Hacking debate

A

Ambypamby

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 October 2008
Messages
200
Location
Gloucester
Visit site
does anyone on here hate hacking?

I was shocked when a friend and i were talking about our horses and what we like to do with them and she said she couldnt stand how people just hack there horses and she wouldnt bother having one if all she did was hack.

I was shocked as i love to hack! i thought most people did too.
 
It's all I ever do!
blush.gif
grin.gif


But I do know people who either dont enjoy it, or who consider their competition horses too valuable to 'risk' out hacking. But to me, it's what having a horse is all about
smile.gif
 
I dont really like hacking...or xc...ill do it but im not at all comfident , i had a nasty fall a couple of years ago out on a hack where me and my horse both went into about a 4 foot ditch with him nearly landing ontop of me...so now when i do hack it normally just at a walk..
 
I do hacking to keep my horses fit for xc couldnt live without not hacking! the poor horses need a mix of things i have known ppl not to hack at all and just school the poor horses everyday they really need a mix of everything, but i suppose if your horse is really naughty and ur not very confident then you would loose your confidence but in my opinion it stops the horses from getting bored and keeps them fit!
 
oh no ginger nut thats awful poor you!

my friend in the op got quite het up about people that hack she was horrified i take my horse for a good gallop across the commons and made me feel irresponsible as he could trip over. and i felt quite put out because i really love it. even thought i compete i still enjoy taking my boy out for hours. each to there own i suppose!
 
I think it depends who I am hacking out to be honest. I enjoy hacking as a whole and I think it is very benificial but I dont really hack my horse I have now as he is bloody naughty and it really isn't enjoyable for him or me.
 
I love hacking and used to do it loads on my old pony who also loved it, we used to go for miles.
But my current pony absolutly hates it and is actaully dangerous on hacks, I've tried to over come this, but it just isn't happening. I still hack out on my friends horse so I still get my fix. And my horse doesn't get bored becasue she loves to go round the tracks, xc and she will go on the hill behind the yard..... so we do do some hacking but cant go very far and really explore
frown.gif
 
Another happy hacker here
smile.gif
We have some lovely hacks out here, as as we're right out in the sticks we normally only meet a couple of cars in an hour (everyone's very considerate).

I do enjoy schooling and my jumping practice, Saffron seems to forget her manners if she isn't schooled regularly, but really I live to hack!
laugh.gif
 
aw good nice to see some like minded people. There is no wrong or right but i was made to feel quite silly for hacking out. Also the friend says that people who hack of do things such as le trec cant really ride. something which i disagree on massivley. i think if you hack and do le trec you must have so much trust in your horse and br ready for anything! as you can tell my friend is pretty opinionated!
 
I love hacking and thats all i really do, the horse i ride loves to hack out, see get very bored very quickly with schooling! We also have some of the best hacking in our area so i am very lucky i supose!!
 
I adore it!!
Take it from someone who bought a horse who had never seen the real world! I bought Annie and was told she hacked out alot!! But turns out she has only ever really done showing! Im not saying they never hacked her out but not often especially during show season! I brought her home first couple of times rode her in the school and she was fantastic, then thought right time for a hack! SHE WAS A NIGHTMARE! spooked at absolutely everything and anything she went toilet 5-6times in the space of an hour, then on the way home spooked at that lol!!
Its taken me a year to get her out without being dangerous, shes still really nervous but has actually started to relax and enjoy what shes doing!

I believe too many people do not allow there horses to be horses!! In my opinion you need to allow your horse ot see the real world, enjoy the real world as i have found they actually make better show or competition horses!!
Its the same as you or i, how boring would life have been if you went to school came home bed and school, nothing inbetween just shcool!! How very dull would life be? And i think its the same for horses
ooo.gif
 
Nah I hate hacking!! As you can tell from my username!!!!

I just love it, there is nothing better on a warm day than to just amble out over miles of countryside with a horse. I have so missed it and went for a hack with OH last friday and a really long hack with him on sunday too!!
 
I do like a hack and we used to disappear for hours on our ponies when younger but the horse I have doesn't enjoy it, he tends to spin whether at the front, back or middle, going to & from home! He then thinks its fun to carry that on in the ring.... But I do manage to take him for a nice canter round our fields in the summer as a refresher. I jump at the chance when a friend offers a happy hacker for a cruise around on, as long as its not raining ha ha!

I agree it is right for competition horses not to be too precious to have a break from schooling where possible but safety has to come first and hack something that clearly doesn't enjoy it and borders on being dangerous can't be fun!
 
another thing i find strange is the girl i know if she does take her horse away from the yard for a walk it will be schooled the whole time! given the horse is awsome and its so well schooled i sat on it and felt like i was going to break it! just goes to show how different people are! me and my horse attempt to school for about 5 mins then end up just abandoning the idea and go for a lovely ramble up the woods!
 
I love love love it. I don't really do anything else tbh.
Although we have fab hacking, so that does help and the horses are sane and the roads aren't too bad, apart from weekends/BH/School hols...
wink.gif


If I had no offroad hacking and it was all busy roads on a horse who is a bit of a nutter, I don't think I'd enjoy it as much
tongue.gif
 
Its each to their own. I love it, we go for miles and miles, I even take my horse on holiday to the Cotswolds every year with a good friend and her horse to hack. We have competition riders on our yard who all do it - they dont necessarily enjoy it, they do it for fittening work, as we are in a very hilly are and to keep their horses sane.

My cob loves it so much and even recognises the phrase 'Is Barney going hacking?', his ears ping right forwards and he gets excited while I tack him up.

I am a happy hacker and am proud to say I am.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Anastacia - out of interet, do you hack with a friend or alone? Saffy is good as gold if she's out hacking with her fieldmate, but if I take her out alone she's very strong and upset.

[/ QUOTE ]


Do you know, i started out on our own! Mainly because the people on our yard refused to ride out with us for fear of her upsetting there horses! SHes only young and incredibly green with the world! She was broken 2yrs ago and went from schooling to PUKS, HOYS, BSPS and that was it! So showing shes fab buit hacking a bit "special"
i wentout with a girl on the yard and she spooked and the other girl panicked her horse was fine a proper bomb proof pony but she went back crying and saying her horse had bolted and was really naughty because of Annie! So thats when the so called fantastic riders at our yard backed out of riding out with us!! So it was down to me and her! We built up an incredible bond and she now trusts me so hacking out as long as i spoke to her she seemed to accept what was going on and last weekend she chilled right out! Yes spooky still but sooooooooooo much better!!
I have been out since with the girl who went back crying and she was actually more spooky! SHe was the bigger and faster horse so we were in front (she has an amazingly long stride) but when somthing spooky came toward us like a car she was all sacrafice the other pony i wanna hide behind the pony LOL!! But she was amde to go in the lead and when another car came she was still tense but was fine!!

See i dont actually mind if i ride alone or with company and i would rather she got used to hacking on her own as it means i dotn have to rely on a nanny horse if you know what i mean!!
As it stands shes nervous and spooky on her own but will listen and is no longer "dangerous" with company shes a little more edgy!!

Funny thing is though shes spooky at walk, but take it up a gear ie trot or canter and shes soooooo chilled and relaxed its really odd lol
 
[ QUOTE ]
she said she couldnt stand how people just hack there horses and she wouldnt bother having one if all she did was hack

[/ QUOTE ]
Not trying to be rude but what business of hers is it what other people do with their horses?
shocked.gif
That sounds like a very poisonous comment to me.

[ QUOTE ]
my friend in the op got quite het up about people that hack she was horrified i take my horse for a good gallop across the commons and made me feel irresponsible as he could trip over. and i felt quite put out because i really love it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Bloody hell, I hack out 3 or so times a week, hunt and do x-country, I must be so horrid to my horse for it, what a cruel mother I am, putting him in such danger!
smirk.gif
Maybe I should consider some cotton wool wrapping?
wink.gif

I love hacking out, alone or in company, it's a fantastic feeling when it's just you & your horse, it's all quiet and sunny, the scenery is beautiful and all is right with the world
smile.gif
I'm sure most horses would prefer an amble around, a good blast and a pop over some jumps to endless hours of going in circles
grin.gif
 
I think hacking is good for a horse's brain to be honest. As much as schooling etc is beneficial I really believe horses need to see the big wide world. Especially if that horse is ever sold down the line. I think if you took two horses on a level competition wise (whatever that was) but one was also great to hack out and the other wasn't or hadn't been hacked out, you know which one's going to be the easier to sell.

I guess some people aren't as lucky as others with regards to what hacking is available but I do think some people forget how important it is to a horse's education. Hacking's great - good long gallops, different things to see, different challenges.
 
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

my friend in the op got quite het up about people that hack she was horrified i take my horse for a good gallop across the commons and made me feel irresponsible as he could trip over. and i felt quite put out because i really love it.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[ QUOTE ]
Bloody hell, I hack out 3 or so times a week, hunt and do x-country, I must be so horrid to my horse for it, what a cruel mother I am, putting him in such danger! Maybe I should consider some cotton wool wrapping?
I love hacking out, alone or in company, it's a fantastic feeling when it's just you & your horse, it's all quiet and sunny, the scenery is beautiful and all is right with the world I'm sure most horses would prefer an amble around, a good blast and a pop over some jumps to endless hours of going in circles

[/ QUOTE ]



im the same as you hunt, xc, sj, hack for hours. she isnt nasty just opinionated but i can be pretty frustrating!
 
Hacking is all I do! Occasionally I'll take mine to an in hand show, but he's become more naughty as he's got older, the in hand trot up I did at the last show was bizarrely fast and barely in control, so hacking it is. I mainly go out alone, as OH doesn't ride much, really need to get my horse fitter and go further though.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think hacking is good for a horse's brain to be honest. As much as schooling etc is beneficial I really believe horses need to see the big wide world. Especially if that horse is ever sold down the line. I think if you took two horses on a level competition wise (whatever that was) but one was also great to hack out and the other wasn't or hadn't been hacked out, you know which one's going to be the easier to sell.

I guess some people aren't as lucky as others with regards to what hacking is available but I do think some people forget how important it is to a horse's education. Hacking's great - good long gallops, different things to see, different challenges.

[/ QUOTE ]

Took the words out of my mouth!
smile.gif


I think every horse has to know how to be an acceptable hack (not every one will be suitable for a novice) as if they injure themselves and can't compete anymore the horse has to be useful for something, otherwise you are just condemming them to be pts in many cases imho.
frown.gif
 
Totally agree like i said in my previous post, Annie was shown as a foal at foot, and youngster, then broken and shown all over again! She came to me and hacking was the scariest thing ever to her! I sat there and thought what a shame this poor horse is terrified of everything how can she be totally complete when she sees fear in absolutely everything??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top