Hacking - what would you do?? Long

[Jingleballs]

At my yard, we are lucky to have some really good hacking - you can go from the yard straight into some pretty big forrestry which has nicely cut down paths, nice steep hills, long tracks for galloping etc.

We are generally the only people that use it - it's not convenient for most other yards in the area.

Only problem is there is this unwritten rule at the yard that you don't ride in it when the ground is wet so that we don't damage the ground causing possible problems when it dries up.

I'd say 70% of people at the yard adhere to this - there is one older man and his daughter who have w/t/c in it when wet and you can see the skid marks on the tracks and another girl who takes her pony in on occassion - he's tiny and you can barely tell he's been in.

No one directly challenges them (they can't as its's not Y/O's land and is open to everyone) but instead everyone (me included) just complains about the people wrecking the tracks behind their backs - I've tried to suggest that it was a bit too wet and it would wreck the ground but I was ignored.

It's now been about 2 months since we've had a proper hack in the forrest - I've had a walk around but I not trotted/cantered as I dont want to trash it.

The thing is thought, when you look at tracks/forrest used by larger groups of people, the ground is obviously churned up but is still rideable whereas we have almost pristene tracks that no one rides in.

My question is, are we being overly cautious and trying to preserve the tracks rather than getting out and enjoying them?

Would you stick to the unwritten and unofficial rule and stay out when it's wet (which is all the time now?)

Advice welcome as I'm kind of tempted just to start going in and making the most of it (while obviously maintaining some level of caution and not riding on the really wet bits) - after all, why should others be able to go in with no consequence while the rest of us stand around and moan about it!

Thanks

K x

 

[DreamerII]

Personally I'd lead by example and stay out when it is wet.

 

[katie_southwest]

I would go in but just be careful, dont go racing about just nice and steady

 

[Ziggy_]

We had a bridleway 5 mins from my old yard that we used to charge along in all weathers. Come summer the ground was still fine to ride on and didn't seem to be overly churned up at all.

Personally I'd go and enjoy it and try and persuade everyone else to as well.

 

[Coffee_Bean]

I'd go and make the most of it. There is one track near us (that the tesco b*stards have now helpfully blocked off

) and we canter along it in most weathers, come summer it was fine because people go along it all year, so it just tramples itself down when it dries.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I'd ride it, if you wait you can guarantee in summer it will be too hard for speed work, and if you carry on like that you'll never get out of a walk!

 

[merlinsquest]

Get on and enjoy it..... life is for living..... you never know how long you have got your horse for!!!!

Just respect your horse, the land will recover!!!

 

[Skhosu]

It's land open to anyone, so long as it is safe, I would use away!

 

[Donkeymad]

I'd use it, maybe with extra caution, but it will recover.

 

[Tia]

Yes I know where you are coming from. We have a tonne of trails which are directly accessible from my farm, and they are great; however there is also a beautiful forest ride which goes all along the riverbank and ends up at a lovely little lake. This land is Conservation land and although we are allowed to ride there, my boarders, me and all the neighbours in the area with horses are very careful about when we use these trails. We don't go to the Conservation area when it is wet as walkers do use the trails a lot and we are fully aware of the damage that we, as horse riders, could do to the terrain. If we were to mess it up then we would all run the risk of being asked not to ride in there - not something any of us would want, so we just stay out of there until the ground is frozen solid or is hard during summer.

I personally would still go into your forest trails but wouldn't canter along the trails that walkers use. If this is land open to the public then you may have a right to be there, however make a mess and you, like us, run the risk of not being allowed to use it in future.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

As Tia says, that's the real problem. If it's Forestry Commission land they might stop you riding there if the ground gets too trashed. Do you pay a licence fee to them to ride in there?

 

[Maisy]

It depends if it is a bridleway or not! If it is, I would ride how I wanted to; if it isnt I would respect the 'unwritten rules'.

 

[M_G]

we had an area like that where I used to keep my horse and we would only walk when the ground was sodden as it was not a bridleway and you have to show some respect for the landowner and other users, I did know of one woman that was told not to ride on his land again after being caught cantering when the ground was very wet and slippery.

If I were you I would use it but show respect for the landowners

 

[snaffle]

is it public?, i'd get on to the council and get them to do some proper maintenance. it should be usable all year round, same as ramlblers footpaths.