a fair bit of traffic - and she doesn't like it - I'd keep her hacking with a companion for a while - but take her in front wherever possible.
 
Hi You need to create a bond with her start leading in hand and then move to long lining with help of a friend incase you get into a situation. Once you have her going along sweetly try and hack in a circle route pop a neck strap on so it will give you confidence.
 
I'd always rather do more preparation than may actually be needed and avoid encountering problems in the first place so this is possibly overkill but anyway..

I'd pick a couple of short-ish circular routes (if you can) and take her out in hand and/or on long-reins a few times before doing any ridden work. I'd then find a helper and have someone walk out with you a couple of times after that - dropping behind when she's feeling confident but there to help if you encounter anything scary. Once she's happy doing the full route without needing your helper up with her I'd then get her out on her own. This method has worked well for me with a very nappy horse that previously wouldn't hack alone (he's now an enthusiastic and confident hack and mostly goes out on his own) and is generally the way I introduce youngsters to solo hacking.
 
Try hacking with a cyclist as a bridge between going with another horse and going alone. Gives you the reassurance of having someone there if it goes wrong but isn't as much of a comfort blanket as a horse or a person on foot.

I took my horse out with a cyclist for her fourth ever hack and it worked brilliantly. She hacks in any company and alone now, and doesn't find bikes scary either!
 
I never took mine out in hand would worry too much about not being able to hold her. I did it once when bringing her back into work after boxrest but struggled to keep up with her massive walk up our steep hills! With a baby unused to going out alone I would be worried about holding on if anything went wrong.
 
I know mine was long reined out with another (ridden) horse, then hacked out with one other, in groups, and alone - he was going it alone with a couple of weeks of being backed but he is different to yours - very trusting of humans and not worried about any traffic.
 
I did everything u shouldn't including hacking alone from day one but he was very brave and bold by nature . I started on lane then just built it up bit by bit, he never refused to go forward but we did have a few moments (probably more than I remember) but our lanes are pretty quiet and I had noone to hack with ( except the dog ) as a result he is as happy to hack alone as in company and will happily go out with another horse then leave them. I think u have to base decision partly on nature of horse.
 
thanks for your replies - I am trying to do as much as possible with her bonding wise as she seems to cling to me if her mate isn't around!

I hope she won't become nappy in the school, she does do the odd neigh and seems to try and head for the gate - hasn't done anything nasty and she goes when I send her forwards.
 
We always start ours off riding out alone usually with a rider and a foot soldier suitably dressed in hi viz and in the road side of the horse. Found this the best way as drivers are a bit less inclined to run over a human than a horse and usually give them a wide berth. I wouldnt walk out leading a horse on my own but have also long reined them out with a foot soldier at the head end not touching just being there and if the road is quiet they drop back to the horses shoulder or if a scary thing comes along walk smartly up to the head and without touching the horse just walk there again in the road not on the foot path
 
JackDaniels1 said:
thanks for your replies - I am trying to do as much as possible with her bonding wise as she seems to cling to me if her mate isn't around!

I hope she won't become nappy in the school, she does do the odd neigh and seems to try and head for the gate - hasn't done anything nasty and she goes when I send her forwards.
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If she is bonding well with you, looking to you for giving her confidence and generally has a nice calm nature then half you battles are already won.
With a youngster or a horse that is still a bit green it doesn't take long before they become very bored with school work so hacking out and a variety of work is so important for their development.
I started hacking my youngster out with company last year. We then had a couple of walks out around the village as I knew he trusted me enough to behave when I walked beside him. Then we went out and I got on him half way round. He knew where we were and behaved perfectly.
Following that I only hacked him alone for a couple of weeks. Sometimes it went well, other times we had minor hiccups. One time in particular he just stopped and refused point blank to move forward. Normally I would sit it out but this time I got off and carried on walking him, got back on and rode home.
Long reining is fine if you have somebody with you but personally I wouldn't long rein a green horse out alone.
We've passed all manner of scary things, a skip full of plastic that he dared to touch! a tipper lorry unloading gravel and an old chap from the village with his horse and trap. We stop and talk to people, especially those with dogs and I've even had my son skatebording with us. Puddles are still provong to be his biggest nemesis :eek:
 
Could you long rein her out together her used to it all, plus that way she can't see you so will feel alone like she would of you were riding her.

I took my baby on his first alone hack the other day, I thought he would try to stop as he calls a lot, if I take my other horse out he will call and call to him, but he didn't mind going out alone, just did a tiny circular hack to keep him sweet so if try the same with yours :)

Then you can gradually build up to further hacks, I had the same thoughts as you, don't want to ed up with a horse who won't hack alone so I've done it in the early stages. Good luck!
 
I always take youngsters out on their own (with somebody walking alongside if need be) right from the start. We are in a quiet area and I long rein them out first before they are backed, hopefully ironing out any insecurities at that stage. I don't go out with others until I'm happy they are fine alone.
 
Op I have the same thing with my youngster. He is brave but green and not seen much traffic and we have to cross a quiet but fast road which he hates
 
JackDaniels1 said:
thanks for your replies - I am trying to do as much as possible with her bonding wise as she seems to cling to me if her mate isn't around!

I hope she won't become nappy in the school, she does do the odd neigh and seems to try and head for the gate - hasn't done anything nasty and she goes when I send her forwards.
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Could be you are making too much fuss of her, try being more formal, tying up for grooming and tacking, don't treat her like a pet. Don't keep up a conversation all the time, just a few commands, which will be useful if she naps/hesitates.
Make her school work sessions regular, short, and interesting, ignore her "nonsense". she will grow out of it, but you have to make sure you keep her attention, I find gridwork and trotting poles are great, and a tiny jump session at the end if she enjoys it, I am talking crossed poles a foot high.
Use a neck strap, as nearly every young horse will react quickly, which can unbalance the rider.
 
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