Do you hack alone?

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I don't tend to hack alone.
I really like the idea of it, but just can't relax, and worry about the what if's.

I've had a few bad experiences out hacking alone, and just can't get past them enough to enjoy it.

My OH also hates the idea of me hacking alone, and I see his point.

Am I the only weirdo who won't hack alone?
 
Vary rarely hack in company. I prefer hacking on my own if I'm honest.

I think we've all had a few frightening experiences - but it does help if you have good road sense and bomb proof horse.
 
99% of my hacking is on my own, purely as I don't really have anyone to ride with, and the couple of people that are near me never ride at the times that I ride at!

Yes, sometimes scary things do happen, but then scary things can happen if you are in company, and your company isn't always going to be able to help you then either. I like the fact that my mare is independent enough, and trusts me enough that I can take her anywhere out hacking. On the rare occasions that I hack with someone, it usually means that my girl is the one "protecting" the others from the monsters out on the road!
 
My horse refused to hack on his own...but i like spending time on my own with him so he becomes a little more dependant on me not other horses!
Took me a couple of weeks and hard work but now he's quite happy to go where i want him to on his own as long as it isn't too far!
I just did short circuits and built on them rather than having to turn round as he tended to bolt back!
Its all down to your preference but you need to have a good relationship with your horse before you even attempt to go it alone
 
Crackajack said:
My horse refused to hack on his own...but i like spending time on my own with him so he becomes a little more dependant on me not other horses!
Took me a couple of weeks and hard work but now he's quite happy to go where i want him to on his own as long as it isn't too far!
I just did short circuits and built on them rather than having to turn round as he tended to bolt back!
Its all down to your preference but you need to have a good relationship with your horse before you even attempt to go it alone
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Ditto this! A lot of people push the relationship too far too quickly, but I think there is a lot of pressure to hack on yards - people think you're not a proper rider if you don't. I have to admit to being a big wuss about hacking. We have a little bit of off road hacking I use on my own no problem, but out in the big wide world with traffic and stuff, I like company! Its my biggest confidence issue. :(
 
90% of the time, I do enjoy it more, to me that's what hacking is about, getting out, bit of me time, un winding etc

I think so long as try to stay as safe as possible, your horse is good in traffic and not too spooky, you don't take risk and use your common sense, have a phone, high viz and people know where you usually hack etc, so if any if's or but's should happen, your prepaired for a better outcome.
 
I hack alone all the time. There are people to hack with on the yard, but I like the fact that I can just get on and go anywhere. I've had my girl for 4 years now. When we first teamed up, she didn't trust me at all, and we had a few mishaps, but now I can take her almost anywhere and she won't bat an eye lid. As I have had her for a while, I know if something is going to bother her as well. I can spot things a good 100 yards off, and if I think that they are going to be an issue, I get off an lead. I know some people probably won't agree with this, but I don't see it being a problem. I have probably only had to get off twice in the last couple of years though, so it's not like it's every ride!
 
I love hacking by myself, gives me a little time to myself in the countryside, whats not to like! My horse does tend to be a little more lively on his own, but seeing as he's a beach donkey in company, thats not a bad thing!!

It is also easier for me to school him on hacks then, as I don't have to think about what other people are doing, so I can do as many halt-trot-walk transitions as I want.

I have always hacked alone though, think my first hack alone was a half hour hack on my very old first pony when I was 8-9 years old I think :)
 
I started to hack alone last summer but the horses were at livery on a farm so it was all off road. Moved yards since and only really started hacking out alone from current yard about 8 weeks ago- the shorter 'round the block' hacks are mainly roadwork around the village so bit the bullet one day and went out! My sense of direction is appalling so I don't venture too far on my own as I would probably end up in Devon haha.
 
I'm currently working with my share horse to get her hacking alone with me, we're still getting to know each other so it is taking time and patience. Although I find that instead of knocking my confidence (she can nap badly) I am getting more 'who does she think she is to tell me what to do?' so slowly but surely worknig through it. She has terrible issues with gateways/driveways I think she must have had a bad experience of a car flying out or something?
 
95% of the time i hack alone- it has done wonders for my mare's confidence when going xc etc.

my 4yro is still hacking with his nanny but i long rein him out alone so it won't be a big deal when i ride him out alone.
 
I do, but I'm not alone, I've got my horse! :D

I enjoy hacking alone, but must admit it's nice to have someone to hack out with sometimes too.
 
Have to, nobody else here plus I love the peace and quiet knowing I can stop and chat to neighbours if I want without someone else getting fed up or having to listen to them twittering on; very anti social me!
 
Most of the time, I hack alone.

My mare is very good in traffic when alone, but when in company, she likes to hide behind whoever we're with.

I just leave a note on the board as to my route and set off time, so if we don't appear for many hours, they will know roughly where we may be :).
 
I mostly hack alone as then I'm not constrained by how long someone else wants to be out (not that I hack for hours and hours but I can't be doing with people who make a fuss about wanting to hack with you then demand you go out for no longer than "the short block, about 30 mins"), where they want to go, people fussing about whether their horse is safe enough to canter in open spaces with other horses... etc etc.

My boy can also be quite nappy so it's good for him to do things alone and learn to be a bit more independent.
 
I've always hacked alone: I always seem to be free when everyone else isn't, so there isn't any choice really.

I have always hacked alone ever since I had my first pony and would disappear into the beyond for hours on end with him!

There's something special about just being alone in wild places with your horse, it bonds you like nothing else and you have to trust each other.

Mine had some real confidence issues hacking solo when I first had him, he'd been a trekker before and had never gone out on his own, so we had a bit of work to do, but now he's fine - the only places he hates are where there are trees and they're really close-in, he just hates it and gets really jittery.

We hack out regularly on a bridle path which is right next to the main dual carriageway: in fact if I took my lunging whip and held it at arms length, I reckon I'd tickle the windscreens of the tanker drivers as they go past! Honestly, its that close, but my boy deals with it fine, wotta little gem!
 
I'm really keen on doing both to make sure Bentley doesn't develop any "issues" with being alone or in company- when alone though I stay within the yard boundary so if anything happens I know he will be safe and knows his way back :)
 
I like hacking alone - I don't always go alone but it's nice to be able to go where you want, when you want and at the speed you want, without having to worry about anyone else.

It did take me a while to get my horse hacking alone, he used to be terribly nappy and I couldn't even get him to leave the yard without him rearing/spinning etc. Now he's as good as gold :)
 
Like many others, I do almost all of my hacking alone as there is rarely anyone else around to hack with. However I would prefer to hack in company just to have someone to chat to ;) and my mare enjoys going racing with other horses too :D but we're both perfectly confident on our own.

The youngsters on my yard have to learn to hack alone pretty quickly :) We're fortunate to have lots of nice short off road routes to use for this purpose.
 
I always hacked out alone because my horse was a nutter in company! I could pick and choose where I wanted to go, the speed I wanted to go at (well actually, she chose that :) ) and the time I set off and returned. I could also talk rubbish to my horse and sing to her without anyone laughing. I never had any problem, missed all the flashers that everyone else saw and only fell off twice, with no harm done to either of us.
 
I tend to do most of my hacking in company usually just one other horse, but that is because I do like to natter and catch up on all the news. However I also make sure to hack out by myself once a week even if it's just for a quick hack so that my girl is used to going out by herself as well as in company, unfortuantely for her if we are by ourselves she usually has to put up with my tuneless singing!! :)
 
I don't mind if I am alone or with company. Most times it is on my own as there has not been anyone "suitable" that I can go with. I do prefer it as we can do what we want, when we want and it is just me and my horse. I do go with a fully charged mobile and HiViz. Have to say when someone "suitable" is available I always grab the chance to hack in company
 
I love hacking on my own, for the peace & quiet. I have a phone with me & make sure my route/approx times are known. I will hack with others. If it is horse i don'tknow then the first few times i like to hack out with someone, but once i get to know it i am happiest on my own.
But it does depend on what hacking you have available to you. If there is a lot of off road, then great, but if there is a lot of roadwork it can be helpful to have some one with you - my OH gets dragged out on his mountain bike quite a lot.
 
I never don't hack alone lol! there isn't a lot of hacking near my farm so the only ones are a walk around the estate and to this field for a wander round lol! I have once or twice gone for a little walk out with my mum on a borrowed horse but i usually take her in the trailer to some decent bridle paths a couple of times a month (im not a big fan of hacking out, 3 times a month is a maximum for me, i just don't find it that fun near me as its all roads and pretty boring! but i like it when we go on the bridle paths that aren't a long drive away)

I do know people who wont hack alone for safety reasons so your not alone :)
I actually prefer it on my own as i can set my own pace (my mare ends up trotting behind ones that a cantering so its a bit of a pain lol!)
 
The vast majority of my hacking is done alone for various reasons; not many at my yard hack out regularly and, especially in winter when I go early in the morning, not at the same time as me; because my horse is hard to keep fit (traditional coloured cob in sig), he’s difficult to keep fit therefore my hacks mostly compromise of a lot of trotting with cantering and a little walk; I go out in all weathers whilst some won’t; I’m antisocial and I smell! ;)
I love it, just me and the pony for hours on end, it’s fab. I do enjoy company sometimes, eg yesterday I went out with a friend for 4 hours and we gassed non-stop, plus were able to make a pit stop at a roadside café for drinks and chocolate :D

There are things you can do to keep safer if you’re nervous – tell people where you’re going/for how long (very BHS ;)), take a phone with you, try to stick to tracks that aren’t too isolated, put tags on your tack with your name, contact details, horse’s name and yard contact details so if the worst happens and your horse is found, at least someone can call you, wear hi viz so you can easily be seen by everyone not just on the road but in the woods and should you come off, you’ll be easier to find, lol.
 
Having hacked with someone from my yard for the first time in ages yesterday I now remember why I usually hack alone!
I like being able to go at the pace I want and for as long as I want and I enjoy the peace and quiet. Also I'm a bit anti-social!
 
I do when I get chance :). I don't want Dizz to be reliant on others, which she tends not to be on the whole, but the odd occasion she has got a bit stressed when the others were out of sight. We're working on it steadily. Funny thing is, when out with others, she'd much rather be in front, and by that I mean well in front. Daft mare.

I take a number of precautions though... :D High viz for me and for her. Phone. Money. Phone numbers on her saddle. Tell someone where I'm going. I'm old, I'm married, I have two children, the business needs me - I take risks riding at all, but I mitigate where possible :cool:;):D
 
I don't get to hack alone as often as I'd like to.

I love being alone with my horse and the peace and quiet.
 
I do both, ride out with sister or arrange to meet up with friends, or go on my own. I enjoy all three! Summer evening riding out with friends (takes a bit of organizing as we have our own place and so do friends, so have to have a meet up point), takes some beating, especially if you call at the pub as well :) We also organize social rides from the RC and those are fun too. I do prefer to know who I am riding with, can't be doing with people who only 'ride for themselves' when in a group.
 
I LOVE to hack alone. Escaping to the middle of nowhere with just you and the horse (or maybe the dog too :p) is my idea of heaven. My beloved horse is now a write off, and so it's been about 20 months since I was able to do so, and I miss it terribly :( :(
 
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