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Urgh, I hate hacking in winter!!

2K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  thesilverspear 
#1 ·
I really really don't like hacking my loan horse.
I used to only hack last year on ex racehorses, and loved it!
In the school, she is such a gem, lots of cuddles and pats for her then...
She is just way too strong on a hack, especially once we head towards home. I felt so unsafe today, once we got about 15 minutes from home (going out) everywhere was just ICE! And when we head home she tries to trot (Found out her owner encourages it down certain roads when he used to train her for endurance and says it's just a "bad habit") but when it's so slippery it's too dangerous! We had a lot of slipping today and a near bad tumble. Then she refuses to halt. It's a big issue when there's a car coming. I can't have her not stop when I ask!
She also yanks on the reins when heading home, my hands were so stiff and almost stuck to the reins after, I don't understand why it's a completely different story in the school?
She has a snaffle bit for the school and a pelhem with curb chain and martingale for hacking.
I think it'll be better in the summer when it's less dangerous, I was so disheartened today, 3 out of 4 hacks have been disasters, yet every schooling session has been amazing :(
 
#2 ·
Some horses just get strong and more excited out in the open. I would definitely wait to go down the road and stuff until its less icy!! Ice can be dangerous to ride on especially when you dont have control over your horse. I would suggest waiting until the ground isnt icy and then perhaps go out with a friend until you have better control. Something that might help is to work on transitions. i have had similar problems with my mare and it has taken a lot of time and patience. It has helped to keep her busy and thinking though so shes not just concentrating on going back to the barn! good luck and i hope this helps!!
 
#4 ·
She has a snaffle bridle for the school and a full on pelhem with martingale for hacking. The hacks by myself have been the worst, I did have a really nice hack with someone else from the yard (even if it was raining) and she was better behaved. Maybe I should just go on hacks in pairs to stat with.
 
#6 ·
I just don't go out under 20 degrees. Rigid, snorting, fire breathing dragons are soooo much fun to ride...not! I love the more energetic horse and no bugs, but super strong and strong willed is so not fun.
 
#9 ·
I'd wait for the ice to clear, first of all. Unless I have proper winter shoes with snow pads and borium, which is sadly not done in Britain, I won't go out in conditions like that.

If my horse wants to be strong on the trail, she has work. Hard. Shoulder-in, half-pass, turns on the haunches, lots of little circles, reinback, anything I can think of. The other trick is when you come back to the barn, go out again in a different direction. She normally doesn't play that game but sometimes has her moments, like on Monday when I had her out after a winter of very little hacking and she'd forgotten the rules. She absolutely perfect until looked at her watch, realised it was tea time, and then wanted to hurry back to the barn. We circled, shoulder in'ed, the lot, until she agreed to behave and then I stayed on the road PAST the barn for a couple hundred yards, before turning around.

The thing to not do is ride a prancy, pulling horse back to the stable and then get off and finish your ride. This will only encourage the behaviour.
 
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