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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Sep 2014 : 10:34:38 PM
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Today I took my boy on a 'hunt ride'...not a real hunt, just a fast hack round a nearby estate in a big group with no hounds. Was a charity thing. Not many of these happen in may area.
So it was his first time is such a big group. Approx 20-30 horses split into 2 groups. A faster more experienced group and a novicey one. We went with the novices...we didnt need to jump if we didnt want to...good as storms not jumped yet.
I thought his brain was going to explode at the beginning. The ride was trotting on casually and he was going backwards, sideways, coiling into a spring about to explode. I nearly went back thinking it was too much for him...hes only ever been out with 2 horses before. Girl from yard encouraged me to keep going. Im glad I did...it was a good experience for him.
He was better at the back of ride without other horses shooting up behind him and he could see what was going on in front. There was quite a bit of walking, some good gallops (our brakes werent bad!..in a snaffle too). We went to a river for some to paddle in. We are working on the water issue so didnt want to ruin our good work with flowing water attacking his legs. We did manage to walk through the water complex. We also jumped a muddy dip like a ditch jumping pro!
He did calm down on the tracks but was buzzy at times in the fields. 
I enjoyed it but I got the feeling he didnt. I think he was a bit overwhelmed and stressed by it all. He couldnt wait to get back in his horsebox...something he never does. Hes not a good loader but he almost ran in. Then was desperate to get out to the field to his chums.
The other week I took him on a farm ride..was only 3 of us. We cantered round the fields taking our turn at going at back/front etc....I got really happy vibes off him. Today I didnt. Hes not bold at all and hes a worrier. He kept looking for the other girls from yards horse. I had hoped this would bring him out his shell a bit. Think maybe it was too much too soon for him? Id of thought after an hr and half he'd of relaxed and started to enjoy it but he didnt seem to.
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garnet
Platinum Member
2382 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2014 : 10:43:27 PM
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| Maybe do some more farm rides with a small group or the sort of fun ride where you aren't in a big group and can go at your own pace. He was probably just so excited he didn't know what to do with himself and when he's been out and about a bit more he will cope better. It's a pity there aren't many things like this in your area but could a group of you share hire of a farm ride? |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2014 : 10:45:03 PM
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| Sometimes you have to make a little leap of faith with young horses and hope it works out or you'll never make it out of the yard. You came to no harm although you didn't think he enjoyed it - maybe in a years time he'll be fine with it? I think a hunt ride would be too exciting for my 15 year old so it def depends on temperament. Well done though for trying. |
   
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2014 : 11:06:37 PM
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The yard owner is going to speak nicely to the estate owner to see if we can go back and hack round. It literally 5 min drive up the road. It would be good if we were allowed to.
The farm ride I took him to the other week only allow hire of the tracks during summer months or while weather lasts. Hopefully get him back a couple more times before the fields get shut for winter.
I think it may of been the number of strange horses he was unsure of rather than what we were doing. When hes happy you can almost see him smiling.
Theres a similar one start of november in a different nearby estate. I can imagine it being busy too as people dont get many opportunities like it. Hacking in my area is terrible. Think Ill have to see how his confidence develops. |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2014 : 01:11:07 AM
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I have been with Armos on some treks with up to 50 horses and he always behaved well but it was mostly at walk (hard to manage so many horses at higher speeds) maybe you could find some groups who just do slow hacking but on longish distances to start with?and always go with a couple of horses he knows already and stick with them so he doesn't feel lost.You are right about horses shooting up from behind or even being too close behind Armos hates that it makes him very nervous,he's better last or at front.
just wondering maybe you were nervous too and he picked up on that so that's why he was so stressed? |
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2014 : 07:48:08 AM
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| Very possibly pasch..I was a bit nervous being unsure how he'd react in amongst that many. I knew he would be bouncy to start with as hes been like that on the farm rides but I didnt expect him to go backwards. Once I got him going forwards I felt alot better. I can deal with a spring moving forwards. Even though he did walk along the tracks I felt he didnt relax properly the whole ride. If he had, I think he would of enjoyed himself. Oh well...it was an experience, we both survived it and I know how he is now in big crowds. |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2014 : 10:42:19 PM
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I would give him the benefit of doubt it is possible that he will get better at it,don't think he will always be nervous or he might well be  I found with arabs they often know us better than we do and they are mind readers! |
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 23 Sep 2014 : 8:27:49 PM
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I wont give up, Ill just gradually build his confidence up. I think the ride in nov will be slower and it has limited spaces so likely to be a bit smaller. A friend has just sent me a fb msg asking if I want to join her on a farm ride at that other place next week. So Ill take him to that...little by little, we will get there  |
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Our big ride
