Happy hackers ,where are they?

[merlin12]

I am looking for a hack ,must hack on its own willingly,also hack in company.Does n't need to jump or have an illustrious show career or anything like that. Don't mind an older horse.
A few I have phoned up about, did n't hack on their own. What do you think is a sensible budget.This could be where I am going wrong.I don't want a Tb.I am looking for a horse to live out ,with rugs and a shelter and hack at weekends in winter and 4 x a week in summer.

 

[muffinmunsh]

What size are you looking for and is it to share / loan or buy?

 

[merlin12]

Looking for loan or LWVTB. 14.2 HH -16 HH approx ,ideally large native or cob type possibly hunter type . I don't want anything to big as I like to be able to mount from the ground when required . Also approaching the big 50 !! So not as flexible as I was at 20. I keep looking as I am sure there are suitable horses out there.

 

[indie999]

Hi

good luck I gave up! Not looking as lost faith ,,sorry to be so negative. Really hard to find road worthy horses these days. My children were taught in a menage as most riding schools dont take children out due to insurance and suing(their riding school was sued ....was in H&H)so a parent got greedy££££. So can understand this as they nearly stopped taking children after this. What I am getting at is the horses then dont do road work.

Also very few all rounders that are genuine all rounders due to home menages too. We have a few people who do a bit of everything round my way(shows/hunt/hack etc ex racers etc) BUT less and less hack out so to find this type the only place I never tried was a riding school or livery yard where you know they do hack out incl road work too. Good old fashioned types are hard to find.

But I got so fed up being told they hacked out on roads only to find out they hadnt done it for past xyz years(if at all)!!

Good luck.

 

[4x4]

OMG what is WRONG with these people? BOTH of my horses would fit the criteria tho' sadly for you not for sale! Any horse I have EVER had, usually youngsters, I always did the road stuff first, but then I come from a time when we used to hack to meets, shows etc. before everyone had trailers. We were having this same conversation with someone who was looking the other day 'where have all the normal horses gone?' Good luck with your search, I'm sure you'll find one somewhere.

 

[AngieandBen]

I'm looking for the same! Went to view one yesterday, and although advertised and an "easy pony" and safe, he bolted with me ( spooked at something ) he was genuinely terrified.

Got the daughter on her own ( mother was very over baring ) and found out they had only had him 10 months and bought from Melton sales Also says in ad that he hacks in company, again found out that he had nver been out in company!! Why can't people be honest, I wasted half a day, not happy!

 

[Spudlet]

Have you looked at charities OP? You might find one there needing a slightly quieter life but more than happy to hack out.

 

[touchstone]

I don't know if this one would be your cup of tea, and it is smaller than you want at 14hh, but I find with mine that they really take your leg up so you don't look too big. Mine is the bravest thing out hacking and will go anywhere in any conditions and this one sounds similar:- http://www.horsemart.co.uk/riding_c...3_hh_black_lancashire/advert/197691?op=photos

 

[HilaryG]

Might be that you are looking for loan or LWVTB.

I have seen plenty of happy hackers advertised but they were for sale.

 

[Cobi]

This is exactly the type of horse i would like although not looking just yet.

I am sure you will find him/her, your perfect horse is out there just waiting for you to find him/her!

X

 

[debsg]

Agree with Indie, sadly
I keep my girls in a very 'horsey' area, but we rarely, if ever, bump into anyone out hacking. My cob will hack anywhere, bombproof, jumps, shows, xcountry's, does endurance. My 4 yr old TBx mare is well on the way to becoming the same. I am in my early fifties and hacked everywhere as a kid, so have always done the same with mine, but people seem to 'specialise' in particular disciplines these days, and a lot of these horses don't or 'won't' hack.
Genuine all rounders that also hack and are safe are worth their weight in gold. I wouldn't sell my cob mare for £20 million in cash + Shutterfly on the end of a leadrope but if I did I would want about £6000 for her. Small price to pay for 100% reliability, in my opinion.
I think you will have a job to find one, people tend to hang on to the really genuine AR types, as you can rarely replace them.
Best of luck to you xxxx

 

[Natz88]

I see you said you wanted something upto 16hh, but I just came across this although it is 16.2

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/family_horse_5_yrs_16_2_hh_skewbald_bedfordshire/advert/199370

 

[millikins]

Where in the country are you Merlin?

 

[The_snoopster]

I agree with the poster who wrote it maybe because your looking for loan or lwvtb, there have been so many well publicised loans going terribly wrong, nice happy hacker loan horses are so rare to find. I loaned my first horse who was just a nice bombproof hack, but it was before the days happy hackers prices went through the roof, people prefer to sell than to loan these days. Have you had a look on dragon driving, you wont find anything for loan on there but I have seen lots of decent cobs on there which would make a nice happy hacker once tidied up. Or have a look on the web for dealers who specialize in happy hackers, but be prepared to dig deep into your pockets.

 

[Kat]

Didn't Kerilli post about a friend of a friend looking for a loan home for a horse needing a quieter life? Can't remember the details but might be worth searching for the post or sending a PM.

I was surprised how many horses didn't really hack when we were looking for ours. When we got our youngster it was one of my first priorities that she learnt to hack safely both alone and in company. I really believe that you are doing your horse a disservice if it doesn't learn to hack. Afterall you may intend your horse to be a competition horse and have no desire to hack yourself but what if the horse can't fulfill those ambitions either due to lack of talent, injury or mental burnout? If a horse is a safe hack then it is pretty likely to find a decent home if you are ever forced to rehome it. It is pretty impossible to rehome a horse that doesn't hack and is no longer capable of competing.

I know some horses can't cope with hacking no matter how hard you try but i think if started young and sympathetically most will manage it and it is a great way to assure their future as well as getting them fit, starting their education, relieving boredom etc etc etc.

 

[Finn]

Theres one on my yard for sale like that. Completly bombproof but shes for sale not LWVTB. When hacking out with my horse and we met a bus my horse went completly ballistic and she just stood there watching us as if to say what the hell are you 2 doing lol. When her current owner went to see her to try her out before he bought her they even hacked over a railway bridge with a train going under the bridge at the same time and she never battered an eyelid! Shes amazing!

 

[smudge99]

Funnily enough my friend is looking to loan a 14.3 cob x (she will never sell) who hacks out alone and in company, prefers to hack than to school tbh but will school. You tell people she prefers confident novice but we have had some real timewasters out to try her. We have given up trying now and will leave her as a grass ornament until my friend is well enough to ride again (12months yet).

So dont give up there are some out there.

 

[Brandy]

This is quite alarming as I will, in future, be looking for the same. although dont mind TB but would have to not want too much work. Don;t mind a handful, in fact would prefer it, as long as its safe. I have one that won;t hack out alone and don;t want another. Have many years experience, BHS quals, references etc but would want loan or cheap and again don;t mind older horse (maybe better as it won;t need to do a lot.....)

Have actually heard of a few over the last year but not been in a position to have any of them.

 

[marley and danni]

they are out there dont give up!!

i know you said you dont want a TB but i bought an exracer for 1000 he came with everything and hes the most amazing horse to hack doesnt bat an eyelid at anything.. well i say anything is scared of squirrels!!!

we can go under railway bridges and over them and we see fire and he goes to sniff them! (hes a little weird) he loves going out in company but is very willing to go out on his own and hes a slow poke but will rev it up a gear if you ask!

exracers are a sound hacking horse!

but if your looking for a chunkier type... have you tried preloved? they have quite a few on there and owners are sometuimes willing to let you have them on trial 1st

x

 

[Kat]

This thread just goes to show that people were unnecessarily harsh about Kerrilli's thread and that there are good homes out there for horses that are no longer capable of competitive careers.

Perhaps if people didn't get such a rough time for selling on/loaning horses that don't suit them or can't do the job expected of them there might be more out there.

OP it might also be worth putting some wanted adverts up. There maybe people out there with horses that would fit the bill that are languishing in fields unused as the owners aren't sure whether they would find a good home.

 

[Orangehorse]

You are not alone. I was helping to look for a hacking pony and it was simply amazing the number that were advertised for sale that would not hack alone, easily 3 our of 4. We found one in the end, but it took A LOT of looking.

I heard of one lady that wanted a quiet horse to hack and bought an older hunter. It wouldn't go out of the drive gates by itself!

 

[spottybotty]

OMG what is WRONG with these people? BOTH of my horses would fit the criteria tho' sadly for you not for sale! Any horse I have EVER had, usually youngsters, I always did the road stuff first, but then I come from a time when we used to hack to meets, shows etc. before everyone had trailers. We were having this same conversation with someone who was looking the other day 'where have all the normal horses gone?' Good luck with your search, I'm sure you'll find one somewhere.

I totally agree with this, sadley theses days it does not seem to be a priority to get a young horse out and about .They are all going to be the next Milton or Grand Prix dressage horse. This post says it all really. I have a 17.2hh KWPN out of Concorde who was graded in Holland at three and then came to the UK. I purchased him at 5 he had never hacked, he was worth far to much money(supposedly) My inexperinced OH now rides him out hacking, had the beast 5 yrs now.(horse not the OH)
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=497315

 

[Syrah]

I agree with the LWVTB. Loans can go very wrong and people who are selling want to sell for whatever reason, not loan.

I may have to sell my mare in the not too distant future, I wont consider a lwvtb but whoever comes to view is quite welcome to hack her out as well as trying her in the school to make sure she's what it says on the tin.

 

[Beausmate]

All my three hack out alone and in company, two are TBs, one's pretty much bombproof, one's a bit spooky on occasion and really prefers someone with him and my baby horse prefers to got it alone as she likes to be in front. Been trying to sell her for a while now, no interest at all, maybe because she's done nowt and everyone seems to want ready to go horses. Given up now.

 

[Endrete]

Having the same problem. Ive been looking for a happy hacker and Im not bothered if it doesnt hack alone as I want something to nanny youngsters and go our with friends. Just needs to be quiet, not worried about schooling or jumping and not really worried about age and would consider health issues as long as still happy to go out two/three times a week.

Im looking for 15.1 heavyweight up to 16.1 a bit finer (but pref not full TB as I have a few of those already!).

Where are all the hacking horses gone?????

 

[AngieandBen]

My pony Ben is so safe in traffic, I can ride under railway bridges, over them, we even have a bridleway that goes alongside the A14, he doesn't bat an eyelid. Such a shame he's getting on a bit now as I wouldn't be looking.

Looks like I'm going to have to save up and buy one.

 

[merlin12]

The replys have been really useful. In away I am pleased its not just me who has found it hard to find a happy hacker. I live in Gloucestershire, but think I will need to look much further afield. There seem to me more of the sort I am looking for on Dragon Driving , also more cobs etc for sale up north Thank you for all the leads you have given me. Seems to me people don't train horses to hack out on their own any more. Years ago when I worked with hunters and even polo ponies it was quite normal to exercise horses on their own. Perhaps I should buy a young horse and bring it on myself. Was really looking for an older horse, as with a youngster you have to train or work it each day, I don' t feel its right to not spend time on a youngster ,then find its got to the age of ten and has done nothing and is really unsaleabel.

I have come across a few of these in my search .Obviously bought by a novice at the age of 4, found to be to much for them ,then try to put on loan at the age of 10 after being left in the field for a few years.

I will keep looking . I think its a good idea to put up ads locally and will try this.

 

[HilaryG]

My 4 year old, 16 hands ID mare came back from being broken in a week ago.

She is already quite happy hacking out on her own and in company.

The second time I took her out we went through a fast flowing river, up a big step next to some Donkeys, and alongside two large windmills which surprisingly she did not even look at. We had cars and vans passing within a few inches and she was as good as gold.

I intend to keep her gently hacking out over winter and sell her in Spring as she is not really big enough for me.

 

[Pocket_Rocket]

I think part of the problem is people don't want to work through issues if a horse is difficult to hack. Secondly the roads get busier and busier and some car drivers are less than helpful on the roads which tends to put people off wanting to hack. Some roads I used to hack on years ago were fab but I wouldn't dream of going along one particular road anymore as it is just so busy and I don't feel it safe even with a completely bombproof horse. Thirdly people tend to hold on to their happy hackers the good reliable types.

I'm sure if your patient you will find one just keep your eyes peeled. I'm also in Gloucestershire well South Glos! If you go on facebook theres a group on there called "NEW Bristol & South West Horse Information Group" theres a few horses for sale on there. Also try the local riding clubs there maybe something on there? I don't know whether you've heard of horsequest but thats quite a good website.

Good luck with your search i'm sure you will find something. It's certainly the right time of year you should be able to get a nice horse for a good price

 

[Meowy Catkin]

If you are short (or short enough ) don't forget Arabian Lines when you are looking for a happy hacker. The poor mare who lugs me about the Welsh hills was bred for endurance.