happy hackers

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B_2_B

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just curious as i would love to have a horse but just as a happy hack when i'm older
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so - what do you think of having a horse as a happy hacker?
- why do you do things other than hack? for example, you don't have access to hacking routes, you enjoy it, for the horse, etc
- what special things would you have to do if your horse was just a happy hacker, e.g. food, etc

thanks
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Well I have two horses, one I compete and one is a happy hacker. I don't think there is anything wrong with it if that is the life that is best suited for the horse. A lot of older horses quite enjoy pottering around and being happy hacks. I wish I could build him up for jumping, and maybe I will but I think I've convinced myself that he'd hate it. You can just see him getting depressed if I try to school him.
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I am a happy hacker and so is horse - he has spent his years at riding school and hates it now with a passion. He is relaxed and happy out hacking, he loves new places and takes everything in his stride, except trotters !!!! It suits me and him. Would like to try cross country and I may do bit not fully decided.
 
Me and Thomas used to go to lots of pony parties but now he is old we like to happy hack. he likes to stretch his legs and enjoy the view and I like a relaxing fag and the view !! I think i am taking him in the veteran class this summer at a local show I can happily hack too.
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thanks. here's another
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if you have an older happy hacker do you still canter or gallop?

[/ QUOTE ]Oh yes but it isnt my choice. not much room to gallop though.
 
TBH sj, dressage etc doesnt interest me.
When I get my own I will just be a happy hacker. I may do the odd show but other than that I just enjoy the countryside and ambling along at a nice steady pace...especially on cold bright mornings.
 
Chex is pretty much a happy hacker, we used to compete a bit, but I just end up getting so fed up of the behaviour of others at shows I rarely go anymore! Still do the odd xc or veteran class. Don't do anything special, don't bother with high energy foods etc, he doesn't need them. Most rides have a good gallop (apart from just now, we're still in the walking stage of getting fit!) and he's 24.
 
my horse is 16 this year and is mad as a hatter, would gallop every where if she could, have done the odd shows here and there bit of jumping and dressage but i think her favourite thing has got to be going down the country park for a good run pop some logs have a buck and a bounce and then come home. we do a lot of road work and shes bombproof on the roads though does buck in temper at other horses when they act up and isnt one to be schooled much, actually she hates it but once a week we got round in circles for a bit. i think hacking keeps them sane and its up to the individual horse they'll let you know if its to much
 
i have an ex racer who did his tendon racing, he was sold as a hack and i was more than happy to buy him as that. i've done my years on racing yards, so i'm happy to just doodle about now. and i've never had an inclination to compete. as for feeding a hacker, it completely depends on the horse. usually best to stick with high fibre low energy, unless they need the energy.
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thanks. here's another
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if you have an older happy hacker do you still canter or gallop?

[/ QUOTE ]Oh yes but it isnt my choice. not much room to gallop though.

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lol
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My horse is only 6, but we are basically happy hackers. It's the thing he's best at really, so we hack most days. He's good in traffic, behaves on his own or with others and pulls up (quite) easily from a good long fast canter! It keeps him fit and his outlook fresh, and a good canter makes me smile!
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I don't think horses should be relegated, as it were, to hacking. There are loads of people who have successful competition horses who daren't ride them out. I just think you should make the most of your horses strengths.
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Well i had the best of both really with my mare, She was a fab little hack, was like sh*t of a shovel. But was brilliant out hacking used to go for miles and did do a few 14 mile sponsored rides which were fab. I also used to show her and did fab couldnt have asked anybetter, she came of a riding school and qualified for ponies uk and chaps. And we did a bit of workers aswell. She was one of them horses that could do anything without a fuss, she loved it like that and so did i.
 
thanks everyone, that's helped. now all i need is a spare £1,000 or so and a large bit of land and a stable
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mind you whatever that would cost, the look on my parents face would be priceless!
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Nothing wrong with being a happy hacker at all! My hacking partner is nearly 60 years old - our favourite hack is where we can gallop about (almost) irresponsibly behaving like a pair of teenagers. Don't let anyone tell you that you are too old for it - we all need to clear out the cobwebs!
 
I'm a very happy hacker. Don't enjoy comps. Foodwise..depends on the workload as with anything else. Mine live out 24/7 in 15+ acres of good grazing and do little work..just the odd mooch every now and then through the winter so have nothing to eat but grass. Some Happy hackers work as hard as any other horse and need feeding as appropriate. A horse is a horse and they all have individual needs..a happy hacker is no different. I have 3 ponies who will never have to do a stroke of work in their lives. They are treated no different.
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You don't have to do anything special if your horse is a happy hacker all the usual rules apply, as much turnout as possible, regular wormer and shoeing, feeding to suit work load and temperment. Both mine are happy hackers really, we do teh odd bit of schooling, jumping and occassional show but thats it. Lady's 17 and still enjoys a gallop, you just need to be careful about the ground and make sure they are fit enough, thats it really.
 
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