TarrSteps
Well-Known Member
I think horses are migratory/nomadic animals and it's normal for them to cover long distances in unfamiliar territory.
Just as a point, this isn't really true. Herds live within clearly defined territories, the size of which is determined by geography and resources. They move steadily through this territory and may favour specific areas seasonally, but it would be rare for them to venture into unfamiliar lands, and then only under pressure. These territories might be large by human standards but they are well travelled and familiar to the horses.
Which is no reason not to hack, it's just not something that mimics a natural behaviour. There are plenty of aspects to off road hacking that speak to 'natural' physical development (especially as so few horses are turned out on large areas of varied terrain now) and it's a useful skill because it's what a lot of people like to do.
This is one of those unwinable arguments. There are lots of good, useful things about hacking, if it can be done safely. Equally there are lots of horses that spend most of their 5 ish working hours a week primarily in the school and, contrary to what some people suggest, they aren't all sour, sore, unwilling participants. I don't get bored in the school and I've never had a horse that I've made that's not been able to hack much get 'ring sour' so I guess it all depends on your experience. As many people have said, it often comes down to compromises and that is always going to have a large individual component.