hacking - rules and general etiquette

Great list!

When going through a gate, everyone in the group should WAIT until the last person is safely through and the gate closed before going on.

The BHS has a roadwork guide which is good to study so you can learn to handsignals to communicate with drivers. Don't be afraid to ask a bus driver or motorcyclist to stop and switch off their engine so the horses can get safely past. ALWAYS say thank you and always wear high vis.

Be polite to everyone: drivers, walkers, joggers, cyclists. Pass people at a walk. Say thank you to considerate dog owners.

Be honest about your horse's quirks--ie if they're deathly afraid of cows or if they get fizzy and want to race in canter. Come clean about your horse before any problems occur.

Don't canter through fields with new lambs--the farmer might not be amused.

If you bring a hip flask, be prepared to share with the whole group. :D
 
Bring some cash. On a hot day, your mates will be dead chuffed if you suggest a break at a pub and get a round in.

Made me laugh...but quite true! We stopped at an ice cream van once, rode right up to the window and just as I was paying for my ice lolly my darling pony did a big stinky poo. The poor lady in the van had to move it to another location, I was mortified! The best advice is just to communicate with each other and have fun....agree with everything said so far.
 
treat others how you would want/expect to be treated. if there's a problem with a horse (loose shoe, stone stuck etc) then offer to hold the horse for them to sort out, whether you are still mounted or on the ground doing it.
if you have a horse that is happy to stand for gates to be opened then share it. i have a big horse and some dodgy gates in my area so it's very hard to do, anyone who rides out with me all know that i struggle to do gates so help me out by doing them themselves!
 
Great answers from everyone so far and everything is covered .

I think I'm a bit like you as I have had very good hacking horses but shorter striding ones and am usually left in the back. More ongoing riders don't seem to take into account that lesser mortals might like to go in front occasionally but I just have to put up with that !

Along with your HiViz I have found carrying an Orange or Yellow schooling whip out to the side horizontally makes the drivers give me a lot more space , incredible I know but where they used to nearly clip my stirrup :eek: and now they give me a wide berth , worth knowing if you are usually at the back.

Another thing I found with a steady horse that I could get past anything was I became much in demand with those who had "bigger , better, not so steady " horses.
After a while I realised that they were upsetting my horse by having a row with theirs when it napped at something and wanting to get theirs past it themselves and telling me to stay back until they won their battle:rolleyes:.

I copped on eventually and if someone asked me to go out with them ( really just using my horse ) I told them that I wouldn't stay behind , just walk quietly past the obstacle and wait the other side , I am quite happy to go back and forth to give their horse a lead but will not have my horse upset by their losing it with their horse , if they want to use my steady lad thats the condition .

It took me a while to realise not everyone is as well mannered as I am.:D
 
Noooooooo ! Shan't.:D

Just a mention about hissing air brakes on lorries and buses- its not the drivers fault, he isn't doing it deliberately.

Re the air brakes , my first horse knew exactly where it was coming from and would keep his eye on it till it happened :D sometimes I think it was to alert other less experienced horse :cool:

A tip I once got about riding on very steep ground , stay at the same angle as the trees, you will be in balance at the slower paces anyway until you get good enough to keep in a light seat downhill.
Stay perpendicular to the slope , going sideways on a hill is not safe .

On the beach , stay in the soft sand until you have checked out the waters edge , its possible to go do tendons or go into holes if you are riding on the hard sand. Always go up the beach at walk first while you check it out.
 
If you are out in a group, say fast trot or canter - dont just canter faster up the side of everybody because you want to be at the front. I have had this done to me, and how child on pony didnt get double barrled off I dont know!
 
Ditto pass people at a walk - especially important if people have dogs, as their dogs may become excited at a faster moving horse. Do not try to run away from a dog. Dogs have amazing stamina and even little ones can be very quick, so getting away may not be as simple as you might think. They also have an instinct to chase things moving away from them at speed.

If a loose dog does approach you, turn your horse to face it head on, walk towards it if it is still coming, or even move up to a trot. Most dogs will quickly realise they are seriously outweighed and head for home pdq! Try to avoid shouting if you can, as an excitable dog can easily just become more excited and even join in by barking - if you do feel you need to use your voice, keep your voice deep and commanding, and as quiet as you practically can.

Say hello to everyone, and if it's safe and children (or adults!) would like to, let them meet your horse:) It's a nice thing to do, and has the advantage of making horses and riders seem more approachable. Obviously if your horse is likely to eat them and spit the bits out, this is less advisable:D Unless they are annoying you, that is;)

I used to hack round the middle of London when I lived there, these tips and a generous helping of high-viz always served me well:)
 
Think there's some good advice here. We also:

1. if you are on a track and see a rabbit hole or similar we point to it whilst shouting hole

2. If we are going to trot or canter and in company we tend to spell the word as our horses are well versed in what trot and canter mean and a "shall we canter" can be answered by friends horse taking that as an invitation and going straight into canter. We also use "shall we have a run" to suggest a canter and they haven't sussed that one yet!

3. Have to say my other major one is Hi Viz and mobile phone at all times.

4. Have a tag on horse bridle with emergency numbers on it - like a dog collar tag. Very cheap on Ebay and I've managed to fit 3 tel nos on mine!
 
I expect any hacking partner/s to give my horse space by not riding into me or letting their horse rest it's head on my horses bum, I expect them to wait at road junctions, let others know when they are going to change pace or overtake and be considerate of other road, bridleway users as well as the impact ground conditions have upon a horses legs.

It's also helpful if they take the most nervous rider, the greenest or most quirky horse and the least fit horse when deciding the route and pace.

I also expect them to wear hi-viz and to pay attention to their surrounding rather than be on their mobile phone.
 
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DO NOT wave on cars waiting behind, if you wave them into on coming traffic by mistake then you can be held liable. However if you need to stop a car from trying to pass you because there is oncoming traffic then do so.

At junctions it is always wise to halt a little way back from the line, then if your horse does step forward or fidget you are not going to step out into oncoming traffic.

If you spot something to jump, then it's polite to ask other riders if you can jump it first before pelting over it and setting everyone off! And always check take off and landing is safe.

Most important I feel is BE HONEST, if you are not happy to canter on that ground or you don't want to gallop in a group then say so. I'd much rather have people with me on a hack that are honest about themselves and their horses ability than to have an accident. Equally if someone thinks the ground is too hard for their horse that's fine, mine might be a mountain goat and used to hunting on anything but doesn't mean I have to canter. :)
 
DO NOT wave on cars waiting behind, if you wave them into on coming traffic by mistake then you can be held liable. However if you need to stop a car from trying to pass you because there is oncoming traffic then do so.

This is not true, any driver is responsible for their own actions, they should only pass if they are sure it is safe to do so, but you ARE NOT liable for their actions. I do wish people would stop perpetuating this myth.
 
I have loads of funny stories from hacking with others. :D I'll put a few on here as I hope that my interesting experiances can be of help (or at least mildly entertaining ;) ) to you.

I have hacked out with lots of different people and horses. I was always the one who was asked if someone had confidence issues, a young horse or once because the horse had previously been hit by a car. Now you may think that this was because my horse is totally, 100% bombproof and so quiet that she's practically a Dodo... buuuuuut... she's not... I'm just willing to go with them! :p

She's not crazy and is fab with traffic, but she will spook and nap sometimes. Because of this I always let anyone I ride with know (before we set off to give them a chance to cancel) that although she has vastly improved, she can be nappy and spooky.

So I am about to go on a ride with teenager1, when my mare decides that she doesn't want to leave the yard first. :rolleyes: She backs up a couple of steps, tries to turn, does a mini rear (teeny tiny) and then gives up and walks out of the gate like a lamb... meanwhile... Teenager1 (who's pony is standing like a rock and is about 10m away from me) starts to scream and cry! :eek: She has proper tears down her face, I wait by the gate while everyone consoles her. She did come for a hack with me and we had a lovely time with no more napping.

Another time I was riding with an ISH that was a fair bit bigger than my mare. We had decided to have a trot down a good section of bridleway (I was infront), after a few strides I heard 'Slow down a bit' shouted from behind, I steadied my mare and glanced over my shoulder to see the ISH doing a downwards transition into trot. I later discovered that he'd had to canter to keep up with us! I didn't feel like we were going that fast but we were on good, flat ground and she does have a very smooth, easy to ride, floaty power-trot.

I've also found that alot of people can't re-mount their horses for many different reasons. I've had to get off to do gates, fix a slipped saddle (with rider still mounted! :eek: ), put slipped brushing boots back on (not my horse's boots), pick up a dropped mobile and a dropped whip.

The dropped mobile was Teenager2. She was a fruit-loop. :p She dropped her phone and then tried to flag down a car, to get the driver to get out and pick it up for her! :eek: Luckily I stopped her and got the phone for her. She also once galloped past me while shouting, 'sorry, she's bolted' and I could see her kicking her horse as she went past! Luckily I can hold my mare or it could have been dangerous.

Then there's the members of the public that you encounter. :D

We met a family of walkers on the bridleway, the eldest son (late teens and about 6ft) said to his Mum in a worried voice, 'Mum, that horse gave me a menacing look!' It really cracked me up, particually as the 'menacing look' was due to the fact that the mare has a white sclera. :rolleyes:

I've also had a small random boy who was on the footpath as I rode along the road, ask why my horse doesn't have a winky. :o His Mum went bright red!

Gosh, that's enough for now. :)
 
lol - the funniest hack ive had so far was with my yard mates again - this was one of our first hacks out.
e were in the middle and i suddenly heard the girl behind shriek with laughter, tears strolling down her face shortly after w estarted a little trot.
By boys dangler was long and loose lol and apparently banging on each leg as we trotted along!!!!
He wont wee while out and when he needs a wee he lets it drop - god knows what the passing motorists thought of my lads swinging 5th leg pmsl :D
 
Made me laugh...but quite true! We stopped at an ice cream van once, rode right up to the window and just as I was paying for my ice lolly my darling pony did a big stinky poo. The poor lady in the van had to move it to another location, I was mortified! The best advice is just to communicate with each other and have fun....agree with everything said so far.

LOL, I can just imagine that!
Oz :)
 
Great advice given :)
I would also say, if your horse is non spooky, and you are with another horse which is having a difficulty with something, its always helpful to give a lead :)
If you are out in front, and see something that could potentially cause a problem, let the person behind know!
 
Say hello to everyone, and if it's safe and children (or adults!) would like to, let them meet your horse It's a nice thing to do, and has the advantage of making horses and riders seem more approachable.

My pony wants to snuggle up to everyone and thinks it is only to be expected that random strangers cuddle her and tell her how wonderful she is. She's very sweet with children. :)
 
do NOT watch me & friend [ her on a very baby horse] walk steadily up a canter track - wait until we are halfway up it & then canter madly past us - watch my mare turn herself inside out & then get to the next gate & shout back for us to close it for you cos its a bit tricky:mad:

& if you are riding with veterans - ps be patient - sometimes we are a bit stiff & take a while to get going [ thats the hore & the rider;)]
 
My pony wants to snuggle up to everyone and thinks it is only to be expected that random strangers cuddle her and tell her how wonderful she is. She's very sweet with children. :)

The pony I used to ride in London was bessie mates with a delivery van driver who was always parked up in the same spot. He used to insist on saying hello - major sulks if he wasn't allowed to snuggle with his buddy!:rolleyes: Bless him, if I could only have fitted him into my car when I left (that's the pony, not the van driver:p)
 
Dunno what I can add really: having never done the BHS Riding & Road Safety Test I'd be a total ignoramous - no doubt there is plenty of "wisdom" contained therein about hacking rules/etiquette etc?

Personally (here goes on a hi viz rant!!!) I think Hi Viz should always, without exception, be worn whether on the public highway or not, plus a mobile carried, and don't forget the "ICE" (in case of emergency" number on your mobile phone), plus bridle/saddle tags giving the name of your yard/responsible person in case you and horsie get separated.

Um, don't want to start up get another hi-viz -v- non hi-viz thread by the way!! LOL

The other thing I'd say is if people are hacking out with a mare in season in a mixed group, then please say so!!! Coz some "boys" do get a bit, er, um, shall we say, fresh about it and its good to know a reason why if one's horse is suddenly turning into a sex freak!!!
 
This may have already been mentioned but ... don't disappear around a corner/bend leaving another trailing behind as the horse left behind may panic.

If your horse kicks - don't insist on riding in front ... stay at the back.

If you horse kicks someone else's horse for no reason - tell it off i.e. a single whack wouldn't got amiss!

If you horse naps and starts going backwards and kicking out at the same time - let others get out of your way even if it means going around you and in front. Don't expect everyone else to go backwards to get out of your way!

As you may have guessed the kicking horse thing is from personal experience!
 
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