Good Hacking Horse - the most difficult to produce????

[canteron]

Does anyone else agree with me.

A good hacking horse has not only has to have a good character, but be carefully brought up - with a confident rider - so that it has seen everything once and isn't scared of much.

In my (humble) opinion, most horses can be persuaded to go round a school or over a few jumps in an safeish and OKish manner in a limited amount of time but to produce a genuinely confident hacker normally takes a confident rider and years rather than months??

People sometimes say that they 'only want a horse for hacking' so will only pay so much for it, but someone somewhere has normally put a huge amount of time into a calm hacking horse.

Additionally a good hacking horse normally doesn't demand to be ridden every day to maintain good manners, therefore whereas some horses you either ride every day or not at all, a good hacking horse is happy to be left in the field until it suits you ...... voila there is less pressure on an owner to sell if they find they can't ride so much.

Is it just me, or do a lot of people not understand what an amazing thing a truly confident bombproof horse is ... and yes they are rarely cheap.

I say this through bitter knowledge, in my time I have spent enough time looking for one!!

 

[finefeathers1]

Totally agree with you. My 16 year old cob has been there, done it, got the t shirt and is now the perfect hacking partner. He is as bombproof as a police horse but he still has that certain little something which stops him being just that side of boring. Its taken me 5 years to get him there though.

Our YO uses him to hack out on when she has youngsters to bring on as he is so sensible, he is pretty much anyones ride and on top of that he will do a mean old prelim test and get placed, go to PC camp, do PC showjumping with my daughter (when she can tear herself away from her eventer), and he is a fab hunter.

Was offered £6,500 for him out hunting earlier on this year for someone who wanted a safe and steady conveyance for a nervous adult. Not bad for a 14.3hh 16 year old ex riding school cob.

He wont be sold for any money though, he is totally beyond price and therefore priceless ......

 

[Erehwemos]

This is a really interesting subject.
I would always describe Ellie as an excellent hacking horse...she's fun, she's not strong, she absolutely adores going off to new places, and she has amazing stamina. But, in light of the criteria you're set out above, she wouldnt be perfect at all - she's spooky, unpredictable and very sharp (nearly had me off this morning when a 'monster' (i.e. a twig of blossom) dared to lurk in the hedge

I think what you have to balance is whether a truly perfect hacker is a horse which will not bat an eyelid at anything, or one which can be controlled with quiet, patient riding but is spirited enough to liven up a long hack. Ellie certainly does the latter!!! But I dont know that she would be everyone's cup of tea, so...

As for a truly bombproof hacking horse...I dont know I've ever really come across one, so yes, maybe they are very rare!

 

[Firehorse]

all i wanted was a good hacking horse, but when i was looking last year, they were all way out of my budget!! i ended up buying a mare with issues and am working hard to build up her confidence to become that happy hacker i wanted. it may take me a long time to get there, but we will. but when we do get there, she wont be for sale no matter what i'm offered!

i think if you want a good hacker, its either pay for it or work for it yourself. i'd have gone for the first option had i been able to afford it, but in hindsight i have learnt so much and gained so much from the hard work already, i wouldn't change her for the world.

 

[The Bouncing Bog Trotter]

[ QUOTE ]




Is it just me, or do a lot of people not understand what an amazing thing a truly confident bombproof horse is ... and yes they are rarely cheap.



[/ QUOTE ]

Totally agree and I want one! Some people have very different ideas of bombproof and confidence giving though.

 

[niko]

What a brilliant topic, and i for one agree with every word said. My competition horse/ hacker is only kept fit by road work. I do not have the luxury of a school at home and rent one when needed. But i do school on hacks and it takes alot of obedience when a combine harvester and slurry tankers are in all the fields that surround our country roads.
My mare is 5 and can be road by anyone has alot of blood but has years of producing such a laid back character.
Unfortunately from an injury she was unable to be road for 9weeks, brought back a couple of days ago the vet advised hacking as she cant school for awhile. She was tacked up (cant lunge vet advised against) mounted, stood and off i went down the road on a sensible quiet mount, that left her companions and didnt make a beep. Passed cones and red and white tape flapping, tractors and trailors passing us as if she didnt see them and all at a walk as she only can do minimal trot work. I think this is impressive for a 5yr old sport horse, hunter/eventer/fun horse. I have been offered alot from people looking a sensible hack and competition horse, but they are few and far between and you dont get them everyday

 

[lauraandjack]

Definitely very difficult to produce/ find!

My horse is brillant to hack, he does not mind any kind of traffic, fighter planes, helicopters, flapping plastic, tractors etc. He will canter happily alone or in company, does gates, will go through water etc.

BUT - he does have his quirks. He's been badly beaten in a past life I think and is scared of his own shadow at times, it took me months to get him to tolerate hand signals. He's also terrified of sheepdogs thanks to useless yard owner (we rent the yard but her house is there) who can't control her dogs.

Definitely not a novice ride!

 

[Flame_]

I have to agree. I have once horse that bolts so its not allowed out of arenas, and I've another horse who is perfect in every way to ride schooling and out hacking until a car or, god help us, something bigger tries to pass us and then we get rears, bucks and plunges.

Everyone's a bit at a loss how to fix it.

 

[canteron]

Good to know its not just me being stupid. I looked for that perfect 'ready made' horse - but most people who have them realise how lucky they are and wont sell!!

I eventually bought a green 4yo, which we bought purely for its good temperament. I try to regularly introduce him to all sorts of flappy, noisy, bouncy horrible things and ride him out with friends. Because I am a touch wimpy sometimes, I have a professional rider who rides him out once a week on his own to help his confidence.

If I ever totted up the hours and £ I spend on trying to produce a calm confident horse (the ideal happy hacker) then it would be horrifying. So why does anyone think they should be cheap?

We can go round the school looking quite good - thats the easy bit, the educating out hacking is the one which takes the bravery and most time?!

 

[Janette]

Reading this thread has made me realise that I have this rare creature - a fabulous hacking horse. She's 100% in traffic, including combiners, tractors etc. Open space can go to her brain cell somewhat, and she tends to 'bounce' but is containable.

I love my pony

We are not so good in the school - she gnashes her teeth and swears at me out of the corner of her mouth and is generally reluctant to please. But I put up with that because she is so good in other areas.

 

[Theresa_F]

I also think some of the problem is that people want competition horses to be steady hacks - they want the beauty and fire but also something that will go out past anything with no reaction, now these are few and far between.

I have had two lovely TBs that would hack wonderfully and my first TB was the most bomproof horse I have ever met. My WB - never a good hack unless in company but she was a real competition bred horse.

I have been lucky in that apart from Fleur, all my ponies and horses have been lovely to hack out either solo or in company.

Our new clydie mare is rising 5 and the most steadiest and wonderful hack - responsive, does not spook and can take out just about anyone. Our old clydie was 99.99% bombproof and a great ride out for anyone, again fun and responsive.

Chancer my cob, also rising 5 can be a bit of a wuzz on the rare occasion, will do a banana shape or stop and have a good look but not more than that. As long as he has a rider who says it is ok, get on with it, he so far has gone past anything and everything I have met. He has a dash of TB in him, but I do feel given a couple of years he will be every bit as steady as the clydies.

I think a good hack is a combination of type and having a confident rider they trust at the start. I also did a lot of taking Chancer out and about before he was backed being led off Cairo so he got to see deer, combines, wild weather etc before he was even sat on. Hacking out was only different in that he was carrying a rider and he got on with it. I also hacked him out solo for very short distances as soon as he was backed, building up slowly and he is happy to go out solo with no problems.

 

[emma69]

Makes me giggle in light of this thread when I see people talking down about riding school horses. Most riding school horses are as described, happy, safe hackers, who have seen pretty much everything. They don't take years to produce, we used to buy half a dozen or so horses at the end of winter, by mid summer they were perfectly behaved hacking horses, with the very odd exception. Then in autumn they would go to homes mostly to be happy hackers again. The rider needs to be experienced to a point, but even with less experienced folk, the experience they get hacking day after day with other more experienced horses works pretty quickly. Yet the number of folks who won't touch an ex-riding school horse amazes me, they describe what they want, but don't want the stigma associated with it!

 

[canteron]

Interesting emma69, but, I would say that you probably have an experienced eye when choosing horses and the horses actually they get a lot of miles on the clock in a short time ... and also a lot of different people on their back which is another 'education' for a horse.

Or (which I am sure you aren't, you sound clued up) you could be one of those crazy yards .... like the one in the next village to us, where they are so happy go lucky that the horses spend most of the time playing on the road because they can't be bothered to repair/put the electric fencing on. All her horses are described as 'perfect happy hackers suitable for novices' mmm ... only for the brave!

 

[air78]

I totally agree that there is nothing better than an amazing hacking horse

But, I think that most of the traits you are all describing above should also apply to competition horses. You are talking about a horse who is obdeient, bold and trainable, something we should all be striving for with every youngster, regardless of it's future role as a competition horse, racehorse or happy hacker. Although every rider has a level of tolerance to spooky, sharp etc behaviour they may be comfortable with out hacking which will differ, I still think these are the basic requirements needed.

You could have the best dressage/ jumper/ XC machine in the world but if napps and won't leave the collecting ring, spooks at everything in sight in the arena, works it's self up into a total frenzy so it won't listen to the rider, then it's no good; the same as it would be useless as the perfect hack

 

[ribena73]

[ QUOTE ]
Reading this thread has made me realise that I have this rare creature - a fabulous hacking horse. She's 100% in traffic, including combiners, tractors etc. Open space can go to her brain cell somewhat, and she tends to 'bounce' but is containable.
.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have one of these too, he's just coming up to 7 but out and about he is fantastic. Open space though and we do bounce or go sideways, or both, and our braking distance is pretty poor

But, he needs work in the school, gets overexcited if there's something for him to jump (unless it has a coloured filler then runs the other way), and bounces a lot of the time! But then at least it's a soft landing there

 

[Dubsie]

I think it helps if the horse is kept in a road side field - with wizzy noisy motorcycles, school kids, and the Bristol-Paddington railway line next to it. Means they don't flinch when crazy motorcyclist/steam train on excursion that whistles to the crowd of anoraks with cameras poised/giggling girlies go past

 

[annret]

I think the thing is that to produce a good hacking horse, you have to have no fears/not pussyfoot around & just confront the issues - after doing this enough then you have a great hacking horse.

Hence ex-racers being such good hacks in heavy traffic, due to having to confront it from a young age - if you expect good behaviour, it will come.

The yard I'm at puts even incredibly valuable competition youngsters into the RS if the people in lessons are good enough - definately helps their mentality.

The only way to sort out issues is to tackle them head on - terrifying as the prospect is!

 

[emma69]

Wonderful!!! I never thought of simply turning them out on to the roads for a little independent learning!!! Fortunately, we only had one who used to take himself for a wander - he could undo kickbolts with his tongue and occasionally the girls forgot his spring clip. He also let others out of their stable... They couldn't get on to the roads however, just gorge themselves silly on hayledge!

 

[Halfstep]

When I first got my horse as a 5 yr old he had never been hacked. He would panic and spin and rear. Simply, he was scared.

Through patience and determination he was taught to hack, and now is completely safe and reliable. In fact, he's a pleasure to hack in every way. He will walk quietly on the roads, and canter happily in an open field without pulling. And bear in mind this is a dressage horse who can be quite fired up in the school.

The only reason he hacks so well is because he's been trained to do so, in the same way as he's been trained to do, say, a simple change or a shoulder in.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
I also think some of the problem is that people want competition horses to be steady hacks - they want the beauty and fire but also something that will go out past anything with no reaction, now these are few and far between.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know that I agree with you Theresa. We have three or four competition horses on my yard (well two are away currently competing). But without exception they are 100% on the roads. It was part of their fundamental education, as was being hunted as youngsters.

I haven't included my own horse in that as I haven't competed him. However he competed prior to my owning him and you will never ride anything safer on the road than Thumper.

It's about education and temperament imo. Not what their job is.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Most riding school horses are as described, happy, safe hackers, who have seen pretty much everything.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mmm, not sure I would agree with those sentiments either. Amy May came from a riding school - and lord she was none of those. It took years of patience for her to become a genuine allrounder after leaving the school environment.

Nappy, stubborn and generally difficult is how I would describe ex riding school horses.......

 

[ladyt25]

I think a lot of the time is people almost forget the importance of taking a horse out on the roads from the word go. Now, ok that horse may be intended to just be a competition horse BUT if that maybe for one reason or another and it has to be placed in an alternative home/life it will (in my opinion) be more difficult to home if unable to hack out.

It used to be common to see people riding out and leading youngsters along roads, you don't seem to see it so often now. I think people stick to the schools, try to 'perfect' the horses' way of going an hacking is not considered as high a priority which is a shame.

I got my horse as a 4 yo, his yard was next to a big haulage firm but he was schooled to compete BSJA. However, his hacking was well established and the minute we got him home I had no qualms about taking him straight out, on his own, in company whatever, and he was (and still is) fab.

There seems to be so many threads on here about people who are too scared to hack or whose horses are terrible out hacking and I think that's a real shame.

 

[millitiger]

my 4yro hacks beautifully in all traffic, down the main road, tractors, motorbikes etc. through open fields, cows, sheep etc.

she has an excellent calm nature and has had a good upbringing where she has been introduced to everything early and carefully, ensuring she is very confident and trusting.

 

[Booboos]

Very interesting thread!

I completely agree that it requires a lot of hard work and a bit of luck to produce a good hacking horse, especially if you expect it to also pop a jump and have basic flatwork. The number of things the horse needs to be OK with including traffic, heavy traffic, funny traffic, pedestrians, buggies, dogs, plastic bags, bins, cats, cows, pigs, cones, hedgerows, open spaces, gates, road signs, puddles, pheasants, helicopters, etc, etc. is endless! Add to that hacking in company and hacking alone, as well as loading, travelling and not going nuts in a new place and you have one tall order!

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Hmmm, like MizElz says, I would describe my horse as a great hacking horse, I feel totally confident going out on my own, I can have a good gallop and know she'll come back to me, I take her on all kinds of roads, she'll go all day as she has the stamina to do so. But she will spook at some silly things, but she is very good on the road, she doesn't like tractors, but she probably picks that up from me a bit tbh.

I have never met a totally bombproof horse, but I've met some pretty good ones... I would never call a horse "totally bombproof" actually. A friend of a friend was out on her "bombproof" cob, something shot out a chimney, he spooked and fell, and she spent 6 weeks in hospital with a ruined leg. Thankfully she recovered. But it just goes to show even the most sane horses can be spooked by some things.

 

[Maesfen]

[ QUOTE ]

I don't know that I agree with you Theresa. We have three or four competition horses on my yard (well two are away currently competing). But without exception they are 100% on the roads. It was part of their fundamental education, as was being hunted as youngsters.

It's about education and temperament imo. Not what their job is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Spot on AM!

If every horse was given the chance as a youngster to be introduced to everything instead of drilled only in a school, they would have a far better attitude to life in general; it shouldn't matter what their end job is meant to be, they should all be able to hack sensibly anywhere IMO.