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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

First hack outside of lessons - terrified.

6 replies

WildFlowerBees · 25/09/2022 07:20

I've agreed to hack with some others on an unknown horse with a view to part loan. Outside of my 'dead' rs horse I haven't ridden. I am all of a sudden really nervous.

Any tips to get some perspective? If I get there and the horse doesn't feel right, I won't be getting on!

OP posts:
Lastqueenofscotland2 · 25/09/2022 07:37

If you’ve never ridden outside an rs first and foremost be reallly realistic and honest about your ability. You are a novice rider. Make sure they know that.
Tell them you are a bit nervous make ask to ride in the arena first and if you aren’t 100% sure you’ve got the hang of his breaks don’t go hacking as hell likely be more forward out of the arena.
Breathe deep and sit deep! But also remember it’s ok to decide that actually you might not be ready

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 25/09/2022 07:51

Also have you hacked on an RS horse before? If not I’d be inclined to do this a few times first.

WildFlowerBees · 25/09/2022 08:06

I have hacked before but a long time ago and not since I restarted lessons. Told her I'm not confident. I may decide not to ride after all but it'll be nice to meet her and the horses for the future.

OP posts:
maxelly · 25/09/2022 12:37

Yes, everything that Last says, be honest about your abilities and don't worry about saying that you are nervous either, much better to be upfront than blase or overconfident. At every step from arriving on the yard to actually going out be fully prepared to back out if it doesn't feel right and safe, even if this puts the lady to mild inconvenience, look out for number 1 and don't be persuaded into anything beyond your competence level to suit what other want.

In terms of tips for when actually riding, I know it's easier said than done but you need to force yourself to be relaxed and almost floppy through your entire body, if you are carrying a lot of tension in your arms or seat or legs the horse will pick up on it and it may make him tense or joggy and this in turn will make you more tense too. Ask the owner of she can put a neck strap on (easy to make one from a spare stirrup leather) and if you feel the need to hang on, hold onto that rather than the reins, most privately owned horses are a lot less tolerant than riding school ones of being pulled in the mouth so if you feel unbalanced try not to pull on the reins. If there are 3 or more of you riding ask to go in the middle and a quiet horse should then just follow nicely on a loose contact without you having to do a lot of steering or leg, if you do need to put an aid on start very gently until you've gauged his reactiveness/sensitivity, the RS horses will likely have taught you to do a big kick to get going and a big pull to stop or turn but never do this on an unknown horse (even a RS one) as you could get much more of a reaction than you were counting on! I find talking to someone else, or to my horse, or even singing does the trick to relax me and make sure I remember to breathe...

It's very important to make sure the others in the group are sensible and follow good etiquette i.e. only trot or canter when the whole group agrees, stay in order, no overtaking unless forewarned and agreed, steady canters only or none at all if you have a nervous rider or green horse with you. I know it's a bit awkward but I'd check this is the shared understanding with the whole group not just the owner you are going to see, before setting out and make it one of my boundaries not to go at all if they don't explicitly agree, there's a few people on my yard frankly I would avoid hacking out with at all and particularly not if I had someone remotely nervous or novicey or just of unknown ability with me, even on my own very reliable horse, because they think no hack is complete without several fast canters regardless of ground conditions or other circumstances and are given to taking off very quickly side by side with little or warning which is just frankly unsafe, I'm a pretty secure rider but what if I was fiddling with my stirrup and not ready to go, or a walker with a buggy or dog appeared round a corner, an accident could easily occur. Sadly my experience is these types are to be found on most yards so be assertive and prepared to turn back if your boundaries aren't stuck to. That being said they are the minority and most people are absolutely lovely and very considerate and I'd have thought once you get going you'll love it, there's nothing like a nice hack on a sunny day to put you into spirits, enjoy!

WildFlowerBees · 25/09/2022 17:32

I don't know what I was worried about, I'm more confident than I gave myself credit for and had a lovely hours hack.

OP posts:
maxelly · 26/09/2022 15:16

Brilliant, that's nice to hear! Are you going to go ahead with the share?

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