Does anyone take their dog hacking with them?

Mince Pie

Mince Pie

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Very clumsy title!
Now that I have access to some really good hacking I have started taking my dog with me, and was just wondering if anyone else takes their dog with them when they go hacking? Do you have your dog on a lead or loose? If loose where would you have the dog walk to heel? Anything else I should think about?

Thanks :)
 
We have several dogs at the livery I am at... We don't get a choice!!! We think we have left them at the yard, and suddenly they scare the hell out of the horses by appearing alongside us in the trees!

That said, they literally follow us the whole way, and are very well behaved, so as soon as we head for home they are right beside us! It is all large tracks, and partly open field, so we stick to the tracks and they mooch just ahead or alongside through the trees- bliss!

If we go out on the roads, we will usually bundle the in a stable and someone will let them out a few minutes later once we are out of sight!

EDIT: If it was my dog, I would probably either have someone on foot walking it, or would think about having a lead in case I needed it for whatever reason. Depends on the dogs behavious and how it is with others. If it is one for chasing cows, rabbits, or wondering off in the wrong direction, it definitely would not be loose!
 
Definately not on a lead - would worry about horses legs too much.
With mine I treat it like any dog walk - to heel when near roads / other people around & allow her to run around when we are chilling. When she was younger she loved racing my mare - if we were just cantering she'd be infront & keep looking over her shoulder - looked like she was trying to get us to keep up! Was lovely to watch her when
 
Sometimes my dogs come with me riding out, sometimes they don't. My black dogs will almost always come if I say they can come but it's very rare for the big white dogs to bother coming; they might start out with us but then they tend to beggar off after a while. I don't take any of the dogs if I'm going on a 3-4 hour ride though.
 
the polo rider I used to groom for used to take her big lab with us hacking. On the road he'd be clipped onto a leadrope (verge side) and then when we got to a track/ canter field he'd put his paws on the horse's shoulder, get unclipped and run along side us, then on command at the other end he'd put his paws on the shoulder to be clipped back on again! The lead rope was either rolled up and put on the D-ring or put around the neck as a neck strap.
 
My Jack Russell comes out with me loose on hacks, I only take her if I am not crossing any roads as my horse is not great with roads so not worth the risk with two to worry about.
 
I used to take mine hacking with me, he has always just naturally walked to heel with the horse. BUT he's had a bit of a spook around horses recently and gets worried and just either freezes or hides but once going he's really good.

I was busy working on it but the fields I was using now have bulls in so not really ideal, I think it will probably be on my to do list for next summer.

Thankfully I have a small horse and small dog so can easily hop off to grab dog (I take a lead rope out with me) or I can sit small dog on the front of the saddle and ride like that.
 
A lady on our yard brings her border collie out for hacks, he loves it, the horses seem to love it and he is very well trained and also waits when told etc
 
I really wish I could!

I have the perfect set up - well behaved horse and off road hacking directly from the yard.

Dog is a big flipping pansy and scared of the horses and flatly refuses to come, whilst acting like I have beaten him with a big stick!!
 
This topic has been done quite a few times. I would never, ever take my horse out for a hack on my horse, unless perhaps I owned a large estate where the dog knew where he was going home.

But even in this scenario, I dont think I ever would. I would never forgive myself if something happened to my beloved dog or horse.
 
I don't and wouldn't. My dog isn't the most obedient so wouldn't try with him but my friends collie is a saint. A few years ago we went for a hack one evening all kitted in hi viz including dog. Coming out of yard onto road, two dogs lept out from other side of road to attack friends dog. He tried to run, van came round corner and luckily stopped in time but we nearly had three dead dogs in middle of road. As I said this dog was so obedient, walked on bank/between her horse and edge of road, but you can't always anticipate situations you'll find yourself in.
 
For ten years took my old BC hacking, only did short bits of quiet country lanes and the rest off road, he would never ever leave the horse and knew commands to "get in" if need be but was always within a couple of feet, could even hack through sheep and he knew his job was to stay with horse. I would never hack with dog on lead, the thought of it getting tangled in legs etc worries me. Have young BC now but as soon as old enough will take her up lane at yard to see how get on then further afield ! You need to be sure that they not only respond to commands but respond to them immediately. Brilliant feeling though hammering across open land with dog grinning up at horse, obviously you need to make sure dog is fit enough too
 
Up until a few months ago I often used to take my little Yorkie out with me, she used to follow behind at a safe distance and my horse is quite slow anyway - it was a perfect combination and I used to love being on my horse with my beloved dog trotting behind us. It was an excellent way of exercising both my animals at the same time too.

Unfortunately she's getting on a bit in years now and her eyesight and hearing aren't what they used to be, so it wouldn't be safe anymore.

I only ever rode on bridlepaths but if we did have to cross over a road (normally a very quiet one), I would dismount and carry her across to the other side.
 
When I had my old pony, many years ago, I used to take the family dog along with me. Bless her, she'd just tuck in underneath his tail and even on a busy road I always knew exactly where she was, I never had to worry.

Unfortunately the roads around here are way too busy to take my two stoopid mutts; they've both got a suicide-wish on them and the bigger the vehicle the more they'll tend to throw themselves in front of it and walk across the middle of the road just as its coming.

So whilst I would love to take them with me, I know that I dare not. If it was possible i.e. could ride out straight from the yard onto lanes/common/moors, then deffo yes I would. They would love it, and what a fab way to tire the blighters out!

You lucky people that can do it...........
 
Before her hips became to bad and restricted how far she can go our guys always used to hack with us *provided* we weren't going anywhere near roads etc so only on the sort of ground/area I would walk them loose anyway. I only ever walked and trotted and I figure that canter would be too much on an encouragement for the dogs to 'chase'.
They are both pretty well trained and will sort of walk to heel - close enough to be under control but not so close that they could be kicked - they understand what 'heel' means but they are both wary of the horses. For me the most important thing to be able to do this is an 'instant down' even at a distance so if they head off somewhere they shouldn't you can drop them and then call them back
 
Have done this with my old GSD, who was unwavering in her instant respons to voice, hand and whistle instructions. However, dog and horse knew each other very well and had ridden out together for years. This was only over the farm and woods, with no stock kept, very few public footpaths, and no shooting permitted. I always carried a hunting whip, with lash, and used it to deal with unexpected followers. All was fine and we had a lovely time. Sadly, old GSD and old horse died within two months of each other, so that was that. The mad little lurcher I have had for the last three years is excellent to hack with, and very obediant BUT always has her eye out for grippet fun, and she fly after rabbits/foxes/game birds - the pony is not completely dog-proof at all times, so with them, I walk Miss Lurcher for couple of hours, leave her stretched out asleep on the bed, and go and spend time excercising the pony. So, only hack out with your dog if it is safe from all the dangers which dogs, people and horses are prey to, in my humble opinion.
 
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I used to take my Retriever with me - she was a very calm, obedient dog, would always come to heel when called, never ran off to chase things etc.
I wouldn't take my present dogs now, especially on The Forest, there are just too many distractions, other dogs racing around out of control etc!
 
Just to say I used to gallop and jump when hacking with dog, we would stop at Gregg's with horse trailer and dog would have a sausage roll, one for b4 and one after a long ride, he was such a good boy
 
I take the yard dogs out everytime. We have a jack russell, a collie, a collie x and an alsation mix. Hacking is woodland and they go off and do their own thing like chasing creatures and swimming in rivers. They all keep within 100 meters of you and check back. They have been doing it for years and never had a problem yet. I'm glad they all come, its comforting to think if I fell off one would stay with with me and the rest would head back to the farm
 
My dog comes hacking with me, she is very obedient & heels and stays close when asked to.

She gallops along side us & sometimes gives my boy a run for his money :D

I love being able to do it & it also gives me a sense of security knowing she is hacking with us as 99% of the time I go out alone.
 
The lady who keeps her horses next door takes her dog out with her. We are very lucky than we have a lot of off road hacking and need not touch a road for a good hour at least, and the roads are quiet lanes.

Her dog wanders about, trots alongside sometimes but most of the time he hoons across the fields and sometimes chases rabbits. Unfortunately he's getting a bit deaf so hard to get him to come back! But he knows his way around incredibly well so we don't worry unless he's gone for a particularly long time.

The lady's sharer also brings her dog up but only if she's going off road. Her dog trots along behind, but not too close as she had a bit of a scare at one point. She loves a good run as she's lurcher cross but she has to wear a muzzle otherwise she'd catch the things she chases!

I sometimes see a lady ride past my house with her dog on a lead beside her. Our road is not very quiet. I dread to think what might happen if they got tangled up.
 
Thanks guys :) My lad is very good and has hacked out with us before but that was when I liveried on a farm and just hacked around the farm so he knew his way home. He will walk to heel and knows left and right heel depending on where I need him. He walks behind the pony 'under his tail' and the pony and dog grew up together so know each other well.

I work fairly long hours so it's great to be able to kill two birds with one stone!
 
Not even if my dog was attached To me horse. I don't care what anyone says there is NO way you can be 100% in control of your dog If you are riding a horse.
 
I have done in the past, with reliable labby but won't now where I am as I have to cross roads hence on principle NO..too many locally to me do and have little control over their dog and take them on the roads too which I just don't agree with....there are a couple that have impeccably behaved hounds which is lovely to see but for me, mine is useless if he see's a pheasant or other food source so not worth the risk!
 
Not since I moved to Lincolnshire - too many PROWs around the place. I did take the Chihuahua with me last week but she was in my jacket so I guess that doesn't count?!

My spaniels always used to come with me at home. We had one hairy morning when I was off for a bit of a jaunt over the hunt jumps and an obliging hare popped up just in front of us - the temptation was too much for younger dog who went teararsing over the jump in front of us and almost caused a pile up!
 
I do but only when I'm staying on my own land. I wouldn't dream of taking them on the road, because I never bothered teaching them proper road sense, because I never needed to before.
 
I take them if they come, if its hot etc then most tend to stay flopped in the yard but anywhere between 1 and 4 come with me usually. They're all v obedient. My terrier ALWAYS comes as she is terrified she'll miss something :D
 
Mine always comes out but I specifically chose our yard because of entirely off road hacking (just a few rutted farm tracks to get to country park). He mills about near us (always a bit ahead in his keenness on the way out!) and will come to heel or ignore other dogs if I tell him to 'leave' (he'd like to say hello usually!) He's getting on a bit now so have to wait at the end of a gallop for him to catch up but other than that he is no problem.
 
yes, but not on roads and not leading from a horse. Pretty much asking for trouble if horse spooks and steps on dog so close under its feet.
 
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