Hacking Alone

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Dumbo

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I've always hacked out in company but at the yard there is either the older lot who like going for a gallop and jumping logs or the younger ones who go slow with their ponies. My horse is brilliant in traffic etc and never spooks but not sure how confident I'd be on my own. Also, I want to hack more than I am as he doesn't need schooling and think he's getting bored, but there's not always someone to go out with when I want too.
What is everyone's opinion on hacking alone?
 
I tend to hack out on my own as I prefer to ride at the weekends before my family want to go out and about. I also am aiming current pony to do long distance at some later date so would need to be able to ride out alone. I am fortunate enough to have excellent bridelpaths where I am so only do small sections of road work. I used to keep my old pony who was traffic shy in Birmingham and hack out in very heavy traffic which could be 'interesting'!

My main tips are to take a phone with you, pre plan your route and be prepared in case of emergencies.
 
I often hack alone, I don't find it boring. It's really nice to have a break from people and I tend to treat every hack as an adventure :D
 
I always find my hacks alone are drama free ( my pony is abit of a sheep and will over react with a naughty horse). Its relaxing to go out and have a break i find aswell. If your horse is good in traffic etc. just go for it bring your phone with you and tell people your going and you shall be fine :)
 
Where my horse was before, where I shared him was centre of the city so hacked him once passed buses etc, never bat an eyelid! Now, its the open space that is the worry! There is a very easy route, all on a quiet road which would take us about 30 mins so might do that.. But will remember a phone and hi-viz jacket!
 
I love hacking alone. Particularly on a quiet road. In fact it really annoys me when people see me about to leave and say "hold up i'll come with you". NO bugger off!!
 
I had the same problem with hacking buddies, so I bit the bullet and went it alone. Love it now!

Make sure you tell someone where you are going and when to expect you back, take a phone and wear lots of hi viz. The MOST IMPORTANT thing is HAVE FUN! :o) xx
 
For me it's a novelty to actually hack in company! I'm on private land with my horses so there's no-one else there (which I like!) hence no-one to ride with. And also, mine are endurance horses, so hacking is not simply a slow amble admiring the local scenery - there's work to be done too.

I prefer it this way - although admittedly, when I go to a competition, it's a real pleasure to be able to team up with a fellow endurance rider (maybe somone you know, or maybe a brand new friend) and cover the miles together!

Like others have said, I always wear hi-viz, always carry a phone and always let OH know roughly where I'm going and how long I expect to be.
 
My old horse was hard work alone and I was at a fairly big yard so never any need- I actually missed it!
Now I have old horse back but I also have another and keep them alone so I have no choice but to hack at one alone. I like it although my second horse is annoyingly spooky alone its not the end of the world and I don't have to wait for or try and keep up with anyone.
Give it a try- Plan a small circuit route- tell people where your going and take a phone....enjoy x
 
I think the idea of hacking alone is lovely, I would love to just go exploring with my boy. He however has other ideas, he gets terrible separation anxiety from other horses (really bad in his stable) this means he is almost constantly calling for others, hes never done anything particularly naughty although Ive only ever made it about a mile on him before chickening out and going home. Does anyone have any tips to make me braver to try and calm him enough to go exploring? Hes absolutley brilliant in company and rarely spooky so im sure hed be safe enough its just his fear of being alone sometimes takes over.
 
Emilynuttall said:
I think the idea of hacking alone is lovely, I would love to just go exploring with my boy. He however has other ideas, he gets terrible separation anxiety from other horses (really bad in his stable) this means he is almost constantly calling for others, hes never done anything particularly naughty although Ive only ever made it about a mile on him before chickening out and going home. Does anyone have any tips to make me braver to try and calm him enough to go exploring? Hes absolutley brilliant in company and rarely spooky so im sure hed be safe enough its just his fear of being alone sometimes takes over.
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Get him used to a route so he knows it very well and for the first few times get someone to either walk or cycle with you then gradually get him going further totally alone :)
 
I'm just training Ned to go it alone, it wouldn't have been possible last year, or even a few months back.
I went for 6 miles on tuesday! I was absolutely thrilled and it was so fun!

I used to hack for hours on Archie and Blobby, but sadly they both passed away.

Take your phone and have fun :D
 
I love hacking alone and also with company cuts nice to have the variety. When hacking alone I tend to have my iPod in one ear thoudg
 
I have tried taking him out with someone walking but he still constantly calls. Will this calling stop once he gets used to it a bit more? Hes not particularly naughty just gets on his toes a bit and the calling puts me on edge. Im going to try and get out this weekend I think with my Ipod, we have amazing hacking at my new yard and lovely people to hack with but I still like the idea of exploring on our own!
 
I love hacking out by myself including cental London, (Hyde Park, Hampstead Heath etc.) Mid Wales, Exmoor, The Quantocks and Hertfordshire. I always wear long sleeved Hi-Viz so that motorists can clearly see my hand signals and my horse has Hi-Viz reign covers and a nose band. I also weara Hi-Viz hat band. My horse has a dog tag on it's bridle and saddle which gives details of my vet and myself just in case we get seperated. (I also always carry a hoof pick, bandage, bail twine, a list of emergency numbers of all my equine friends and a felt tipped pen and these days a mobile phone!).
 
I started hacking alone about April this year! I used to hate hacking, it terified me and I would reluctantly go with other (only if I had to :rolleyes:)
Since my mare was diagnosed with various leg problems I couldn't school for a logn while but needed to egt my horse fit. We moved yards and I dont very often have people to hack with so had to go it alone.... now I LOVE it!!!! :D

Just go for it!!
 
My new pony tends to call if she sees other ponys or in one case when she saw a horse box in the distance ! it has been suggested that she was trying to hitch a lift! She is calling less and less as she gets used to me and being on her own.

I empathise with those who prefer to hack a loan. I do enjoy company when hacking but I have very very little spare time and its frustrating to have half the time allocated for a ride used up waiting for some one you are riding with to finish fraffing about!
 
I hack alone all the time and yes i'd rather company but only for a natter because otherwise i look like a complete loon talking to my horse :p
 
I totally love hacking alone, and find that going out with other peeps is just a bit of a hassle tbh. I am in the very nasty position of telling someone that I don't want to ride with them again - at all - this weekend (if you saw the Livery Yard Types thread, this is the rider who cannot ride alone, or throws massive strops, last one last weekend :mad: sunday rider). I should have got rid a long time ago, but she's now tipped me over, so that's it.

Freedom !!! Hi vis, phone, good brakes, and a huge smile :D
 
You all seem to be in favour of it it seems! It will be very nice to have some alone time with my boy I suppose :)
I've got a phone, hi viz tabard, and a very bombproof horse so will venture out alone this weekend! Hope all goes well :-)
 
I hack alone sometimes. I always let somebody know when I'm going and where. Don't tend to go as far as would with company though.
 
I hope you enjoy going out on your own - I find I'm really close to Shy by chatting to him and discussing issues with him. He listens, takes it on board, then has a HUGE dump by the side of the road, and tbh, that's how I feel about some stuff too, and it's quite cathartic ;)
 
I love hacking alone :) I can witter on to Pops about my day without anybody looking at me funny :o
When I was revising for exams I used to trot up a path and listen to my revision podcast and trot back and used to shout the facts out. The two beats used to help me learn it!
 
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