Does anyone have a horse that WON'T hack?

When I couldn't hack Ned out, I either did a variety of things in the school (jumping, bomb proofing, flat work) or I went out with the group.
 
I do. Home bred with moderate pigeon toes, and when I was breaking him and starting to ride him out the concussion of roadwork made him lame in both fronts. He hated it, and now, even with company, he jacks it in half a mile from home (we have very little other than roadwork here). It is difficult because when I want to have a "discussion" about whether to go a few strides further a vehicle always comes along so I have to stop.
At the moment we have a large field of maize stubble across the road so we are going on there on a regular basis, and he is getting slightly more confident and happier. To begin with it was difficult not to nag the whole time, and he did occasionally plant - genuinely to take a look at something, but something that wouldn't bother most green youngsters. Memory of pain I think, when we do the field thing we also go a few yards up the road, a little more each day and if he plants, we do a few more strides before coming home. Not easy though.
 
I used to have a welshie who wouldnt hack even in company, final straw came when he just literary threw himself in a ditch then ****ed of home he was a 15yr old at the time, so afterthat I schooled him 2 times a week -but kept different each time so he didnt go stale, jumped once a week, lunged once a week, he was fine at shows so found him a weekly show to go to,
 
I don't accept that a horse just won't hack. My horse has plunged, reared and planted many a time, but he eventually always does what I ask, even if it takes me all day!

But if your horse really wont then you could lunge, do inhand work, jump, trot poles, join up, le trec, fun ride, or hire a XC course or field and ride in that.
 
applecart14 said:
I don't accept that a horse just won't hack. My horse has plunged, reared and planted many a time, but he eventually always does what I ask, even if it takes me all day!

But if your horse really wont then you could lunge, do inhand work, jump, trot poles, join up, le trec, fun ride, or hire a XC course or field and ride in that.
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What if you had a horse that did that sort of behaviour all the way round a ride? Ie not just on the way out
 
One of mine wouldn't hack or at least it was suicidal and dangerous for all involved (from us to the general public)

No amount of bomb proofing or company would change him, trust me we tried! Last straw was him bolting and going splat through a level crossing (barriers down so train coming).

He was perfectly happy schooling and jumping- I agree riding round in circles is dull, but with lots of variety you can avoid that. :)
 
Applecart- mine wouldnt hack. He was lethal and i question my mental state of mind when i think i continued hacking him for well over a year! he wasnt going to change. I got to the point of thinking It wasnt worth risking my life,his, or motorists. -
 
We make the mistake of thinking because we enjoy it (or don't) they feel the same. I keep mine as fresh as possible in the school by making sure he gets rewarded (not always food) for every time he makes a big effort or gets something right, he never objects to going in there to work.
 
I had one who didn't enjoy hacking - and I didn't feel the need to force him. He enjoyed his school-time, and we didn't need to endanger both our lives/stress him out by doing something that he clearly hated.
 
98% of horses can be persuaded to enjoy hacking but there are a few who simply don't enjoy it and, imo, it is cruel and dangerous to force the issue.

There is a lot you can do with a horse who won't hack- groundwork, free schooling, loose jumping, polework, TTouch to name a few.

Some are better if they aren't hacking from home so you may be able to box up and hack or use the gallops etc if you feel they need more from their work.
 
No and never will have. To me hacking is one of lifes ultimate pleasures, if I owned a horse that didnt feel the same way, no matter how lovely a horse and how much I loved him, it would not work. However, to be fair I wouldnt even be going to see a horse that wouldnt hack

My daughter feels the same. Although she does enjoy schooling, she does enjoy a chilled out hack as well, so it would be the same from her.
 
The horse is dangerous to hack. I really cant force it upon him when I hate it too. If I could get away with never hacking I would!
 
I wouldn't buy one or go to see one that doesn't hack as a good gallop through the countryside is the best feeling in the world..
 
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