Hacking Alone...

T

trickivicki

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2010
Messages
1,043
Visit site
I hate it!!

I dont feel safe and get very bored and lonely.

P is only just 6 (although impeccably behaved so I cant even blame him) so I know I should do it as part of his education, but I really really struggle to force myself to do it.

I regular go out with only human company but I do worry that I am turning him into a 15.1 leadrein pony.

Does anyone else feel the same?

V & P x
 
I'm not keen either - mare is a saint and we have some really wonderful hacking - I don't even have to go on the road! But I just don't feel fussed to, I much prefer going out with oh and having a nice hack together on our mares. We have a nice natter, some lovely canters etc and I just prefer having company (human as well as equine!). If I am going to be riding on my own then I prefer to just school or lunge instead.
Some people love it, I'm just not one of them!
 
Generally I'd rather hack alone as I can go at my own pace then and can be as unsociable as I like after a long day at work! I don't tend to trot my horse on the road so if I go on my own, I can amble along if I like. I won't canter him on the fields with the ground with way it is ATM, it's like concrete here, so if I'm on my own then I can't spoil someone else's fun if they want to go hell for leather around the concrete fields.

You can't be lonely out hacking, even if there are no other people, you always have your horse! :D
 
Last edited:
I have the same problem, my boy is 6, very green though, fine in other horsey company will take the lead etc but when he's on his own he goes to pieces! We get so far, then he spins around and canters off down the road... ive tried everything, lots of leg, i carry a whip, talking to him etc nothing seems to work. Its so frustrating and making me think whats the point!!
 
TBH I tend to prefer hacking alone, all my horses have it enforced upon them!
I tend to be quite busy so tend to turn up at a time to suit and ride without faffing around, sometimes at unsociable hours! Also means you can go at the pace you want.
 
I prefer hacking alone now.

I've done it for years - had to as I had no-one to hack out with and no school to use so hacking it was. I still don't do much schooling but lots and lots of hacking :)

Each to their own though I suppose.
 
I also hate it. I worry so much. I think the same though that it is good for his education. I used to get someone else to take him out alone for me, but I am now determined to get over this problem, so am going to start building up in baby steps.
 
I'm with you trickivicki! I get bored on my own and my current boy isn't keen on it either, he does about 15 mins then realises he's on his and canters back up the road (or tries to). I know we both need to get on with it for education purposes, but everytime I think about it I get a big bout of the 'what ifs' :o
 
I much prefer hacking alone TBH. My neighbour has said to me many a times to let her know when I'm going out as she'd like to tag along.

Truth is I ride out nearly every day (no school!) but very rarely tell her as to me hacking out is my relaxation time away from everyone and everything except for me and my horse :)
 
I love hacking alone for the same reason as others, I can go at my own pace, go my own way ect. I do also like hacking in company as I enjoy a good natter. If I want to go for a good canter though I prefer being alone.

Despite what myself and others prefer though I think you should do what makes you happy, if you really don't enjoy it then you don't have to do it?! Just go out hacking with a friend instead also in sure your horse doesn't mind if someone walks with you :).
 
I may get my little friend to take him out this week and next so he gets his once a week on his own hack (which I force upon myself) as she is on her easter holidays from school and seems to enjoy going solo!

I dont even have the excuse of him misbehaving!!
 
I hack alone and in company all the time....Done it with Bug since she was 3 and she is 4 now.

Good part of her education is to go out both alone and in company. she is an ex racer and we have no problems at all.

Nice to go in company but at the same time when i'm not in a chatty mood it's nice to go out on my own .
 
I love hacking out alone and find it much safer and more relaxing than hacking out with others who have radically different ideas of health and safety than me, lol.

I think it's a good idea if every horse *can* hack out on their own, in case they need to be rehomed. It's a huge advantage in successfully rehoming a horse.
 
I enjoy both, I couldn't just do one or the other.

I like hacking alone as I like the flexibility, you can rock up what ever you want, take as much time as you want grooming/tacking up and go where ever and at what pace you choose depending on what horse you are one or how much you have, I can mutter away to myself or my horse or I can be as quiet and as boring as I like as I don't have to make conversation.

But I also enjoy company too, we tend to have a good laugh, good chance to catch up with friends plus at times it can be safer if there is a few of you.
 
Sorry I love hacking alone and can't wait till we can get Vardi super confident about being in the big outdoors on his own.

I love the fact I can simply be with my horse, can chat away to myself it my rest and relaxation time:-)
 
I hack all my horses on my own including the recent addition who's just turned 4yo. He had never hacked until i had him & he's happily going out alone.
I keep my horses at home so i dont have many options to ride out with anyone, my neighbour has a horse but it's terrible to hack out with very nappy so i wont ride with her anymore.
My boy's are actually better on there own & i dont have to listen to another person yammering on whilst im enjoying riding out lol.
 
Some of my best rides are on my own, we can please ourselves and not worry about someone else, and if you saw some of the places I ride you would know why ;)
 
dressagecrazy, how do you get your 4yr old's confidence up hacking alone? To go anywhere at my yard involves busy roads, so when he spins around in front of cars its very off putting!! I know we need to do it more but find it frustrating!
 
Pedantic said:
Some of my best rides are on my own, we can please ourselves and not worry about someone else, and if you saw some of the places I ride you would know why ;)
Click to expand...

me too :D

i love it, i do ride in company sometimes too though....

i get my ipod on in my pocket (not headphones) and have a good wee singsong. For me it really is one of lifes greatest pleasures:D it should be enjoyable though, if you dont like it dont do it ;)
 
I actually really enjoy hacking on my own although now I am a little nervous as my horse is in his nappy, rearing git stage still. However he is the same in company - all depends on his mood.
 
leflynn said:
but everytime I think about it I get a big bout of the 'what ifs' :o
Click to expand...

its like your describing me :o

what if that dog luinges/barks at us?
what if that child kick that football against the fence?
what if someones out shooting?


ahhh poor young horse dont stand a chance!! :o
 
ellie_e said:
dressagecrazy, how do you get your 4yr old's confidence up hacking alone? To go anywhere at my yard involves busy roads, so when he spins around in front of cars its very off putting!! I know we need to do it more but find it frustrating!
Click to expand...

I started him by having someone walk out with me we did this 3 times & then i hacked out once with my neighbour BIG MiSTAKE as her horse has got worse not better. Then i went for it & took him out alone, been hacking alone ever since.
He's a very genuine young horse but does lack some confidence due to age. He has the odd stop out hacking & will occasionally try it on & try to turn for home. He doesnt like cows though which is a bugger as we have several cow farms here that we have to ride through & past lol but i just get on with it.

My WB is worse very spooky & sharp but he's much better on his own, he will spook & spin on the roads he spun 3x's on Sunday out on the roads he was very full of himself making out monsters where chasing him the whole way round:mad:, but im that used to it that it gets like a nothing so:cool:.

The youngster doesnt spin so really is a nothing to ride out compared to my big WB. Confidence only builds the more they do it.
 
I much prefer either riding with someone or having someone on foot. Partly for safety but also I feel calmer with someone to talk too. I don't mind riding in field on my own though xx
 
I used to go out on my own all the time - mainly because I could only make it to the yard later in the evenings and no one else was around by then! But I really loved it and enjoyed going at our own pace in the evening sunshine.

But since the terrible accident at our yard and another incident where a rider was shot at while out alone (see other post) :eek:, I would be too nervous to go alone, I think. However 'bombproof' and safe your horse may be, accidents do happen - maybe nothing to do with you yourself, or your horse.

If my friend had been alone when she had her accident, she would have surely died.

I know there are risks with most things in life - you just have to minimize them and do what you can to keep safe, whilst still enjoying your hobby. I think choosing the right companion is crucial, too. There are some at our yard that I would not choose to go out with, whilst others are on exactly the same page ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top