Hacking to XC

I

ILove_Alfie

New User
Joined
28 July 2025
Messages
9
Visit site
Hi all! I'm just wondering if anyone has hacked to twesldown or in general hacked to a XC course? It's about 4.5miles so would take just over an hour my horse is a TB working 7 days a week so I thibk she's fit enough but the hacking will be mostly on roads at walk im just not sure if it's a terrible idea so wondering if anyone has done similar!
I only ask because it's a 7 min drive but I don't have transport and don't want pay £100+ for such a short journey 😅
 
bethgallacher@hotmail.co. said:
Hi all! I'm just wondering if anyone has hacked to twesldown or in general hacked to a XC course? It's about 4.5miles so would take just over an hour my horse is a TB working 7 days a week so I thibk she's fit enough but the hacking will be mostly on roads at walk im just not sure if it's a terrible idea so wondering if anyone has done similar!
I only ask because it's a 7 min drive but I don't have transport and don't want pay £100+ for such a short journey 😅
Click to expand...
Riders used to routinely hack further than this, to hunt meets, pony club and riding club rallies, to shows, hunter trials - the lot.
The horse is thoroughly warmed up and settled by time you arrive, and cools / calms down nicely on the hack back home. Your biggest issue could be not having a place to tie him up these days, but if a friend is coming in a car, could help hold him, bring your lunch, a cooler sheet, whatever. Get along and enjoy yourselves!
 
Used to do that sort of thing years ago. No problem if the roads are quiet and your horse is good in traffic.

On another note, your user name is revealing your full email address which is unwise these days online. I'd contact Forum Admin (TFC) and ask them to change your username to something less specific.
 
TheMule said:
The roads around Tweseldown are far too busy to ever consider doing this! Even just the one that the turning is off is a horrible road
Click to expand...
There's one road which I'm worried about but I've just driven the route and it's fine not ideal I may just be used ti hacking in Bristol where's its all roads 😅 my friend has alap hacked there and has found the roads fine ill be going on a Sunday as well which road are you worried about?x
 
I used to do this when younger; we'd hack miles and usually call at the pub on the way home! I recollect one time I won a XC trophy: it was huge and I had to carry it home 😂

I'm now older and even take the box over the road to the SJ venue as it is nicer to have somewhere to out him so I can have a wee and a snack!
 
Id worry that's a lot of blind bends on a road that a lot of drivers go too fast down. Would depend on the time of day it's very busy there at commuter times
 
Certainly not on your level, but one of my favourite days was a trip to a local Riding Club show. I got a lift there in a horse box, entered M&M in hand (and won) and did a clear round cross country, then got changed and rode the 10 miles home across open moor land for the most with a picnic at the highest point. I would not have been able to ride there as well though!
 
lozzles said:
Id worry that's a lot of blind bends on a road that a lot of drivers go too fast down. Would depend on the time of day it's very busy there at commuter times
Click to expand...
Im going on a Sunday morning luckily so the quietest time im also practicing it before hand I've driven it so hopfully prepared would definetly never do it during rush hour!
 
Tarragon said:
Certainly not on your level, but one of my favourite days was a trip to a local Riding Club show. I got a lift there in a horse box, entered M&M in hand (and won) and did a clear round cross country, then got changed and rode the 10 miles home across open moor land for the most with a picnic at the highest point. I would not have been able to ride there as well though!
Click to expand...
Ah that sounds like so much fun 10 miles is so far haha luckily our XC at the moment is mostly in trot whilst we work on breaks so hoofully not as tiring for her perhaps this will finally tire her out i havnt achieved it yet thoroughbread moment 😂!
 
ILove_Alfie said:
There's one road which I'm worried about but I've just driven the route and it's fine not ideal I may just be used ti hacking in Bristol where's its all roads 😅 my friend has alap hacked there and has found the roads fine ill be going on a Sunday as well which road are you worried about?x
Click to expand...
If you and your horse are well used to riding through and being passed by traffic, ensure some fluorescent hi viz on the pair of you, and take it steady. Different riders have very different experiences and thresholds of acceptability for their particular horse, but do bear in mind if a competition date, might be more vehicles, altho the horsebox drivers should be sympathetic. Hope it goes well!
 
Exasperated said:
If you and your horse are well used to riding through and being passed by traffic, ensure some fluorescent hi viz on the pair of you, and take it steady. Different riders have very different experiences and thresholds of acceptability for their particular horse, but do bear in mind if a competition date, might be more vehicles, altho the horsebox drivers should be sympathetic. Hope it goes well!
Click to expand...
Thanks so much! Yh definetly used to lots of roads and traffic in Bristol she's honestly better on the roads then grass )/fields so I've done roads she she's pretty good at them now. Will definetly be decked out in high vis neon as possible lol.
 
TheMule said:
The roads around Tweseldown are far too busy to ever consider doing this! Even just the one that the turning is off is a horrible road
Click to expand...
Agreed, I drive that road regularly, definitely wouldn't want to ride along much of it, so many vehicles don't stick to the 40 limit.
There are some tracks on each side if coming from Aldershot direction (have drag hunted through) but you'd not get to access them till part way along and would be advised to thoroughly check them out on foot or cycle 1st.

OP, is there anyone locally that you might ask for a lift?
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Agreed, I drive that road regularly, definitely wouldn't want to ride along much of it, so many vehicles don't stick to the 40 limit.
There are some tracks on each side if coming from Aldershot direction (have drag hunted through) but you'd not get to access them till part way along and would be advised to thoroughly check them out on foot or cycle 1st.

OP, is there anyone locally that you might ask for a lift?
Click to expand...
Unfortunetly I've just moved back home, I have walked on foot and there bridlepaths through the forest which I'm going to use rather then the road which leads stright to twesldown but I'm going to walk and map it again before I go. Tbh I feel like on most roads people do not follow the speed limits I feel like it's a risk everytime I go on the roads it was rat roads all along bristol where I was slightly nerve wracking these ones seem a lot better but again I havnt been back in a while (I'm coming from dippenhall/crondal way)
 
I don't know the area to comment on the suitability of the roads but I would want someone to be going with a vehicle to take some things for me to have once there. Water, bucket, headcollar and first aid kit as a bare minimum. Also will you be using studs as they'll need to be put in once you arrive?
 
EventingMum said:
I don't know the area to comment on the suitability of the roads but I would want someone to be going with a vehicle to take some things for me to have once there. Water, bucket, headcollar and first aid kit as a bare minimum. Also will you be using studs as they'll need to be put in once you arrive?
Click to expand...
My mum is coming along to watch she's bringing everything i need and depending on the ground yes but again my mum and aunt are there who can hold her for me of needed!
 
I hack my pony to every event and I usually contact the organisers in advance to hire a temporary stable for the day. I drive over first and put anything I need in the stable. I can put him in there to chill before / after the competition and gives me extra time to enjoy the event (and get cheesy chips!). That's a great option if available :)
 
ILove_Alfie said:
Hi all! I'm just wondering if anyone has hacked to twesldown or in general hacked to a XC course? It's about 4.5miles so would take just over an hour my horse is a TB working 7 days a week so I thibk she's fit enough but the hacking will be mostly on roads at walk im just not sure if it's a terrible idea so wondering if anyone has done similar!
I only ask because it's a 7 min drive but I don't have transport and don't want pay £100+ for such a short journey 😅
Click to expand...

I used to hack to Tweseldown all the time 20-25-ish years ago (either to the actual course, or hacking over the MOD land). But only from Albany Farm (which is now I believe built over from Zebon Copse expanding). I’m pretty sure we also used to do it from Dogmersfield near the Queen’s Head too. We also used to hack up Beacon Hill from Fleet to get to shows at the riding club land at the top of the hill which was probably 45 minutes each way. Ewshot Riding Club?

Likewise, we’d have mums arrive by car with stuff and for holding duties.

Bourley Road that goes up through the middle of Twesledown can be fast, but from the Fleet end at least the visibility is pretty good, and people do expect horses.
 
FionaMc said:
I used to hack to Tweseldown all the time 20-25-ish years ago (either to the actual course, or hacking over the MOD land). But only from Albany Farm (which is now I believe built over from Zebon Copse expanding). I’m pretty sure we also used to do it from Dogmersfield near the Queen’s Head too. We also used to hack up Beacon Hill from Fleet to get to shows at the riding club land at the top of the hill which was probably 45 minutes each way. Ewshot Riding Club?

Likewise, we’d have mums arrive by car with stuff and for holding duties.

Bourley Road that goes up through the middle of Twesledown can be fast, but from the Fleet end at least the visibility is pretty good, and people do expect horses.
Click to expand...
Yes I went half way today and everybody was very good i did go at a very bad time as well so many cars! I think my only issue is going to get past the A road to beacon hill road need to see if there's a footpath or somthing i can use to go around it rather then having to cross/go down it ! But she did very well in the first half today definetly no fuss!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top