Equiflair Explains: Top Tips to Boost Your Confidence When Hacking Alo

There really is nothing better than hacking out on your own with just you, your horse and the beautiful countryside. However, this can sometimes be spoiled by overthinking and expecting the worst to happen. As we all know, there is always a level of risk that you need to be comfortable with when riding, but there are a few steps you can take to make you feel more happy, comfortable, and confident when riding alone. Here are some of the main things people usually get nervous about, and our top tips to overcome them.

What if I fall off and get separated from my horse?

This is a fairly common fear we’ve probably all had at one time or another. Sadly, in the event that you and your horse part ways there is always a chance that your horse will run away and potentially get lost. One way to feel more confident about if this did happen is to get an old luggage tag and fill in your details, including your yard address, to attach to a D ring of your saddle. This means that if somebody found your horse loose then they have all the correct details needed to contact you.

My horse has never hacked out alone before, what if they’re spooky or nappy?

This is a fairly common concern – understandably! It can sometimes be a bit scary for horses going out without a friend at first. There are some baby steps you can work though to make the transition a bit smoother for both you and your horse. If you normally ride out with another friend, start by asking that your horse leads the way so that they’re not relying on the comfort blanket of the other horse. Equally, this tip is important if your horse spooks and doesn’t want to go past an object. It’s always best to persevere until your horse goes past without relying on their friend leading the way.

Once you and your horse feel confident leading the way on hacks, it’s probably time to take the plunge and go out alone. For the first ride, make sure it’s a well-known route that you usually do and aim to go out for no longer than 30 minutes. This is just so you’re not overwhelming your horse with a brand-new area they’ve never seen before as well as being on their own. We always find it’s better to take someone else on foot with you just in case you run into difficulties. If there is a particular object your horse is scared of and refuses to go past, the last resort would be to get off and walk them past in hand if it’s safe to do so. Just remount somewhere safe and carry on your ride.

If you’ve done this ride alone a couple of times you can build up to other, longer rides and pretty soon you’ll both be confident without a care in the world!

What happens if I fall off and get injured?

This is another fear which is totally understandable – it can be a little bit of a daunting thought! The best way to combat this fear is to invest in the right safety kit. A decent hat and body protector would be a good start, but also there are a multitude of safety stirrups out there which are designed to release your foot in the case of a fall, thus reducing your chance of injury. This gives you the confidence that if you were to fall off, the chances of becoming injured are significantly lower with the right equipment.

Another good idea is to plan your route out and always make sure somebody knows where you are heading to and at what time so that they know something has gone wrong if you’re not back when you say you’ll be. One brilliant app that can be used for this is called EQUILAB which is a smartphone app which tracks your ride, your horses’ gaits, and the distance. They also have a feature where you can send a tracking link to a friend or family member so they can see where you are in real time.

I’m worried about the traffic and riding on roads

Riding on roads can sometimes be a little bit scary at times but is often necessary to get to and from the bridlepaths. The main thing to remember is that you have as much right to be there as the drivers on the road! If you have to go on roads, you should always ensure you wear hi vis clothing even if it’s a sunny day. This ensures that drivers can see you easily and gives them more time to slow down and react to your presence on the road. Understanding the road rules and the correct signals for turning can also be helpful when navigating the roads. If you’re still feeling nervous, you could always invest in buying yourself a hat cam or go pro to wear when hacking solo. This gives you peace of mind that if you did have a road incident where someone wasn’t being considerate to you, you might be able to watch the footage back to get the license plates of the car.

We hope that these hints and tips have helped you to feel a bit more confident on when hacking solo. Comment below if you have any others to add that you think we’ve missed!