Hacking essentials

[SantaVera]

If you go hacking in remote or new areas what essentials do you carry with you? I'm hoping to go exploring soon and would like to know what kit to take. I'm thinking mobile phone and wire cutters and spare stirrup leather. Anything else I should pack?

 

[SpeedyPony]

Headcollar and leadrope, in case you need to tie up/have a bridle mishap.
Bottle of water, map if going well out of your usual area- you won't know where you might lose phone signal for online mapping services.
Hoof pick and penknife.
Vet wrap and plasters/micropore tape.
Wear boots you can comfortably walk in, just in case you have to lead for any distance.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Speed pony has covered it well! If going on a long ride I use saddle panniers which are really helpful, as they have two water holders & bottles too. If not using saddle panniers then I take a running belt & a water bottle carrier that attaches to the saddle.

I generally take on a long ride:

Leadrope (I have an endurance bridle so already have a headcollar)
Map if I don't know the area
Balertwine/electrical tape
Treats for pony
Something like a cereal/protein bar for me
Foldable hoof pick - lives on my saddle alongside ID tags
Cash and bank card in case of pub, coffee stand or ice cream van
If sunny then I take a small sun cream bottle sometimes & sponge on a rope

Have fun

 

[mini-eventer]

a horse and my phone... probably should plant better tbf

 

[scats]

Mobile phone with decent battery life left. Having had to ring my own ambulance in the middle of a field with a badly broken leg, my mobile phone was my life line!

 

[catembi]

I have a compact folding mirror in case I get a fly in my eye. I hate that, & can't put up with it til I get home to get it out! It fits flat in my waist pouch with phone & folding hoof pick & would be very unlikely to splinter & stab me to death if I fell off on it.

 

[Snowfilly]

Phone, bank card, lead rope round horse’s neck, map if I’m somewhere super remote otherwise I rely on asking people and reading road signs, folding hoof pick and schooling whip for gates / flies / idiot drivers.

Water bottle and food if it’s going to be hours and hours.

Polos for the horse.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Hi viz for you and the horse. Just in case.....

 

[JackFrost]

what3words on your phone + sufficient battery charge
check that the mobile provider for your phone has good coverage in that area. If not, change it.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Battery bank.
Paper OS map, waterproof map holder and compass.
OS app on phone (to track rides and to give current position).
eg

 

[Hackback]

Tags on your bridle and saddle with your emergency contact numbers just in case you and your horse part ways.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I just got tags for Orbis saddle and bridle from ebay they are lovely.
If its gonna be hours…
When we venture further I will fill a little lightweight rucksack. Juice or water, some chocolate or fruit pastilles/skittles or similar. Hoof pick, leadrope, little tube of manuka honey or silver ointment, a vetwrap a piece of gauze or similar. A penknife that has possibly something on it to cut wire, just in case. Sweeties for Orbi

And ill always make sure my location is on so if i need to be found, I can be.

 

[Tarragon]

I have done several long distance rides over multiple days and everything I usually take has already been mentioned, especially the paper maps (though photocopied just the section I need and kept in a waterproof map case) - don't just depend upon your phone!!
I do take a small selection of veterinary and medicinal things for emergencies, including vet wrap. The only time the vet wrap was used was when we came across a teenager doing her DOE Expedition, and the sole of her walking boot had come away from the uppers and she still had 3 or so miles to go! I wrapped the vet wrap several around her boot, in the instep, to keep boot and sole together and hoped it would last the distance

 

[khalswitz]

If I’m only going out from home and returning home for a few hours, I take phone, baler twine, and hoof pick. I also ride with a neck strap made from an old stirrup leather so I always have that too.

If I’m going on a longer ride or stopping somewhere overnight, I’d have a head collar and lead rope, and carry money and bank card, water and a small foldable bucket, some horse treats and food for me, a pair of scissors, a map in a waterproof case and a compass, a hiviz riding rug and spare layers for me stuffed in a saddle bag and/or small backpack.

 

[BSL2]

What everyone else has said. Plus a whistle. Just incase stuck somewhere. Hope i never have to use mine

 

[snowangel5]

Hope you have a wicked time i was thinking small bottle of hand wash and loo paper but maybe just take the hand in case you stop at a pub or something you can use there stuff but the person who said money is a good idea if the weather is nice you can buy a ice cream or ice lolly and a light Kagol and take a screen shot of the time when you set off and back at but when the signal is there let your family know and any friends know what time you left the yard and came back at

 

[SEL]

Paper map! Friend used to be a mountain rescue volunteer and regularly ranted about people who rely on phones.

 

[alibali]

Baler twine, very basic first aid kit, paper map

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I have a compact folding mirror in case I get a fly in my eye. I hate that, & can't put up with it til I get home to get it out! It fits flat in my waist pouch with phone & folding hoof pick & would be very unlikely to splinter & stab me to death if I fell off on it.

^^^ Someone I used to know had been a nurse out in various "jungle" places during her career as a missionary nurse and she gave me a very useful tip. If you get an insect in your eye anywhere and don't have any way of sorting it out, use what you've got on you, i.e your spittle. Sounds disgusting but your own spit put into your eye will often sort the problem and the insect will stick to your spit and come out. Worth a try.

(edited) I am a happy hacker and the two things I'd never ever be without is my hat-cam and my phone. Hat-cam because we've been attacked by a dog out riding and also we ride on the roads a fair bit, and if something does happen it is good to have recorded footage of it.

The other things I have is a headcollar (light one) over the bridle, and a leading rein. Plus a folding hoofpick.