Hacking alone?

as sweet as hunni

as sweet as hunni

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So I want to start hacking more but most of the people tame advantage of our all weather school(rain. Don't we all ;D) don't get me wrong they do hack out with me most of our riding time but Hunni is better on her own(gets a little tense and spooky but nothing bad) and all our hacking is on site so to speak, go out gate turn left walk few strides got a field, turn right and you have a whole 100+ acres to ride across, sadly my mum doesn't condone me hacking alone, but surely I'd be ok in the nearest field? Sorry for rambling, what are your views on hacking alone?
 
Well I hack alone and have done for over 40 years, however I have to say that the traffic is beginning to terrify me now. If you are a competent rider then I feel sure that you would be okay especially if there isn't any roadwork to do. The key to hacking is IMO, tell someone where you are going and approximately for how long. Nowadays have your mobile phone with you so that you can get help if necessary and the Mum panicking back at the yard can check up on you if you are running a little late. ( I often run late because I stop and talk to folks I meet along the way. Drives hubby bonkers!!)
 
May I ask how old you are? I dont really call going in your own fields (even 100 acres) hacking. Hacking to me would mean a ride of several miles on roads, tracks, etc going from A -B or doing a big circular ride. And though I like hacking with friends, theres a special feeling when theres just you and your horse relying on and trusting each other.
 
I love hacking alone, in fact, I prefer it sometimes.
I have always told people where I'm going and how long I expect to be. You can also get an app for iphones, which alerts people if you fall off (might help your mum)
I think it's an essential thing for a horse and rider to be able to do, even if they choose not to. :)
 
Could I ask what that app is called? And it's not our paddocks, the YO has acres of riding land with tracks around, if you follow the track it takes you around the edge of all the fields and back to the yard! All the fields have tracks(hacking fields) :)
 
I mostly hack alone because of the time of day I ride. I hacked alone from the age of 13 - my non horsey parents didn't really think it through I suspect ;)
 
Gosh - I hacked alone from the age of 9, but that was in the sixties! I think it is such a shame now that the roads are so dangerous for horses, and riders don't have the fun of setting off for a two to three hour hack and just enjoying themselves, their horse and the countryside. Of course too, it also depends where you live. I was lucky enough to have access to miles of bridletracks/common land/NT land.
 
I hack alone quite a bit as I love the isolation of me and 'oss, BUT he has ID attached to him, as to I, just in case we were to part company....!

...but then, I'm older, and TBH, I wouldn't be happy letting my son who is almost 15 go out alone, not that it's him, it's the worry of traffic etc!
 
gosh! I hack alone 99.9% of the time and I can't abide horses who will not hack alone!

I have hacked on my own since I was about 10 and regularly used to disappear for hours on end, my mum used to watch me through binoculars!!

Must agree with the other posters on here about the roads though, they have certainly got scarier since I was a nipper, horse doesn't have a problem at all with traffic, but its not her I have a problem trusting, its other road users. Having said that if you are mainly hacking round fields you should be fine as long as you tell someone where you are going/how long you will be and take your phone with you.
 
I've hacked alone since I was 11 - when I got my first pony, and I'm only 19, so not as if the roads were way safer back then! Couldn't imagine not hacking by myself - can't always find someone to ride with, especially since we keep the horses at home! Don't think road safety makes a difference whether there's one of you or 2 of you, the car will still react the same!
 
I've been hacking alone since I got my old lad, when I was 12ish. Love going out by myself, though Fergs isn't as relaxing to hack as J (borderline personality disorder out by himself :p). I just make sure I have mobile, ID on pony, hi vis on pony etc.
 
I love hacking alone, great bonding time with the horse, nice peace and quiet away from people, I will be hacking a lot in company when I move to my new yard with my boy, as he is only a youngster, but as soon as he is confident enough I will be going it alone again... To me it is one of the best parts of owning a horse.
 
I've always hacked alone, including as a child, in the days before mobile phones. Used to go out for 3-4hrs exploring, occasionally got lost and wandered onto some random livery yard or farm to ask for directions back to mine. I understand your mum's concerns, but its like going to the shops alone or going out after dark, if you're going to have a life it involves risk. You're a minor though, so I guess ultimately your mum has the final say.
 
I love hacking on my own. I can go my own pace (faster than some, slower than others) without anybody else's horse setting mine off. Always have a phone on me and lots of hi viz. I don't need to go on roads.
Very happy my horse loves this too. Wouldn't have bought her if she didn't.
 
Perhaps once she has regained her own confidence and is sure you arent on a hormonal pony she will relax about it :)
 
Recently discovered the benefits of hacking alone (my own pace - which doesn't match another horse on the yard - and my own time).
The yard is empty when I leave most times so I text my mother (who works in the city) to say going out will text in an hour (or whatever) and that if I don't she's to call the YO (who works in a office closer to yard).
We have 'hacking fields' and country roads so always carry phone and wear hi vis (usually the only one). ALWAYS tell someone where you are going and when you will be back (imagine you are climbing mountains - plan for the worst and enjoy the best).
With time she will relax about it. Honest.
 
I'm just starting to hack mine out alone (had him 2 months). He doesn't like being alone, lacks confidence and can be nappy. I have lots of people to hack out with but I want the option to not have to wait for other people. I have school holidays coming up and whilst every ones at work I want to be able to get out and about :-) As a child I rode my pony alone from being about 12, at times down some very busy roads though I was on the verges. My pony was a saint though so my mam was happy. Now I make sure someone knows I'm going out, I take my phone and I'm going to sort a tag for his saddle incase I come off.
 
I have hacked out alone since I was 10/11, I am now 31. I don't know how my poor mum coped in honesty as I am not sure how I would be, my mum is a right worrier too. But I think she had faith that I was a great little rider back then, not that that would help in a freak situation, but I was fine. Wish I was as good a rider now as I was then!
It is hard to comment, I can see your mum's worry. Now we have phones, BP's, hi viz, I had none of that, was just me, my hat and pony :D
Hopefully you can do short routes on your own to start with and lengthen then, perhaps your mum's confidence in the situation would grow if you start small
 
I have always hacked Dex alone - even if you are off-road make sure you put a hi-viz on as god forbid you have a fall you will be easily spotted in hi-viz, also make sure the phone is strapped to you and not the horse .

Why not come to a deal with your mum and say she can text you every half hour/hour when you are out and that you will text when you are going and when you are back.

you are very very lucky to have such good off -road riding - have fun.
 
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