Definition of Light Hacking

[Smogul]

Sorry if this is long.
Our 18 year old horse had tendon surgery 9 months ago. We were told we should plan for a year's intensive rehab. At the end of this, he should be capable of "light hacking".
Currently he is hacking out for 1 hour, 6 days a week, split 70% walk, 25% trot and 5% canter. Trot and canter work are done on the flat or up a slight incline. The walk is purposeful and ground covering. School work is limited as he is still meant to work mainly in straight lines.
At his last check-up, he was assessed as 1/5 lame. This is not expected to improve. The surgeon was delighted with the outcome and the advice is to increase trot and canter work very gradually.
Went out last week with another livery on her 7 year old and was stunned when he needed a breather halfway round. Owner said that she didn't consider what we did was light work.
So my question is: how much work do you do with your horse? What do you consider "light hacking"?

 

[monkeybum13]

I'd agree that sounds like light hacking. 1 hour is a short hack for me.

Sounds like your boy is doing wonders with that level of work.
7yo sounds very unfit!

 

[Lynnskatz]

I would have said light hacking was a bit plodding about a few days a week.

 

[Ranyhyn]

I'd say the same level as what you are doing but less often - ie 3/4 days a week IMO.

 

[Holly Hocks]

I'd say the same level as what you are doing but less often - ie 3/4 days a week IMO.

agree with this...

 

[HollyWoozle]

Personally I would consider light hacking as less than that. Maybe 3 or 4 times a week at most, probably with less trot (especially considering that the ground is like concrete).

 

[Smogul]

Ground condition obviously depends where you are! Our fields are still drying out and hacking paths are definitely not like concrete.

 

[rambling]

To me Light Hacking would be less than that.

1 hr mainly in relaxed walk with short amounts of trot , 5 days a week . Not sure that I would include canter maybe 100m on a nice grassy patch.

 

[foraday]

Light Hacking!

No more than between 2-4 miles (that's an hour max)

Ground must be soft to even consider trotting or cantering other than that a walk

Max 2 - 3 times a week ideal for a routine would be 1 day ride with two days off.

Adjust according to conditions!

If your horse is 1/5 lame then that could very well be down to the awful ground! I am not even trotting or cantering for the last month and my lovely irish boys legs are perfect! Having to box up and go to gallops twice a week! Frustrating but not a worry!

 

[MrsHutt]

Hugo's mate, LovelyBob is on 'light hacking' at the moment as he recovers from poorly hocks. It consists of 1 hour max 4/5 days, mostly walk (but at a forward pace) and a bit of trotting where the ground is suitable (it is concrete here). He will be building up to a short canter, again if we can find some suitable ground!

Hopefully he'll be back in proper work in a few weeks.

 

[Marley&Me]

I would also consider light hacking to be less than what you are doing.

I would expect hacks of 45mins to an hour mainly at walk with gentle trotting for 2 or 3 minutes at a time, with occasional short canters on good ground.

I would also expect 4 or 5 days per week for a "light hack"

If you cut down the number of days though e.g to only 3 or 4 per week I would worry that doing your current hacks would not be safe as your horse may loose fitness by reducing the frequency of the exercise and this cause injury.

If you are happy to continue 6 days per week then perhaps do a little less trotting and a little more walking. Only trotting off of the roads and only cantering on the best ground.

All that said, if your horse is managing as you are then there is no reason to reduce it. I would consider anything more than what you are doing to be more than "light hacking" though.

 

[Smogul]

Farday - 1 in 5 lameness is massive improvement from original injury and better than surgeon warned us to expect.
Thanks for all your answers - very interesting.
Exercise is being done in accordance with surgeon's advice and monitored by our own vet. We weren't sure what "light hacking" meant so got written detailed programme on how to bring him back into work. As I said, advice is to increase it gradually and certainly not reduce it unless horse shows discomfort. Our main problem is persuading him he is not allowed to do more!

 

[amage]

Ground must be soft to even consider trotting or cantering other than that a walk

I would disagree with this...after a tendon injury trotting or cantering on soft ground could result in pulling tendons doing further damage. Good to yielding/yielding would be what I would consider optimum for steady rehab work.

That would be what I would consider the higher level of light hacking however if vet is happy then obviously that is the main thing. Re the other livery having to stop for a break...well tbh this could depend on the difference between the two horses. EG my warmblood has a long flowing walk but when doing roadwork with some of the tbs they naturally walk much quicker than her so she can end up at a higher pace to keep up therefore is working harder!

 

[tabithakat64]

My horse is now a light hack following a tendon injury. We hack 3 times a week mostly in walk with the odd short trot and are very careful about ground conditions. I'm probably over cautious though