Hacking to a show.

Spiritedly

Spiritedly

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I'm thinking of taking youngest brat and his 4 yr old coblet to a couple of local shows this year but don't have transport, although we may get a lift occasionally. There are regular shows about 4-4 1/2 miles from our yard but I'm not sure if that's a bit far to hack a youngster? They would only be doing clear round or in hand classes when they got there. How far do/ would people ride to a show?
 
Always used to hack to shows, but that was in the olden days when shops were shut on Sundays!

Used to ha k go hunts too.

Go for it, good luck!
 
We used to hack to shows, and carry a rucksack with a grooming kit and wipes for emergency clean ups when we got there :p

Horses were always a bit tired out by the time we got there, so no fizzy ponies bombing round the ring :p
 
I'd say that that's fine as long as coblet is used to being out and about hacking that distance at the moment - just avoid mud on the way there! As you're just doing in-hand while there then it shouldn't be too stressful for him.
I've had to hack that distance to shows/XC schooling etc before when our lorry has had other ideas, it was quite good really as we were nicely warmed up and ready to go by the time we got there! The only nerve wracking bit for us was actually getting past the better behaved lorries on the way there, but was a good spook-proofing exercise ;) - however this may be something to be aware of if your horse hasn't seen much traffic, as the roads will obviously be a lot busier. x
 
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How fit is he and how confident on the road? Also has he shown before? Bear in mind it's not just an 8 mile hack there and back, it's a whole new experience taking a youngster 1) so far from home, 2) surrounding him with crowds and 3) blowing his mind with lots of strange horses. Asking him to compete on top of that, I'd personally not do it all in the first hit.

When my old boy was a youngster we hacked to shows with other ponies he knows, tied them all together and let him get used to the atmosphere. If I wanted to ride at the show we went in the trailer. Later when he was fitter we'd ride across town, compete then ride back and it was easily more than 4 miles each way, but on a young horse whose got so much to take in, all that is a big ask really, imo. Maybe hire a trailer for the day or ride there with friends and just watch the others your first few trips/until he's fit and mature enough to do the full shebang?
 
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Agree with the others. Go for it.
I did and my horse loved it. It really got her warmed up and moving before hand and cooled off on way home.

I went 8 miles there, did 2 rounds and hacked home and pony was fresh on arriving back home.
 
He has been to shows before and did a couple of in hand classes last year, we wouldn't be entering anything the first few times unless he was very calm...he is very laid back normally, his first in hand show we only took him for a look round but he was so good so we entered a class and he won! It was indoor as well...He is walked out on roads so is good with traffic but we will be riding him out more before he goes to any shows anyway.
I used to hack to all my shows when I was younger and it never hurt me or my ponies but the shows seem further away now or they seem that way because I'm older. :p
 
If he is used to shows and to hacking, then I see no problem for the horse. I would make sure that there is a good ground crew, in a car on hand. It is much easier if you have the grooming kit there, and somewhere to put your Hi-Viz etc. I have also found it essential to have at least one person on the ground, it has been very difficult when sister has been doing entries, as I have had to find some-one competent to hold the mare while I have gone to the loo, gone to get a burger etc.
 
I used to hack to my local show when I was a kid! Took about 2 hours in walk (and carefully avoiding every puddle :) )

VERY early starts required! That's dedication! Lol
 
My sis used to hack our first pony to shows back in the olden days- prob a similar distance to yours. I used to cycle alongside, laden down with all the stuff she needed in back pack and a basket on my bike. She was quite an excitable pony so the hack took the edge off her so was a bonus really. Sister used to show jump and working hunter classes all before hacking home again. Was never a problem but I think was more the norm in those days.
 
We hack to most stuff, assuming horse is used to hacking that distance, I don't see an issue. First show daughters pony went to we hacked to, just far enough to warm her up & take the edge off.
 
I'm hoping to do some hacking to shows with a buddy when my horse is up to being in traffic that long. It is only 3.5 miles to the nearest equine college that does BD and BSJA which is quite cool and nice to have the opportunity to do those despite lack of transport which is sooo expensive to rent for a day. I think we will try a low pressure showjumping clinic first or something like that that is suitable for beginners or even trec, then maybe a clear round (I am scared of jumping but my horse likes it so looks like the easiest option to get her enthused about being in an arena/school!).
 
pip_dog said:
Where do people tie there horses up when they hack to shows?
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Baling twine to a post & rail fence for us usually. Back in the day we'd hack right across town, clear round or the 13.2 class in the morning (or both), then gymkhana in the afternoon and hack home again. Always had bum ache by the time we got back and slept like a log but that was us every sunday for years and years. Best times we ever had, still swear that's true 17yrs later
 
I still hack that distance to hunt meets are more, hunt for 4hrs then hack home! Did this with her as a rising 5yr old and she's still going now, fit as a fiddle. Does no harm, just plan the route and leave pleanty of time to amble there and back :)
 
We used to be able to hack to a show every weekend in the school holidays when I was a kid. Now there aren't any shows around here to go to which is a bit sad, you have to be rich enough to afford transport to do anything at all. I would love to be able to take my youngster to what was our 'big' show of the year as he is now kept just along the road from where it was held. It was in a public park and we used to tie the ponies to trees with baling twine. Every tree had a little group of ponies sharing a hay net brought in someone's dad's car!
 
I hack to shows all the time as can't box my mare. Don't know the distance but they take anything from 45 mins to an hour to get there in a mixture of walk and trot. Usually do 2 or 3 classes while there (either jumping or showing) and then hack back. Don't tie up while I'm there - just ask someone to hold her for me if I need a quick break. Sometimes have someone bring some hay and water in a car but otherwise just let her graze.
 
T'was the only way when I was young. We used to hack miles and spend all day doing all sorts of things and then hack home again. As someone else has said, that's true dedication.

We always held our ponies and helped each other out so that you could have a sandwich etc.

Go for it and have great fun and come home dripping in rosettes.
 
Yes, regularly used to hack up to 10 miles to a show years ago. Almost always rode home with the reins in one hand and a bag of trophies in the other. The horses were so fit and never tired, even after a long day. Makes me laugh nowadays to hear people say their horse is tired after one class so they're going home before class 2, in the horsebox, naturally!!!!!!:rolleyes:
 
I have regularly hacked to shows and even sponsored rides in the past. Can't it for endurance as no rides within hacking distance.

Marjorie is stabled 5 miles from the Devon County showground. I am planning on showing her this year. If it wasn't the county, I"d definitely be hacking there!
 
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