Hacking alone

[cassandra]

Hello,

has anyone got any advice how to teach a horse to hack confidently alone?
My 5 year old is now fine going out in company even leading but he is not very good by hmself.

I took him out this morning and after a 10 min trott - he was quiet fresh we came to a gate. As I tried to open the gate he spun around and gallopped home in the process dumping me in the biggest puddle by trowing in some bucks.Horse fine and I am fine but confidence is slightly shattered.

Thanks,
Anja

[em]

Hi cassandra

What a rather scary event to happen to you both and as you say it does rather shake every ones confidence levels... sadly in general what i am learning from my experiences with MSC and indeed with my own daughters pony is that what you have experienced is really only a symptom of deeper issues regarding confidence etc

I am afraid I found that actually I just didnt have the correct knowledge to deal with this sort of thing ... so I am not really able to advise you as I handed over the healing/training responsibility over to MSC.... also it is very difficul to advise some one without seeing you both together because so many differing variables could be going on that maybe through no fault of your own you are unaware off.....

Having said all that I really hope you find a way through and this sort of thing doesnt excalate... keep us posted and sending you good luck vibes......

Em

[lisandsaf]

oh dear,, this is something you need to deal with asap,, if you leave it things could go from bad to worse in the confidence stacks for you both...
Have you got an instructor or experienced person that can help you through these problems..
Did something spook the horse and he just took off or was he seeing an opportunity to be nawty an hightail it...

Horses that usually bolt for home do it because either they can,, or because they lack trust in you as their leader and dont feel safe,,,
Whats the horse like on the ground for you to handle,, you could try taking him out in hand..to get him used to different sights etc,, then may be you could ride him withsome on foot with you..
There are lots of ways to deal with this but i do think you need to get help and address the matter quickly..

Hope that helps

Lisa an Saf

[liz]

I agree with the above. I'd say more work on the ground, more schooling and the help of an experienced person. He's still young and how he progresses depends on how much education he has received and how he was taught! Good luck - I'm sure, with help, he will settle.

[janebaily]

Hi Cassandra

Whatever you do, do not feel a failure for doing things on the ground. If you feel you have lost your confidence for the time being attempting to take him out on your own, you are not alone.

If you are happy riding him in company, keep doing this for the time being to keep him going out and getting used to things. I used to walk my youngster out in hand, along with someone else, until he got used to going out on his own. making it short and sweet at first.

I do agree with the others. The more you do on the ground, the more he will learn to have confidence in you, and respect you.

But please dont beat yourself up about it, do it at your pace, even if it is a slow progess, and enjoy it and dont put pressure on yourself. We all have confidence issues.

Take care and loads of best wishes

Jane xx

[ange]

Hi Anja,

My first question would be - has he opened gates with you on him before, or, as you've been riding in company, does someone else always do it?

If he's not done it before, or only once or twice, then try practicing it out with company - do every gate that you can until he doesn't even think about it any more - it might have been just one thing too many for him to take in that day, especailly as he is young.

In one of your other posts elsewhere you mentioned that you have a Jockey friend who rides him for you - has he/she taken him out alone for you, and do they have the same problems? It may be a general confidence thing for your horse, or it may be that YOU are not able to give him the support he needs to feel confident when out alone (knowing this may help you to know how much you need to work on him v/s how much on you).

I experienced this with my youngster Kia - my instructor (who was also by coincidence a P-2-P jockey and uber-confident) had no problem - she didn't even look at tractors when he rode her, whereas I had major problems getting past them, even when out with company! (Her preference was also to bolt for home if she felt threatened.)

So ... I knew she could be fine with the right person on board, and spent some time trying to become that person before I sadly had to admit that I never would, KIa's needs and my riding desires were never going to meet very well - that doesn't mean that you can't do it though, as it really is an individual thing, but if you decide you can't please don't feel that you have failed either yourself or your horse - you really are not alone, as you can see from all of the replies!

Cheers, Ange.

[cassandra]

Hi Everybody,

thanks for all the replies!!! My Jockey hacked him out the same day and he tried to spin at the same gate and canter home. Only that Chris doesn't take any nonsense and unlike me was prepared and didn't fall off :-)

After that Scrumpy was as good as gold :-)
I took him out twice in company last week and all was fine. The next step will be my Jockey riding him out a bit more by himself and then I will while he is walking with me.

I might have to add that Scrumpy wasn't ridder for a week when I took him out last Monday and was very fresh.

So hopefully all will be fine!!!!

Thanks Again,
Anja