Dressage - schooling on hacks vs in arena

[mystiandsunny]

What do you do and why? Mostly in an arena? Mostly hacking? 50:50?

Due to weather (and no school!) we've hacked more and more since Nov (think up to 11miles per ride at weekends in search of canter tracks in woodlands etc). My youngster is getting stronger and stronger, more self-assured, more powerful in her paces (I'm sure the hills are helping!), more consistent in her outline, and is still bendy when I do get to do some 'proper' schooling. We've played with lateral work, transitions between/within paces etc, but also lots of good old-fashioned distance in a working pace, on the bit, working through from behind.

My TB is coming back into work slowly after a shoulder injury last autumn, and I'm also finding it easier to develop the power out hacking - she's interesting in getting somewhere when we're out and about, so the engine is already engaged. She needs more circley stuff too so is more 50:50, but with the youngster even if I only hack for a couple of weeks, she will have improved when I next take her into an arena for some 'proper' work.

I once read that every hack was putting goodwill into the 'bank' with your horse. I find that is true when schooling on hacks too - more attentive, learn easier, more interested. Everything is within a useful context and they can see the point in learning it - lateral work around parked cars, for opening/closing gates, quick transitions to avoid mud patches, going in that pesky outline 'cause actually it makes it easier to carry the human, medium paces to cover ground better, collected paces when the ground is more soft etc etc.

 

[Goldenstar]

I think you should 'school' on hacks I hack a lot with my horses but I also think it is really important that they get ridden down time that's mainly walking on as loose a rien as the situation allows when only the basic rules apply , that's they walk forward with energy until asked to do something else and that they stop and steer when needed I will do this after the trainer has been for a couple of days then pick them up again .
I also like to lead them from another horse especially the hyper one so they just walk out with no demands on them.
it's easy to get to engrossed with the training and I think they really benefit from exercising downtime I see this as different to going for a bit of a riot which I also do now and again.
I also think they need this as well as turn out I think just is really good for them to have you on there backs without expecting much from them.

 

[NR99]

I think variety is the spice of life for man or equine - sounds like its working really well for you.

 

[PucciNPoni]

I do lots of schooling on hacks. We have a great wooded path where I can practice bending, frequent changes of rein, flexion, half halts. Then there is an old railway line that has been redone with a clay surface - lots of long straights for checking straightness (found HOW crooked we are on the left rein canter the other day!). Also really good for getting him good and forward and can really ask for some lovely med trot work. And on the way home, when he is thinking more foreward, I find it's better for doing long/low and stretching in to contact (particularly good for FWLR and Ext Walk) as he can be very backwards in his walk. Gates are good for doing turns on f/hand and qtrs. Can't rate it highly enough!

In all, I probably use the arena weather dependent about half the time I ride - and school on a hack the other time.

 

[Polotash]

I don't school on hacks at all to give them "downtime" to relax, but I'm lucky that I have access to a school, if i didn't I would certianly school on hacks.

Having said that, i still make sure they work nicely on hacks, on a light contact, rounded down (not on the bit tho) and moving forward freely. You also end up doing leg yield when cars come, shoulder in from spooky items, turn on forehand for gates etc..

OP - sounds like what you are doing is working for you tho, don't change because of other people's opinions!