No confidence hacking alone now...

[kt with Hanni]

Hi everyone,

As you may know I seem to have so far nearly conkered my fear of riding in open fields...however...I'm having a bit of a confidence issue hacking alone. Normally when i've tried previousl Hanni is very reluctant and sometimes stops dead and won't move any further...however today I took him along the side of a field which is right by the campsite with lots of scary stuff! Surprisingly he was very forward going about hacking out alone although he neighed once and was much more spooky than normal. Some terrier dogs decided to start barking and run up to the fence behind a bush which completely spooked Hanni sideways (something he never usually does!). We carried on but Hanni was very much on his toes and I was getting nervous...I decided to make the ride short as I thought if he senses i'm nervous it won't be good news. At one point he stopped and tried to turn around but I asked him to walk forward a few more paces so he didn't turn around when he wanted to go home and I still had control. I really wanted to carry on further but I was nervous. I have had someone walking next to me before which works fine and Hanni likes to follow them but whenever I go out alone its as if his anxiety levels increase and me being nervous won't help! Is there any bach flower rememedy I could give him for anxiety? It doesn't help at the moment as he has fallen in love with a mare in the next door field although she isn't one bit interested! Hanni seems at his optimum when he is with the rest of the herd. What can I do? Thanks guys

[wozzer]

Must admit I am braver with horse (or human) company ;D

Have you got Kelly's books She tells us how to tell the difference between your horse being genuinely scared or just being a nelly and you do this by feeling for Hanni's heartbeat through your left knee through the saddle (LOL - if you know what I mean).

If he "plants" and stops dead. Try and get him to go to either one side or another by using an open rein, or maybe even to go backwards. I sometimes reverse past things that Lincoln doesn't like!

How about you try the same route again tomorrow, perhaps with someone on foot with you? That way Hanni will get used to this little hack and you might feel more confident to go on your own at some future time.

Lincoln also neighs when hacking out alone ;D I just ignore him when he does that, and when he is being good I talk to him and give him a little stroke down the neck and tell him how beautiful he is - try it, it helps relax you both ;D.

Let us know how you get on. Remember, you have to be the brave person, not the horse! Something sticks with me from one of Kelly's books "if you had to take a child into dark woods at night, you would hold their hand and pretend you weren't frightened - even if you were".

I think it was you that said recently you hacked out with a younger girl and so you had to be in charge and brave for all of you. Try and get that thought back - be a brave leader for Hanni.

Good luck and let us know how you get on! xx

[kt with Hanni]

Thanks Wozzer good advice :-) will have a go! I've got Kelly's Perfect Manners book is it in there? Yeh that was me about the 11 year old girl on a spooky pony. I'm supposed to be riding with her tomorrow. Will try Hanni again on his own at the weekend. I think maybe i'm trying to sort out too many problems at once?

[spruce]

I know how you feel Kt. My lad is terribly nappy when ridden out alone and at our last yard I had no-one to hack out with so had to ride alone. We were doing ok and his nappiness wasn't as bad.

Since moving to our current fields, we've done 99% of our hacking in company and we've been having a blast, loads of fun. However, my nerves when hacking alone have returned and he's been nappy - its a vicious circle. He naps, I get nervous, he gets nervous and naps more, I get even more nervous..... you can see what happens.

I've started taking him for walks out in hand which has helped us both get used to going out alone.

The saying from Kelly's book that Wozzer posted is a great reminder, thanks Wozzer. I'll have to remember that when I'm out again.

Good luck with Hanni.

[amarche]

Hi kt - I've not anything to add to the excellent advice already given but to wish you well - and having someone walk out on foot is sooooo good for helping with these kind of issues - if you can persuade someone to walk with you that is

try also to do short circular rides with a horse that's not happy with going out alone, if you get to a point where you always turn around then you may develop a napping problem....and remember too that mares are coming into season -
of course he'd much prefer staying at home chatting up the ladies ;D

[giftgirl]

hey
i just got kelly marks' book "perfect parteners" and it has really helped me a lot
about the bach flower remedies: aspen,rock rose,mimulus or larch may help.
here is a good website i found that explains the remedies uses for horses instead of for humans
it is: www.dogstuff.info/bach_flower_remedies_doglogic.html
hope that helped
good luck with your hacking
giftgirl xx

[kt with Hanni]

Thanks everyone. Had a lovely hack today but in company.... we are now cantering in open fields under control. The advice you gave me works really well. I never always canter in the same place and I always ask for walk first then trot a while then slowly when I feel in control of the trot I go in to canter! It was so fantastic no bucking!! Will try and master the hacking alone another day...

[giftgirl]

go you!!
try to take that confidence from hacking in company and use it when you hack on your own.
you could even pretend that you have someone with you, if it makes you feel more confident.
good luck with hanni!
giftgirl xx