The great outdoors
Take your training out of the arena — we show you how
IT’S NOT UNUSUAL for riders to be fearful of leaving the arena — there’s all sorts you might encounter in the big wide world and lots of scenarios for you (and your horse) to deal with. This fear can affect the way you ride. You may become tense, shorten your reins, grip with your knees, tip forward and, without meaning to, send a message to your horse that there’s a reason for everyone to be afraid — and then he’ll be on the lookout too. It doesn’t need to be like this — after all, hacking is the time you’re supposed to be at your most relaxed, enjoying moments with your horse. There’s plenty you can do to nip any fear firmly in the bud, though, and here trainer and eventer Tanya Bridgeman has plenty of tips to make your time out of the arena as fun and carefree as it should be.
MAKING A START
“When it comes to riding in open spaces, particularly after the winter when your horse may have only been exercised in the school, or not ridden at all, many riders can feel nervous,” says Tanya. “There’s only so much speed your horse can get up in a 20x40m arena, and if things do get a bit tricky, it’s relatively easy to deal with.
“When riding out, though, much of what happens is out of your control and this is the scary bit. Horses can be fresh when venturing out for the first time after a winter break, so take small steps towards the big outdoors by moving the boundaries bit by bit.”
First, try boxing your horse to a venue nearby for a training session in a different outdoor arena. It’s a little party for him and, if he does get silly, you’re in a safe place.
“If your horse hasn’t been worked much over the winter, or turnout has been restricted, it’s not wise to go straight out on a hack,” warns Tanya. “Think of it as a progression of experiences — adding one new thing in, letting your horse cope with that, then giving him something else to think about. “Work with the weather too, delaying your first escape from the school until it’s safe.”
THE NEXT STEPS
A good next step is to work in a small paddock at home. It’s still an open space, but is less daunting than going on a hack. “Lungeing your horse first can be a handy way to settle him before you get on,” says Tanya. “Horses tend to be more forward going when out of the arena and working in the field will build your confidence in being able to handle this. “Long-reining is useful too, but only if you’re experienced with it and can avoid getting dragged or tangled in the lines.” Ask yourself if your horse has enough respect in you to stop and turn when you ask him to. If not, then avoid it. “Long-reining can be useful for giving a young horse confidence away from the arena, but he will need to be introduced to it carefully,” adds Tanya.
IT PAYS TO PLAN
There are lots of ways you can plan ahead for a successful ride in the open. “If you’re intending to hack and you or your horse is nervous, go out with two other riders and get them to sandwich you between their sensible mounts. Of course, ensure they’re all friends first!” says Tanya.
“Think about the route too. If you need to go over a railway bridge, check the train times so you’re not halfway across when an express roars below.” The same goes for dog walkers. If you think your horse may get silly around dogs, go out at a time of day when there are fewer around.
“Come to an agreement with your hacking pals that everyone will ride to the level of the least confident in the group. They shouldn’t be forced to do things they’re not capable of handling. Hacking out is supposed to be fun for everyone,” adds Tanya.
KEEPING THE LID ON
“Treat your initial hacks as if you’re still in the school to keep your horse focused and listening,” says Tanya. ‘Ride transitions, shoulder-in, leg-yield, go from walk to halt to walk and so on, keeping the contact, but not holding tight.
“Stay relaxed and have a plan — every 50m you’re going to do a leg-yield, then shoulder-in, for instance — anything to keep your horse thinking. But remember, the work doesn’t have to be perfect”. Bending to the inside then the outside before going straight is a very useful exercise if you need to get past something your horse is worrying about.
“By keeping the contact throughout this work, you’ll feel through the reins if your horse is becoming tense or is about to spook, and you can be ready for it. As you both get more confident about being out of the arena, you can do less and less of this work,” adds Tanya.
DEALING WITH DISTRACTIONS
Horses can lose focus at times and it pays to be ready for this.
“I’d suggest putting your stirrups up a couple of holes so you’re truly secure — and don’t hack in a dressage saddle if you can avoid it,” says Tanya. “A GP or jumping saddle is ideal.”
Tanya also suggests using a breastplate to stop your saddle slipping and a neck strap to hook your fingers under if you need a bit of extra security. “Horses also need some fun, though, so if yours starts gently bunny-hopping, see if you can be brave enough to let him continue for a few seconds before asking him to move on. I like to think of it as my horses having a giggle, and I don’t always want to suppress it.” Doing spook-proofing work at home during the winter is a key exercise. “Place poles, barrels, fillers, blocks and so on in the school as you work, especially if you’re going to be eventing,” says Tanya. “If you can, always work with something in the school so it just becomes second nature to your horse. Work in the arena with other horses too.” Meeting horses when out hacking can cause a bit of excitement for your horse and stress for you.
“If they are turned out and are gallivanting around their field, running along the fence line and winding your horse up, try to stay calm yourself, reassuring your horse at the same time,” says Tanya. “Let him stand and watch them — saying hi from a distance — and give him time to take stock.” As the horses settle, you should be able to move off. If you meet horses and riders coming towards you or hear them approaching from behind, use hand signals to ask them to slow or stop. Don’t shout as this could upset your horse and they may not hear you anyway, especially if they’re riding at speed. “Wearing hi-vis helps as the riders will be able to spot you,” adds Tanya.
FROMROM SAFETY COMES CONFIDENCE
“I’m a great believer in using as much safety equipment as you need to feel confident in the saddle,” says Tanya.
“If wearing a body protector or air jacket helps you relax and ride more effectively, then use one. There’s absolutely no stigma in it and don’t let anyone pressurise you into anything different.”
Hi-vis is also vital. Both you and your horse should wear it, and invest in kit with LED lights if you can. The brighter you are, the more easily you will be seen by anyone you meet, on and off the road.
“I regularly get asked by riders if it’s worth dismounting if they start to wobble, especially if their horse is excited,” says Tanya. “Everyone feels differently about this, but I would rather stay on board. I know my horse isn’t going to pull away from me and I’m more likely to stay in control.
“I feel the same about going for hacks in-hand, although if you’ve got a sensible horse and it helps you psychologically, then do it. However, check you’re insured for this activity first. You may need to wear a bridle and hi-vis for your insurance to be valid. Definitely look into that.”
THE BENEFITS OF VENTURING OUT
Although we may feel more secure in the arena, time spent hacking can work magic on both you and your horse. Hacking needs additional skills to the ones you use when schooling. You may have hills and different terrain to tackle. There’ll be cars, obstacles, f lags, children on trampolines, and so on. Dealing with all of this helps you to become a much more skilful rider, particularly in terms of balance and awareness. Once your confidence is sorted, you can relax more too, which is very good for the mindset. Horses love hacking and it can help them in all sorts of ways. A horse who is stuffy and not particularly forward can be transformed by hacking, and it can do wonders for his paces — the mediums are always easier to achieve on a hack. You can school on a hack and he will barely know he’s training, which prevents him getting sour. He’ll get braver and your bond will strengthen as you learn to trust one another. His fitness will improve too. Always be careful of the going and don’t do fast work if it’s hard or very wet. Remember that trotting on the roads should be done with extreme care too.