Going SOLO

Follow our simple tips to turn hacking alone from stressful to joyful

YOUR HORSE IS all tacked up and ready to go out, but then your phone rings. Your riding buddy has had to cancel. Your mind is filled with a sense of dread as you psyche yourself up for yet another fraught, anxious, solo hack filled with napping and spooking. Soon you decide it would be best to ditch the whole notion and stay home and school instead. Sound familiar?

Lots of horses act completely differently when riding out with their equine buddies compared to going solo — they’ll be a perfect angel in company, but turn into a snorting dragon when they’re alone.

At Your Horse magazine we believe that hacking is one of the great joys of owning a horse, and that you should be able to look forward to riding out. So, if this isn’t what you’re experiencing at the moment, try our top tips for a happy solo hacking experience.

When trying anything new, the important thing is to take it slowly. If your horse is nervous when he’s on his own, is young or a bit green, or if he simply wants to be back in his field, it’s essential to make hacking a fun experience. Start small — just ride up the driveway, turn around and come back. Little by little, extend the distance — and before you know it, you’ll be out for hours!

If your horse stops or spooks at something, let him have a minute, then ask him to walk on. Be soothing and gentle, encouraging him forwards. Think relaxed and try to avoid tensing up — your horse will feel this and stress even more.

You may find that your horse picks certain spots where he’ll nap. Here the most important thing to do is not give in and turn for home. Instead, encourage him forwards — you’re in charge and he doesn’t get to dictate how long you stay out for.

Also, don’t be afraid to explore new routes. In fact, that’s one of the best things you can do with a spooky or nappy horse.

This way he gets to see new things, have new experiences and grow in confidence. Remember that every horse and rider is different, so there are lots of things you can try. If your horse gets quite fizzy when out on his own, lunge him before you set off. If your own confidence has been knocked by previous solo hacking incidents, go out with another rider, but ask them to hang back, or ‘leapfrog’ with your horse so that he gets used to going on ahead and being further away from his companion. Having someone on foot will also help, or you could start by taking your horse out in-hand. You’ll be able to communicate with him from the ground, helping him be less afraid of scary objects.