Hacking alone

[yvonne36]

As an older learner do you think it would be daft to hack alone?

I have a great wee horse who can be a bit forward sometimes but I am fed up waiting for someone to hack out with all the time.

I am building up my confidence slowly and I just wondered if I might be trying to run before I can walk so to speak!

 

[PippiPony]

I'd take someone out the first time with you, have you a willing OH or friend that would walk or cycle with you otherwise?

 

[kazs]

if you have the confidence to hack alone then go for it, if your still gaining confidence try doing a bit at a time, try going out maybe just to the end of the road/track and back, or go out for a bit longer and just have a relaxing walk, if you dont go out on your own you will never know. but when you do go out on your own there will be no stopping you. enjoy.

 

[jumpthemoon]

Hi

If you can control the horse in all paces in the school and are aware of the highway code I don't see why you shouldn't go out on your own

Take it steady - just go for a really short one for a start.

Make sure you take a phone and tell someone where you are going, how long you'll be etc.

 

[Carys]

I agree with jtm - if you don't try you'll never know - hacking alone can be very rewarding and once your horse gets used to it so long as someone knows where you've gone/take a phone (but don't do what someone suggested and attach it to the horse - don't think they know how to use them !!). Start small & build up gradually - just enjoy.

 

[OWLIE185]

I tend to hack alone most of the time. When I got my first horse I used to hack through Central London quite happily by myself. I find it is safer that way as other horses can cause problems if they are not happy in traffic or spook at things.

 

[Coffee_Bean]

I hack alone quite a lot. If you think you can cope with your horse (which I'm sure you can) just tell someone where you are going and just go for a little short one to start

 

[gembob]

im forever hacking alone and it bores me to death lol im sure ppl think im weird as we happily go along with me nattering away to sid haha!

 

[seche]

As long as the horse is known to be good out on its own I dont think it would be a prob, but tell someone where your going, how long youll be and take a mobile.
After all it should be fun so enjoy!!

 

[Tantrwm]

I was nervous when I started hacking out alone, but hacked out with a couple of friends on the route I wanted to do first to see if my horse was bothered by anything. Then I started with short trips, building up into longer and longer ones and this has proved fine. I also made sure that I started in walk and the occasional trot until I was happy that she was still listening to me.

What makes me feel more comfortable was that I tell someone where I'm going and I always carry a mobile phone and have hi viz gear on. The only thing I would watch for is not asking for canter on the return as this can sometimes become a gallop. My horse does a no 2 walk on the way out and no9 walk on the way back!!! Starting to look for lessons in Aberdare if anyone knows of anywhere good - found one riding centre in this video http://www.realvalleysmedia.co.uk/sportscouncil.htm anyone else been there?

x

 

[Happytohack]

Have you got a fairly short route that your horse is familiar with? - one that he has been round with another horse, so he knows the way. If you are happy that you can control him out in the open and on the road, then go for it and take it slowly.
I hack on my own nearly all the time - there aren't many people who will put up with my singing

 

[chillidragon]

When I took Brandy out alone for the very first time, I planned out a route and the OH walked (okay, jogged - Brandy doesn't do relaxing hacks) along on the pavement as we went. He wouldn't have been much use if she'd done something insane but it was reassuring that someone would be on hand to scrape me up off the floor if it all went pear-shaped, and I think horses are comforted by having a human on the ground nearby. Anywho, we only went a little way and the next time, he went and sat at the halfway point about five minutes away, so that I had the reassurance of knowing that if I was even a couple of minutes late then someone would be straight out looking for us. I'm lucky though; the promise of a yummy takeout can win him over to almost anything.