do you hack out when its icey or frosty?

[darkhorse123]

as per title - i didnt today because it was frosty but others did - am i being too cautious - my cob is barefoot ?

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I will, but I will chose where I go carefully so as to avoid an accident.

 

[*hic*]

Makes no difference to us - hacking involves roads which are gritted so unless there is frozen slush yes, we hack out.

 

[Jesstickle]

Yup. Just like *hic* all my hacking is on (very) busy roads so they are well gritted and I have no problem

 

[JFTDWS]

Depends on what it's like - if it's not gritted (the smaller roads round here aren't always) then no. The byway doesn't freeze and it comes off my current yard, so I may ride up there instead this year

 

[Mince Pie]

Yes as I have off road hacking.

 

[Vodkagirly]

Yes hacked out today, frost isn't an issue and there was only icey puddles today and plenty of grip in the ground. Different story when its snow that has turned to ice and covers all the ground.

 

[Jackson]

Jack can barely totter around ordinary paved roads, never mind icy ones! Although this year I may be tempted to slide him down the lane and on to the bridleway where there might just be a bit more grip?

 

[darkhorse123]

Yes as I have off road hacking.

but isnt off road hacking worse> ie no grit or salt down?

I worry my horse will spook (which he does at least once every hack ) and fall and hurt himself

 

[spotty_pony]

Yes, but as others have said, I choose where I go carefully and avoid shaded areas where to sun hasn't got to the ice to melt it.

 

[darkhorse123]

ty for your replies - think im being too wussy!

 

[TheBayMonkey]

If its just frost or a little ice then yes. My boy is barefoot and he's learnt to listen to and move away from my legs whilst hacking around the ice

 

[Ladybird]

Frosty yes, icy most likely not, my boy has a tendency to do bambi impressions!

 

[Marydoll]

Frost yes i hack round the edges of all the stubble fields.
As for ice, depends if the ground is breaking, i wont hack on icy roads, or uneven solid rock hard ground, but will do walk work in the rubber school if its not to bad.
If the ground is breaking and the ice isnt thick, i'll hack on the fields

 

[pinklilly]

I have a 3/4 of a mile of lane so if it's icy then no I wouldn't.

 

[jaysh]

Not if its really icy, I rode my barefoot boy out today in the woods, i wouldnt have ridden my shod horse up there cos of balling but it was so beautiful and the snow was nice and soft.

 

[CBFan]

Yes, took my barefoot boy out for half an hour this morning - 20 mins walk and trot round the lanes and bak through the woods and he didn't slip once.
I was a bit cautious... more of other road users but they were well behaved today too

 

[JustKickOn]

Yep, hacked out this morning. Roads were a little icy along the edge, but don't ride in the gutter so didn't have any problems. Sun was out, so by the time we had turned around it had thawed out anyway.
Although, if the roads were really icy, and it didn't look like it was going to clear at all, then wouldn't risk it.

 

[NeverSayNever]

i do, but not if its hard packed snow and ice.

my little hoss is barefoot and tbh i thought my previous horse who was shod coped better. When I hacked out today we avoided all the icy bits but she was very tentative and would kind of piaffe if she felt unsure about the going

 

[teddyt]

yes if frosty. No if icy.

 

[PingPongPony]

yup, i hack out all through the winter. I just keep to the grass verdges and fields or gritted roads

 

[Jingleballs]

I don't tend to hack out on the roads if it's been icy. The roads at our yard are very quiet single lane roads with little traffic and they never get gritted.

They are always the last to thaw unfortunately and after having a couple of slightly hair raising hacks last winter when it looked reasonably clear but there were patches of black ice I tend to avoid hacking in these conditions - it's frustrating not being able to hack out but I wouldn't want to risk it.

 

[HashRouge]

Yes but there are certain places I don't go. I think once you've been riding round a certain area for a while you start to learn where there are serious problems with ice and where is safe to hack. I usually find that bridlepaths are okay unless they don't drain well and certain country lanes and tracks also need to be avoided, but generally speaking I don't have any problems.

 

[MyBoyChe]

No, to get anywhere from my yard we have to use the road, which is not gritted and both sides of the yard is a hill, neiither of which see any sun so the edges can be lethal. Ive seen too many cars skid into the ditch to want to risk me and my boy. On the off chance its a nice sunny day, there will be low sun to contend with as well in at least one spot! Very annoying, but just too risky.

 

[hcm88]

Icey no.
Frost on the grass but dry roads yes.
As long as they can walk safely on the roads I will hack them out. I just won't go on grass and bridleways and I will tend to stick to walk.

 

[conkers]

Wouldn't hack out if the roads are icy but would if it was a dry frost.

It never fails to amaze me how many people will hack out when the roads are so icy that you have to take care in the car let alone on a horse.

 

[hessy12]

Always. Have road studs on and have never, not once, had a slip. Perhaps my horse is just very sure footed?