Bizarre Hack with friend, advice wanted.

Skib said:
Hacking is the poor relative in the UK.
The attitude seems a bit different in the USA where trail ride centres cater for a mass public and the Wranglers are knowledgeable about horses and take some care.
Above all in the USA, I have been taught to keep a safe distance between my horse and the horse ahead. In the UK they apply a different rule which makes me nervous - they want the horse to stay almost touching the one in front of it in case the horse behind decides to make a dash to catch up the one ahead. Like your friend, several of my own falls have been caused by spooks with a horse too close behind or my horse being too close in front to allow me to take evasive action.
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I totally disagree with this! Having ridden both in the States and all over the UK, the horses I rode in America were so push button no instruction was given what so ever. Sit on and follow the horse in front.

In the UK every single establishment I have ridden at has advised you NOT to get up the back side of the horse in front. I think you're giving the UK a very poor review, I hear that you yourself aren't the easiest of customers.
 
I will say every other place I have been too has always kept a safe distance with horses, and I'm in the UK. All but this one also made sure you were capable of what you said you were. So I will let you all know how tomorrow goes, its great having all your imputs.
 
Dizzle said:
In the UK every single establishment I have ridden at has advised you NOT to get up the back side of the horse in front.
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I think it depends on the type of establishment and ability of the riders. I have worked at a couple of trekking centres that took drop-ins, and when dealing with complete beginners we did encourage the horses to follow along nose to tail to avoid any getting left behind and trotting to catch up and because the riders were not in control so you relied on the horses following along, obviously these were horses that were used to that and only walking. More capable riders would leave a decent gap or ride side-by-side. Any hacking I have done from a RS we would always ride as I do on my own, i.e. with plenty of space between and / or side by side.
 
I am glad your friend is feeling not to bad today .
If you can be bothered I would be interested to hear how you get on .
It still amazes me in this day and age riders are taken hacking on public roads with out an ridden assessment of their skills .
 
Goldenstar said:
I am glad your friend is feeling not to bad today .
If you can be bothered I would be interested to hear how you get on .
It still amazes me in this day and age riders are taken hacking on public roads with out an ridden assessment of their skills .
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I used to teach part-time in a local riding school and our hacks tended to include a fair bit of whizzing and unlevel ground. If we had new customers we would always spend a few minutes assessing them in the arena before we took them out - if they couldn't canter without stirrups then they weren't allowed on the ride.
 
Many years ago, over 12 I would guess, we were on holiday in Southern Ireland, and my young son and myself, both riders, and owners went to a local RS for a hack, it didn't look much, but the tack was checked before and after we were on, and we had to show we had control at walk trot and canter in the school before we went out on the hack. The basics I would have thought if you are not known at the RS.
 
Hi all, today we went up, talked to the two ladies in charge who will be contacting my friend later this evening with the action she is planning to put upon this bloke which we yet do not know. We have rang around most places and every place is disgusted including the BHS and were currently sorting out several copies we gave to the ladies to send to this other places to do also. One place has said my friend is more than in her rights to go to a lawyer. So a way to go but we are doing something about this and have agreed we wont be going back and looking elsewhere.
 
The one thing I will say is...before you head off for full retribution, give the owner an opportunity to make it right. You have talked to them, they are taking action and will come back to you so it seems unfair you are going all guns blazing at this point. IF they ignore you and no action is taken, THEN that's the time to call everyone etc but at least give the RS a chance.
 
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