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Post by narkymare on Dec 18, 2011 21:50:59 GMT 1
My cob is 8 - he is happy to hack out with other horses btu does nto like going out alone
He knows my OH very well, ive had him 3 years and my OH has seen and led him out daily so the plan was for OH to walk out with us
We did fine through our immediate back lanes and crossing a main road - but in the woods my cob panicked
First planted then when i squeezed him on he span, bucked reared and turned to run home - He was genuineley scared despite my OH being in front.
I was so scared - we were 3 mins from a busy ring road (have to cross it to get to any decent off road hacking) Im in leeds
So any tips? Advice? I really want to get my boy hacking out alone comfortably - roads and traffic he has no problem with, its always on leafy tracks, im woods etc he panics
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Post by jen1 on Dec 18, 2011 21:56:39 GMT 1
what would he do if you got off and led, ? or long reined, or got several good shorter hack under his belt, your kind of committed to seeing it through in the woods now but just work your way upto it, what would happen if lets say you get the the edge of the woods and he then got som kind of bucket feed daft as it sounds, then walk home in hand, just lots of easy and rewarding stuff will help,
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Post by julz on Dec 18, 2011 22:00:34 GMT 1
can you take long lines with you, and part ride part longline in the scary bits. Only if he's comfortable longlining though
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Post by narkymare on Dec 18, 2011 22:09:50 GMT 1
ive never longlined him and tbh would be scared to except in the school - we are ina city and need to cross main roads. I did get off and try to lead him - he wouldnt even do that - he really was frightened, it wasnt naughtiness - his eyes were on one spot so he saw something i didnt
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Post by narkymare on Dec 18, 2011 22:11:29 GMT 1
jen i do like the idea of hiding a bucket of feed in the woods for him to "find" - he is very food orientated"
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Post by tikkatonks on Dec 18, 2011 22:23:09 GMT 1
That sounds like a scary situation...
Does your horse get upset in those places when he is with another horse? Or have you only been in woods alone?
Without seeing you & the horse its always hard to give advice but here are a few ideas...
Are you or any of your friends confident long reining? I think long reining can be good for building your horse's confidence going out alone. You could get a RA or instructor to help you if it is not something you do regularly...
You could build scary tests (in a safe place) to practise getting past/through things that your horse is worried about. You may need to think carefully about what it is about those places that frightens him, dark/ twigs/ leaves/lack of visibilty of what is going on, then try to recreate it. This will boost your confidence that you can deal with things, and his that you are a trustworthy leader. Then when you get really confident perhaps you could build up to trying the places that your horse gets scared out and about.
Another thing that may be worth trying is getting someone you trust who is a competent rider to hack him out for you , they may then be able to assess what is causing the problem and help you to deal with it.
Maybe I am a chicken but I am very careful to avoid any situations that I am not confident I can succeed in. So personally in your situation I would steer clear of the sort of situation that I thought could land me in danger, until I had equipped myself with a strategy and felt confident I would succeed.
Good luck, I am sure you will get lots of ideas that you can experiment with!
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Post by jen1 on Dec 18, 2011 23:54:32 GMT 1
jen i do like the idea of hiding a bucket of feed in the woods for him to "find" - he is very food orientated" i knows it's not very PC, but even to ride him to the cusp of his comfort zone feed and take home and move by a few yards each day does work if not rushed and done till there fed up with it, its easy for both and handler & horse without rocket science code breaking thinking , is it branches he is scared of? i mean an ra would be money very well spent in this case they will do things very different to when im suggesting , just take as long as it takes and if you get the same reaction you know you have gone too quick too soon, but even to start all over by tacking up feeding taking tack off , to tack up feed a very small amount to riding down the rd would build his confidence, and each day just go a little further, the bucket thing ive found gives them the intensive
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Post by jill on Dec 19, 2011 8:28:34 GMT 1
Sort of similar to Jen but clicker or reinforcement train him - reward with a treat for each step. You can carry treats in your pockets - polos are nice and compact. Ride to the edge of where he is happy and get off. Ask for and reinforce a couple of steps towards the woodland, then take him home. Build on that but don't take him to where he is scared - no treats will register through a panic. Just gradually, in hand, extend his comfort zone until he is able to cope with the whole ride - as he learns to cope you will be able to treat less and less.
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Post by jules26 on Dec 19, 2011 12:15:33 GMT 1
Sorry to hear this. On a very basic note, how about your OH clipping a lead rope on before you get to the scary bit and as others have suggested, have plenty of treats in his pocket ready to praise. (You can use a double clipped chain attached to either side of the bit). This should help you feel more confident knowing your OH has a strong hold in case he tries to run home again. When we had our youngster this is what I did with our sharer to introduce him to the woods/rides. Gradually we stopped using the lead rope and just walked beside him. If there was a day when he was 'on his toes' we reverted to using it again. It certainly was the basis for our training for riding out alone.
Good luck
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Post by happysnail on Dec 19, 2011 13:22:17 GMT 1
Might be really positive to have an RA out start building up confidence and partnership skills on the ground and ridden. It would be a great way to turn confidence building into having fun for you, the OH and the horse.
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Post by ruthp on Dec 19, 2011 17:17:04 GMT 1
Hi Narkymare,
What strikes me from your post is that your boy sounds as though he isn't entirely sure that you and or your OH are totally reliable leaders, so when he's out with just you he has to do that role for himself, and he's not very comfortable doing it.
So I'd definitely go with Happysnail's suggestion that you get an RA out to help - firstly they will be able to teach you how to long rein properly, which is a huge confidence building exercise for both of you (and really good fun when you get the hang of it). Also they will be able to help you create the body language of an excellent, trustworthy leader which will really help your boy have that all important confidence in you.
Meanwhile, I'd also carry on hacking out with other horses, and maybe encourage your boy to take the lead sometimes - possibly get him quite far out in front if possible. Also perhaps turn round and go home while the others go on - anything that encourages him to be just that little bit braver, but not so far out of his comfort zone that he can't cope with it.
I'm sure you'd really enjoy exercises that help him build confidence in your leadership - there are lots in Kelly's books - and I know from experience that it can have an amazing impact on your relationship with your horse.
Best of luck - and enjoy the journey!
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Post by wabuska on Dec 19, 2011 18:12:28 GMT 1
The word 'scared' describing how you are feeling appears several times in your post and I would say that's key. I think, and pardon me if I'm wrong, that you are happy to hack out with your husband as much as the horse is, and not happy going out alone.
I entirely understand the feeling, trust me, I do. Still, until you are 100% confident in your own competence to be that calm, consistent leader your horse is going to see right through you and remain afraid.
I had a very spooky, nappy horse two years ago and we walked probably hundreds of miles before the problem was resolved. I was no help to him until I assumed the role of his older sister, taking an eight year old kid on the roller coaster at the local fun fair. Hand holding if you like. If you're unsure of yourself, there's no hiding it from a horse. I think there's great advice here and in Kelly's work about building the relationship.
Sorry if I sound superior... I'm not... I was that soldier! Until I woke up to myself, it was really tough.
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Post by narkymare on Dec 19, 2011 18:23:03 GMT 1
ty so much everyone lot sof excellent advice. I am nto the most confident person though i am improving and i agree my boy must feel this. I will try all yoru suggestions in little baby steps and once xmas is over look into a local ra coming to help us - ty xxx
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Post by wabuska on Dec 19, 2011 18:33:11 GMT 1
You'll feel fantastic that first day when you and your horse have forgotten to worry and just had a grant, gentle hack together.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2011 22:08:49 GMT 1
When I started hacking Talin out I started by riding to the edge of our property and leading back. When we were happy and relaxed with that (note I say WE, becuase I had to be happy with it too) we went out the gate, did literally 3 minutes walking away from home then I got off and led him back and built it up that slowly. It took about 3 months to get us both confident enough that I'd happily ask him to go new places on his own and he was confident enough to do it. I think possibly you're just not breaking it down into enough steps. Aim to make each step so you're taking him to the edge of his comfort zone but not really out of if, then reward as soon as he's good and take him back.
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