Wanted: Hacking mojo

Trewsers

Well-Known Member
Oct 13, 2004
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Has anybody seen mine? It packed up it's trunk and left the circus......:frown: My other thread today has made me feel :cry: about the fact that I can't manage a hack. Useless alone and useless in company. How do I get it back? Feeling a bit woe is me. OH could only come with me with Chloe in hand as of course she cannot be ridden. Do you think this would help or do you think if Storm loses the plot then OH is at risk with Chloe - who would want to follow her leader? We can't afford another hacking horse or lessons atm. Any ideas? I daren't go far alone either as Chloe gets upset on her own. Boo hiss. :help:
Oh and sorry for whinging.
 
How about leading Storm out for in hand hacks, get her seeing the area a bit more and then take her out fully tacked up and jump on board to ride home at first then build up from there?
 
How about leading Storm out for in hand hacks, get her seeing the area a bit more and then take her out fully tacked up and jump on board to ride home at first then build up from there?

So do you think that would be a start - with Chloe and OH following behind? I actually quite like the idea of that, I've never thought about tacking her up but walking in hand.
 
It's just finding what's comfortable for you both, if she's quite clingy to Chloe then maybe in hand hacks alone would be better? Is she nappy or just a little spooky?

Star was both and having other horses with us although good at getting him out at the time, made him more nappy in the long run as he was too used to having his friends about! So we went around on foot for a while, he was never actually that scared to be by himself, just a stubborn bugger! :rolleyes:
 
i would either tack up and lead with your OH (with/without Chloe), or just ride out with them. I often ride Moet out with my OH walking with the dogs as do many people on here.

do agree with the above though, i would be trying to improve their separation, so with OH walking without Chloe, or you leading Storm on your own then getting on at some point
 
Walking Belle out in hand when she first had her shoes off was the best thing ever for my hacking mojo. Made me see just how she reacted or not and that she really wasn't going to do anything stupid.
Just try it and see how you go, no pressure on yourself to ride and I bet you will soon be jumping on board for the ride home, especially if like me you have a lot of very steep hills.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I need to stop making excuses and start trying again. I was doing so well - but the winter and snow (more excuses I know) made me play it safe and stay in the school all of the time.
 
What's your definition of a hack? Going out and about with your horse, who says you need to be on board?
The cob as you may know is not confident to be ridden so she is led out, she is calm then and learning the world is a bigger place than the herd, but I bring her back to it. I don't mind leading because if it was the other way round and I wanted leading I would wouldn't I.

A nice pair of walking boots and sandwiches. :smile:
 
I have similar issues tbh.

I am ok on Evie but after the episode with the cows the other day and Cherie, I am not sure I feel up to the challenge, its easier just not to bother lol.

Its either, tractors, lorries horse boxes or cows or even fire engines on the odd occasion. I am heartedly sick of it, I am slowly getting to know every tractor driver in the vicinity, flippin pony will get used to the dammed things before I am finished. Its just so exhausting having to worry every time I take her out and then having the inevitable challenging battle.

I have one farmer I have persuaded to bring his tractor round so we can blitz the monkey business in the field, I also have a mate with a big lorry, so I am roping him in as well:giggle:

The cows are coming into the next field shortly....that will sort her, she is such a monkey.

I feel too old for all the shenanigans:frown:

The thing is, she loves going out and sulks when I don't take her, she is also really comfy, one of them ponies you could sit on all day and go for miles.....if she would just get used to large vehicles:frown:

Shes ok with buses and motor bikes so what's her problem:rolleyes:

I have tried getting other people to ride her in case its me, but oh no! even worse results both jockeys ended up somewhere round her side head down:giggle:
 
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I would forget about taking Chloe and concentrate going on your own. My advice is to simply build it up very, very slowly. You could start with by just sitting on Storm outside the school. The next day - go 10m up the path and turn round again. The next day, go 20m and turn round. The next day, go into a field and do a little circle.

I built my confidence up by doing very short, very simple tasks. While the rest of my yard may have thought that I had gone insane, it meant that I built up my confidence to the extent that I can now amble around most of the farm on my own (some 250 acres). You can do it, you just need to believe that you can.
 
Agree with the others do a bit in hand, tacked up, you can always pop on and off if you feel like it (although with me that is if you feel like it and there is a handy log or wall there!)

I would take Chloe along, I had the problem when I went out alone last summer having had the girls together all winter and not having gone very far that not only was May a bit spooky I was worried about her friend doing something silly in the field while waiting for us so actually we took her along for a few times, while may remembered where we were going and her friend realised when we did then leave her that we would be back and I wasn't feeling worried about it either..

More recently we have been doing in hand walks and if nothing else while getting fit you might eventually just think "Blow this for exercise I am getting on " :giggle:
 
Thanks for all the tips. I am not in a good place altogether mentally atm - and sadly this is reflecting on my riding like it always does. Talk about bag of nerves - just been in the school and its windy. A large ball of escaped hay blew down the yard towards us and I spooked before she did!!!! There is no hope!
 
Some good suggestions as always!!

Get your OH to go with you, could you ride one and get your OH to walk one in hand...so you all get to go out??

Me & OH will take two ponios out at a time (i ride one he leads one)

I must admit i hate hacking...just too many 'dangers' if you like...i can never relax....

Fun rides are different though, as they are usually all off road on private estates...pure bliss...!

Dont feel too down about it though Trews, we all have nerves!! I refuse to go hacking on the roads round by us without my OH!! (What a wuss lol!) :tongue:
 
How is your long reining? I personally think long rein hacks are better for giving a horse confidence then leading in hand as your still there at the horses head nannying it. With all my driving and riding horses Ive spent alot of time long rein hacking. It gives them confidence to step out alone and listen and take heed in what you are wanting of them.

ETA: it also gives you an insight in being able to watch your horses reactions to things from behind, it gives a really good insight into what your horse is thinking without concentrating on staying on to! I think it is a great confidence boost for both horse and handler/rider.
 
Sometimes when I plan to go for a ride, the closer I get to going down to get my horse, I get more and more nervous. Because I'm better these days with my confidence, I will stop and really think about it, why is this feeling coming back. As part of my assessment of what's wrong, I'll reconsider my options - different route, different activity - hacking, schooling, walk in hand, ground work in the field, or just a groom. Often I find that as soon as I tweak my plans by for instance just changing my intended route, I find I'm ok and realise that's what I was worried about.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that you need to look through all the fab suggestions we are making on here, and assess yourself how each one makes you feel. The one that seems least nerve racking is the one to start with. For me, my order of confidence building went something like this -
1. Walk around inside the field Inhand
2. Walk out (always circular to inhibit the chance of the whole napping or spin and run thing) with experienced friend leading flipo, showing me the best way to safely lead so if he danced, I was out of harms way.
3. Walk out in hand with friend there as safety net.
4. Walk out with friend stationed strategically half way round to check on my progress and reassure me.
5. Walk out in hand all over the place
6. Walk out Inhand while friend rode
7. Ride back from the school after session with friend in ground with us - I had this silly feeling that my bottom got stickier and more comfy in the saddle with time.
8. Mini hacks with friend walking at flipo's head
9. Mini hacks with friend at flipo's girth
10. Mini hacks with friend behind us.
11. Mini hacks with friend at strategic points or going slightly different routes behind hedges etc to give illusion that they were still there but not really.
12. Back back from school solo after a session
13. Mini hacks alone
14. Longer hacks with friend on her horse.
15. Longer hacks solo.

It's take AGES for me to get to were I am, but I'm a determine bugger and the process wasn't linear. If I intended to go and ride out on a mini hack solo and felt my nerves flare too high, I'd reassess and drop back to walking out solo Inhand. No shame, no pressure. Do what's within your comfort zone or just outwith it a little. Go into the school, if it feels like a good day, assess at the time and decide what you can do. Go out with Chloe and your oh, maybe let him get a little behind while Chloe has a wee picnic and extend the distance between you and him.
Good luck mrs and keep us uptodate. Maybe a hacking diary?!!!
 
Thanks for all the tips. I am not in a good place altogether mentally atm - and sadly this is reflecting on my riding like it always does. Talk about bag of nerves - just been in the school and its windy. A large ball of escaped hay blew down the yard towards us and I spooked before she did!!!! There is no hope!

That's how I am. If my 'mental state' is not good it really affects my riding.

Sometimes you think 'right, everything is a mess and I am totally stressed, I will go out and blow my cares away', it doesn't often happen with me with riding in general, I tend to take the worries with me in my sub conscious:frown:

My best riding experiences really only happen when the rest of my life is 'right'.

I have got to the stage where I have realised that I don't actually have any riding or horse nerves, I mean, why would I? 45 plus years and nothing has every really gone wrong between me and the trusty four legged, its the rest of life that gets me down and then has a knock on effect with my confidence.

I am still working at things, but if I have a bad day or two, or however long, I just do what I can and leave what I can't.

Sometimes I even go out on Evie and feel nervous and I think, why? she doesn't put a foot wrong and I have only ever fallen off her once in 12 years:rolleyes:

I am sure you will get back on track once your other issues are resolved:smile:

P.S. I break things down like Flipo suggests, also a few people suggested to me a while back, do it early so you don't spend all day working yourself up
 
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need to stop making excuses and start trying again. I was doing so well - but the winter and snow (more excuses I know) made me play it safe and stay in the school all of the time.

Quite apart from the safe horse questions, dont beat yourself up. The weather and the horses' attitude this Spring has not been condusive to hacking. There is our own health and energy too. Both me and my escort got some sort of virus - I caught it off her.
For the first time in 11 years riding I havent ridden this week as it is half term. The only horse I have to hack just now is stop gap, utilitarian, and the weather still vile, so I felt why bother? When you feel ready, and happy to try - that's the moment to resume.
 
Thank you all so much - lots of good sense here !!:smile: It has really helped me to write it down and read through all your replies - I think there are many many helpful things here which I can use. I think the problem is sometimes with me that I see the end "goal" which for me is to take Storm down to the farm and back or around our fields and back I get so obsessed about it I have an inability to break it down into the smaller pieces which I know will be helpful and lead to me getting where I want to be.
I guess yesterday seeing an old friend out hacking made me feel envious - and rather like I'd not moved on - it was almost 9 years since I last saw them and I realised I hadn't progressed with my hacking at all, I'd actually gone backwards.

I think I will start a hacking diary too - good idea Flipo!
 
Thanks for all the replies. I need to stop making excuses and start trying again. I was doing so well - but the winter and snow (more excuses I know) made me play it safe and stay in the school all of the time.

I know exactly how you feel. I happily walk, trot, canter, jump in the school and trust Poppy 100% there, and I KNOW I can handle her spooks, but I've still got a total mental block about going out hacking. This weekend I need to start getting over it so will ride her in the school then take her out for a walk in hand, tacked up, afterwards. I lead her around all over the yard by her bridle, and it's a good 20 acres, and she's no trouble (apart from the time I electrocuted both of us, but that was understandable) so I don't know why I am so nervous about it! Will have to rope in a foot soldier I think.
 
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