Following on from the 'worst accident' thread...

[ironhorse]

Perhaps we should all just think about some useful ground rules for hacking.

The first one that I'd take from that thread is NEVER to canter on a bridleway that is not gated and opens onto a main road, unless you are CERTAIN that all horses are completely under control. Even then I would avoid it...the most sensible horse can be spooked.

Second, have a discussion before going out about whose horse goes first, last or in the middle, and if there are any other issues (whether horse and rider are allowed to canter being one of them; warning other riders about horses that kick out or buck going into canter being another)

Third, and probably most important is to ensure that at least one person has a mobile phone. This should be as much part of the kit as your high vis.

What other ground rules do people have?

 

[Rose Folly]

Very good points.

It's important to be aware of the wishes of the people you ride with and, indeed, the capabilities/shortcomings of a horse they may be new to.

I think it's best, if you want to do something particular, like have a really good blast or go jumping logs etc. to make absolutely sure beforehand that that is what your companions are up for. If not, wait until you have a like-minded companion or do it on your own (in which case having told someone where you are going and how long you expect to be). It may cramp your style a little, but one day they may cramp yours....

And ditto the 'phone. I was knocked out a few days ago after a fall on my head on tarmac. My wonderful liveries/companions were all carrying phones and organised everything beautifully without leaving my side. So grateful.

 

[Spudlet]

Get dog ID tags engraved with contact details and put them onto your horse's tack, so if you get separated anyone that finds the horse will be able to get them home. Have hi-viz on the horse as well as the rider - leg bands or bridle sleeves for example - so if your horse ends up alone they will still be visible.

Go at the pace of the 'weakest' person there - this holds fast for any group activity actually. The team sets their pace to that of the slowest person. So if there's one person that isn't happy to canter, nobody canters at all.

ETA try and learn a little first aid - just basic stuff will help you feel calmer in a crisis.

 

[maree t]

We live in a forestry commission area so I always ask where they are heading roughly. They MUST always stay together. They all take phones so somebody will have signals. They also know to never ever canter towards the road.

 

[Suechoccy]

Phone-tag on rider's hat and on horse's saddle (horses can lose bridles but they rarely lose saddles).

If hacking with others, make sure you're all happy to go at the slowest/most nervous person's/novice horse's pace. If you're not, then don't babysit them.

Carry a triangular bandage. Useful for all sorts of things and can be made into dressing, splint, tourniquet, bandaging, etc.

Have ICE on your mobile.

Don't be afraid to speak your mind and curtail the hack if someone's being dangerous. I set out on a 2hr hack with a friend the other week but her horse was being such a liability that I insisted we turn back for home. I saw her back to safety, then resumed my 2 hr hack on my own.

 

[nikCscott]

When i first read that- i though 'gosh I never do any of that', but actually I do some. My friend who I normally box up to hack out with alway have a general chit chat about our horses fitness levels and my friends ongoing knee injury which always gives an idea of what the other is up for. Fortunately we don't hack close to main roads but we do canter in places without gates, but always hack with phones.

I would add... that if you hack alone as i do most days always let someone know when you are leaving, what route and when you are back. Also something i do is leave the yard gate open so if i do fall off and Z buggers off he will come home to his friends and can get in.

 

[stencilface]

I don't really have any tbh. I generally have my phone on me, but thats about it. I try to stay out of the way of cars, and try to stop my horse being an idiot.

I think I did my first hack on my own when I was 9 (on my first pony) was only a 20-30 mins, and I remember feeling v grown up at the time but now that seems so very young!

My mum used to ditch us at the stables - our own, so no-one else there - if she wasn't riding too, and come back in 3 hours or so. In the days before mobiles, nothing bad ever happened, and we were only escorted by the police once This was on an epic hack we'd arranged with friends - escorted because my ususally steady veteran pony decided it was far too exciting and he would like to jog sideways thank you very much. Less cars in them days though

 

[Spudlet]

If I'm going on proper walking trips alone (as in hill walking) I tend to photocopy the map and mark my planned route on it, then leave it with the car or tent, so if I don't come back on time people will know roughly where I should be. I would probably do the same if I was doing a big expedition hack, although I wouldn't go to such extremes on an everyday hack tbh. Definitely good for someone to know roughly where you are going though and when you should be back

 

[Shavings]

Have a safety card on you as a rider, I have mine in the pocket of my hi vis jacket, it says my name, address, date of birth , mothers number in case of emergency and what I am allergic to, it's only a small card the size of a bank card but it could save your life

 

[Mlini]

Come to think of it, we don't have a set of rules.. It's always me and 'A' that hack out together, so we always do the same things. Both horses are rather spooky when they go out, so we have to be ready for anything! We don't canter at the moment as that would be a disaster waiting to happen! A is a very nervous rider and I don't feel like she is experienced enough to handle the horse IF it was to take off with her.

- Both have our phones
- Don't really wear hi-viz But I have invested in a hi-viz reflective exercise sheet that I will be using all the time from now on.
- Obviously always wear riding hat/boots
- Both take whips
- A takes leadrope, just in case.
- We plan our route before we set off and let someone know where we are going and how long we will be
- I always lead, A goes behind.

We had an accident on the roads this summer, a lorry past us waaaay too close on a corner, both horses spooked. I kept control of mine and calmed him straight away. But A's horse ran into the lorry, A fell off, horse was loose on the road. Luckily he didn't hurt himself too badly - just a puncture wound near the coronet band and couple of scrapes. I then had to deal with two horses, one very uptight, and a girl in hysterics. Luckily, my boyfriend had come along on the pushbike, so he took my horse while I went to deal with a hysterical A and her horse. I ended up having to lead the injured horse a mile back to the yard as he wouldn't load into the trailer! Got back to the yard and the vet said if the wound was 3mm deeper, the horse would have been most likely PTS. £650 vet bill later and he's OK

 

[legaldancer]

I'm beginning to think that wearing a medical armband (like in Xc) may be a good idea. I know it seems OTT, but it's something many of us have anyway, and would save someone trying to find details in a pocket.

I already have a dog tag on my saddle, but this has my numbers on it which doesn't help much if I'm knocked out!

 

[lhotse]

Why did the post get deleted?

 

[Ladyinred]

If you belong to TROT (tollrides) your hatband number has all the information to identify you. Dogtags on saddle and bridle are a great idea.

 

[BonneMaman]

Oh bum, I was just beginning to enjoy that one too. Hardly surprising though that it got deleted.

 

[lhotse]

Must have had something to do with your name calling.

 

[traceyann]

I dont go out with kids often but one mother wanted me to ride with her seven year old as she had a new pony so i said yes out comes this welsh section B it had bugger look all over his face took my trusty cob this time. Well as soon as this little pony feet hit the bridle path it was gone girl screaming her head off. My cob was amazing he got in front of the pony zig zaging in front slowing down this little sh--as the pony stopped my cob who is 16.2 grab hold of his neck and held it. None of this was any of my doing in the end we swapped horses i got on this pony im light and my cob took the seven year old and we went home as we got home mum started screaming at me how dare you let my kid ride something so big if she got hurt it would have been all your fault nothing to do with the fact how i stay on this pony god knows. i told her the pony wasnt suitable for her kid and should be shot i was so angry I must say when ittle girl told her mother what had happened she did come round with apples and flowersand sorry alot but never again will i go out with a kid. My cob adores kids and babies he would rather die than hurt a child.

 

[PooJay]

I dont go out with kids often but one mother wanted me to ride with her seven year old as she had a new pony so i said yes out comes this welsh section B it had bugger look all over his face took my trusty cob this time. Well as soon as this little pony feet hit the bridle path it was gone girl screaming her head off. My cob was amazing he got in front of the pony zig zaging in front slowing down this little sh--as the pony stopped my cob who is 16.2 grab hold of his neck and held it. None of this was any of my doing in the end we swapped horses i got on this pony im light and my cob took the seven year old and we went home as we got home mum started screaming at me how dare you let my kid ride something so big if she got hurt it would have been all your fault nothing to do with the fact how i stay on this pony god knows. i told her the pony wasnt suitable for her kid and should be shot i was so angry I must say when ittle girl told her mother what had happened she did come round with apples and flowersand sorry alot but never again will i go out with a kid. My cob adores kids and babies he would rather die than hurt a child.

omg that's so sweet

 

[ajn1610]

1) Make sure you are good enough to leave the school. IMO people shouldn't hack until they are comfortable in w,t, c and are able to have lateral work in place to the point that they can move a horse over to get out of the way and shoulder in past something spooky. I never ceases to amaze me the people I see out hacking who are in the words of my excellent trainer "A rider who is sitting on a loose horse" in other words the horse is doing whatever it wants and happens to be carrying a person at the time.
2) Teach your horse some manners. They should go where you tell them in a group, it does my nut when people say he won't go first last etc. Well why not are you in charge or aren't you? Also "Ohh I can't put a foot on grass" that's because you gallop at every opportunity, in the same place on the same ride and then wonder why the horse dicks about at that point.

 

[Sarah1]

1) Make sure you are good enough to leave the school. IMO people shouldn't hack until they are comfortable in w,t, c and are able to have lateral work in place to the point that they can move a horse over to get out of the way and shoulder in past something spooky. I never ceases to amaze me the people I see out hacking who are in the words of my excellent trainer "A rider who is sitting on a loose horse" in other words the horse is doing whatever it wants and happens to be carrying a person at the time.
2) Teach your horse some manners. They should go where you tell them in a group, it does my nut when people say he won't go first last etc. Well why not are you in charge or aren't you? Also "Ohh I can't put a foot on grass" that's because you gallop at every opportunity, in the same place on the same ride and then wonder why the horse dicks about at that point.

Good points! And that does my nut too BTW!

 

[Shantara]

- No one is to pass the TBs! That's the greatest rule we have. It's fine in walk, but anything faster, you mustn't over take.

- Kids do not go at the back.

- Hi-viz and hats, obviously.

- You must be able to ride the horse you're on.

- Do NOT lie about what you can do. We've had people (not just kids, fully grown adults too!) lie about being able to canter and jump. We've also had someone lie that they can not canter, when actually they can gallop, jump and all sorts!

- Everyone must carry a phone if they have one and they must have credit!

I'm sure there's a few more

 

[Damnation]

This is what I do.
1) Hi Viz
2) Phone
3) What mood is my horse in - if hyper I don't go. I lunge instead.
4) If others what to go with me I ask what they are comfortable with, is their horse good on the roads, any traffic its scared of etc.
5) I will NEVER leave someone and go off into canter.
6) Bring some form of ID with your name and emergancy contact numbers, and a leadrope, attach it to the saddle.

I used to hack out with a girl who had a very nappy horse, even in company. I made sure I rode a good horse, who, if needed, would let me lead the nappy horse from them. (He always walked forward if I attached him to the leadrope I carried with me) I would always ensure that my horse was rideable enough for her incase we needed a swap.

If I took children which I regularly did I went on a bombproof horse and set out ground rules before we left.
I.e If you feel uncomfortable, tell me! Walk ONLY, you want to canter, go with someone else. And make sure your parents know I am taking you on a hack, where you are going and when you will be back, and ensure they have all of our numbers.

Sounds like a bit much but I am big on safety.

 

[honetpot]

When my chidren were small, 6 and 10 we hacked out all together, never on roads.
Basically I was the brake, we hacked in single file, if they couldn't stop run into the back of me, and if anyone screams stop( and my youngest could scream) you stop. We never had any accidents with this method but I think alot of people a just plain stupid. The simple rules.
If the horses is fresh, controlled trotting on the way out until the edge is taken off.
Never do the same thing in the same place twice, however boring it may be for you.
Never canter in an open space.
The 'brake' at the front, slowest pony are the rear.
Go at the speed of the most novice rider and stop or slow down when asked,immediately.
Never canter towards home and walk the last half mile.
To some this may seem boring but having a pony bolt and a child come off is excitment I can live without.