Hacking/Plodding round the lanes

I love hacking but not so keen on plodding. I get bored (and cold) walking so mainly trotting and cantering for me. I am nosy too so it is great what you can see from a horse!
 
Love it love it love it and helped by the fact cwrs are few and far between. My riding partner earlier exclaimed it 'is like being on the m25 today where are they all coming from?" im still giggling 5 hours later as we prob had 6 cars pass us on an 2+ hour hack.
 
I just like to pootle about on my mare :)

Although I must admit I breathe a sigh of relief when I get up the road and onto the moor...most drivers are really nice but still prefer to get off road.
 
Just like you. I used to do so much, mainly hunting-related, when I was young. Now I'm in my late sixties I'm so happy pootling round the lanes.

I try to make sure I don't spoil anyone else's fun though. I either ride alone or with someone who for whatever reason is going quietly. My arthritis is geting worse, but once I'm up on top I DO so enjoy beingg out and about.

And it's amazing how nice quiet hacking can be. You have time to stop and chat - I met a delivery man the other day who races sled dogs - in the old days when I was trying to keep a horse fit for LDR there'd have been no time for more than a 'Good Morning'. My mare blew gently into a pushchair the other day and the weeping baby inside was thrilled to bits - tried to grab her whiskers!

Keep plodding - it's a free world!!
 
Haha I too love the fact I can see into people's gardens! I had a share horse in lovely old fashioned village and I loved hacking with her so much, the hacking round here is not as good and the traffic makes me nervous, but I love having my own little bit of rented land so near my house :-) would looove to move somewhere with mountains and forests and beaches *swoon* then I'd probably never do anything else!

Plodding on the roads is infinitely boring to me, I like to be out in the country where we can have a good canter every now and then!
 
Oooooooooo me too !! We often go out with hubbie and the dogs, and I love it - so does Shy. Just no pressure and so calm and peaceful watching nature going on. I love watching the buzzards and how the fields change.
 
Me too Shysmum - I love to watch the changing seasons and the farmers fields developing. Not too much plodding though, I exercise working horses and hacking is part of Thor regime. So lots of good cantering to.
 
I'm going to buck the trend and say nope, I REALLY don't like plodding around the lanes but unfortunately that's all my homebred 5 year old is capable of. So I am having to learn to like it; for her sake.
 
I never used to like hacking but I must admit I've come to like a bit of a plod round the lanes every now and again. I also enjoy taking her for a walk in her headcollar. When it's warm I'll take my lunch - and we'll stop somewhere while she grazes and I eat my lunch. Bliss. Or it is when she's not trying to eat my sandwiches!
 
Plodding never ever I rather do housework marching around I can bear ,just I get enjoyment from the horses enjoyment but I rather be in the arena or the schooling field.
 
I love hacking, but hate plodding. Hacking to me is either a way of schooling with better scenery, a way to let off steam, have fun/ a blast or fittening work. Didn't even plod when I used to do ride & lead with daughter. Only time I will do it, & enjoy it is if my mare gets to the point when she's old that she wants to go out & plod. And even then I'll only enjoy it because she does & I love her.
 
I enjoy hacking quietly although I never let my mare plod - she has to work up to the bridle. On the way home I let her stretch long and low. I do love hacking but my girl isn't a keen hacker - fine in company but very spooky alone.
 
I hate hacking, and it's waaay to dangerous around here to go on the roads anymore, but I do pootle around the fields occassionally. You are SO lucky over there with bridleways, commons, etc., there's nothing like that here.
 
Love it - recently had an 'ephinany' moment when realising hacking is actually what my horse and I enjoy the most.

Up until this year I have done a lot of competing, and have had reasonable sucess, but as I get older, just find the whole thing too stressful and expensive.

We spent last summer doing fun rides instead and had a hoot - no pressure to get dressed up, you can jump whatever you want, and nobody cares which leg you are cantering on, or whether you have a good outline!!!

I do hunt in the winter, (which is only a faster version of hacking/fun rides), so will continue this as our 'discipline' and am looking forward to spending a gentle summer exploring the glorious Shropshire countryside....
 
In my head I have a picture of me riding across open countryside or forest pathways and just miles of open country :D .. This is nothing like what I actually do.. Muddy paths or small country roads with too much traffic :( the only plus to the recent flooding is that it means we can ride through the floods and there will be no cars. So not a fan of plodding along just as I don't enjoy going for walks. No good as exercise and too slow to be a practical way of travelling.
 
I love hacking......

1347116099098.jpg


How could I not?:)
 
I love to go plodding around the lanes/woods. My horse, not so much.
Last week we went for a gentle walk. We jogged most of it. Got to the pond, where there was not one but SIX killer swans! Horse stoppped and tried to run home. Kept her facing them. There were some trees in the way so it was shapes from them mostly that she saw ad the flapping of the wings. Could feel her heart racing - poor thing.
We took 2 steps forward, stopped. Watched them intently. Tried to go home. Nope. 2 steps forward...

10 minutes later we trotted at high speed past where they were. We continued to trot. Got her on road and we half walked/half jogged home. Got home and YO (first time she's seen horse going for a hack) casually mentioned, "she's a little forward isn't she?"
You think? Lol. This is typical of our "gentle" hacks. She's my fun little horse though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top