How far do you hack (in miles and time)?

[Starbucks]

Just reading the 10 miles to show post, got me thinking.

How far do you normally hack out? The routes I normally go are about 5 - 7 miles, take 45 mins to and hour. There are about 40 horses on my yard and I don't think anyone makes it to the bridlways that are about 2 miles away - except on a special summers day type occasion.

On the other hand on the thread mentioned above people were talking about 2/3 hour hacks and 50+ miles a week! Been a long time since I've been on a 3 hour hack!!

So just wondered what kind of distance people go and how long it takes?

 

[nikCscott]

I normally school or quick hack for an hour- but once a week i try to do a 2-3 hour hack- not sure how far but all woods so lots of hill work!

 

[Mildred]

Depends. Today we did about 3 miles in about 30 minutes, as we were walking with a horse who is coming back from a tendon injury and we were talking - and the other horse is quite slow, I have to keep stopping as I like my horse to walk like she means it! Usually if I'm alone I trot a lot. I never really hack out for more than an hour though but I'm not sure how many miles - would have to borrow my husband's garmin running watch thing to be more precise!

 

[rara007]

I usually do 2 miles as a warmup to schooling, or a circle route of 6 miles in 45 mins or 8 miles with 2 at a fast canter in the same length of time TBH I find hacking too dull to want to go for further- I circle back home to do schooling as bored We do have pretty poor hacking locally though.

 

[Izzwizz]

We have a variety of routes round us, sometimes Im out for 45mins, others 1hr +, really depends on what time I have available. Last Thurs 3 of us were out for 2 3/4 hrs and must have done about 8-10 miles. This was mostly in walk with a little bit of trot. Closer to home we had a canter across fields. Ive build my mares hacking up over the last year due to her tendon injury so last thursday was the most she has done.

 

[Malibu_Stacy]

At the moment about 45-60 mins once a week. As the weather improves and she starts getting worked a bit more that'll hopefully increase to 1hr during the week and 2-3hrs at the weekend. (that'll be mostly walk with the odd trot/canter)

 

[fidleyspromise]

It's 30 minutes to get to forest/beach so out for a minimum of 2 hours and generally about 3 hours although we are upping it this year to be out at least twice a week for 4-5 hours.
Not sure how far we go though am trying to work it all out

rara007 - me and pony tend to get bored schooling and staring at same walls. Each to their own, although I am trying to school more.

 

[paddy555]

we would normally go out for the day usually twice a week and in the better weather we aim for 3 times a week. I guess the mileage would be 20/25 miles a day. Shorter rides would be one to two hours. Not really worth putting tack on for less than an hour

 

[LizzyandToddy]

Depends on the time, during the week I don't have as long so go about 12 miles or so in just over an hour.

Weekends, anything up to 20 miles round trip, in about 2 hours ish? I don't tend to hang about! I am the only one at my yard that seems to actually go for long hacks though, everyone else just potters down to the nearest villages, 2 miles approx, and back :/

 

[mystiandsunny]

Usually 30min round the block (roads). Sometimes 2-3hrs (takes that long to get on the bridleways). On Friday, hacked to another yard to use the school, then back - total 14 miles + schooling. She was a bit tired today after yesterday off, but nothing major.

 

[HollyB66]

I always carry my Satmap with me when we hack out. We live in the bottom of a valley and it is quite hilly to get out of the valley. Our average moving speed is just above 4mph, and that does include some trotting and cantering. I think I need to work on getting my girl to 'walk out' as you all put it.

Trotting is usually about 8mph. Cantering 14mph. Galloping 21mph if she's not pushing it, gets up to 25mph if she has someone to race.

We go out Saturday and Sunday mornings for 2-3 hours, one afternoon a week for 2-3 hours. Some Sat/Sun evenings if accompanying a 'new' horse on the yard for short local hacking, 45 mins - mostly walk, very little trot.

In the summer we were averaging 30 miles a week, currently just under 20 miles a week.

We did an Endurance Training ride and struggled to meet the 5mph minimum average speed, it was a 20 mile ride. Quite frustrating that our average speed seems so slow.

 

[HollyB66]

Depends on the time, during the week I don't have as long so go about 12 miles or so in just over an hour.

Weekends, anything up to 20 miles round trip, in about 2 hours ish? I don't tend to hang about! I am the only one at my yard that seems to actually go for long hacks though, everyone else just potters down to the nearest villages, 2 miles approx, and back :/

You really can't be hanging about!!!

There's no way I could cover 12 miles in an hour, or 20 miles in 2 hours. Do you canter most of the way, have to cross any roads? I would like to get my average speed up, but just can't seem to do it.

 

[Starbucks]

I always carry my Satmap with me when we hack out. We live in the bottom of a valley and it is quite hilly to get out of the valley. Our average moving speed is just above 4mph, and that does include some trotting and cantering. I think I need to work on getting my girl to 'walk out' as you all put it.

Trotting is usually about 8mph. Cantering 14mph. Galloping 21mph if she's not pushing it, gets up to 25mph if she has someone to race.

We go out Saturday and Sunday mornings for 2-3 hours, one afternoon a week for 2-3 hours. Some Sat/Sun evenings if accompanying a 'new' horse on the yard for short local hacking, 45 mins - mostly walk, very little trot.

In the summer we were averaging 30 miles a week, currently just under 20 miles a week.

We did an Endurance Training ride and struggled to meet the 5mph minimum average speed, it was a 20 mile ride. Quite frustrating that our average speed seems so slow.

That's really interesting - can you tell me more of this devise you speak of? I'd love to know how fast my horse gallops etc.

Oh and I say walk on!

 

[Starbucks]

You really can't be hanging about!!!

There's no way I could cover 12 miles in an hour, or 20 miles in 2 hours. Do you canter most of the way, have to cross any roads? I would like to get my average speed up, but just can't seem to do it.

I have no idea as to your MPH and what is the average, but I wonder if it's coming down to you walking too slowly or walking too much? TBH if (human) walking pace is 2-3 MPH, 4MPH sounds slow for your overall. What does she do if you ask her to quicken her walk a little bit?

 

[HollyB66]

This is the little gizmo http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=sports&field-keywords=Satmap

I have a 1:25,000 OS background, so I never get lost and it tracks my routes and I can turn them into future 'trails' to follow later if I've enjoyed a route. You can also review a profile of your route so you can see the variations in elevation.

 

[HollyB66]

I have no idea as to your MPH and what is the average, but I wonder if it's coming down to you walking too slowly or walking too much? TBH if (human) walking pace is 2-3 MPH, 4MPH sounds slow for your overall. What does she do if you ask her to quicken her walk a little bit?

If we're hacking and I give her a squeeze to try to get her to 'walk out' she often pops up into trot - frustrating.

I know that when I hike I can do 4mph easily - I am striding out but it easily doable.

I can only think it's all the stopping to open the gate, cross the A road, go over the river bridge, spook at the white lines, stare at the wheelie bins, ...

Perhaps you are right, it is too much walking with minimal 'purpose'.

 

[irish_only]

This is free http://www.trails.com/googlemap.aspx

Have mapped loads of routes and printed them out, stuck on tack room wall. I can then monitor how many miles I do each ride, mph etc etc. I can average 7mph, if I get a wriggle on, mostly roads and grass verges. How the hell do you 12mph unless you are on good bridleways and lots of trot/cantering?

 

[HollyB66]

This site is also free: www.mapometer.com

Hopefully this link will take you to a route I planned when we went to Camber Sands http://gb.mapometer.com/en/horse_riding/route_922989.html

 

[Starbucks]

Wow expensive!! OH thinks I might be able to get an app for my Iphone.

Gates etc. will come into play, but my hour ride has a million gates (which we aren't very good at) and it's a lot further than 4 miles.

I'm not very good at expaining things, but if you give her as squeeze (but not asking for trot) to increase her pace and then she trots, bring her back and try again until she understands what you are asking her to do. Might also help if you hacked with someone who's horse was a fairly brisk walker? Even if she didn't keep up in walk she'd have to jog along a bit to keep up but at least it might give her the idea of walking on and you the idea of how to keep the pace up. Probably hasn't helped at all but I tried!

 

[Kallibear]

Short hack is 45mins and done if I'm in a rush.

Average hack is 2hrs.

Long hack (at weekends) is 3-4hrs.

Special day hack (on nice summer days, with a picnic) is 6hrs+

Which route I take depends on how fit he is and therefore how fast he works - it's currently mostly at walk so the rides are 3-4miles (short hack), 6-8miles for a long hack and 20miles or so for a long hack. There's a variety of rides I can do and we just do them quicker, or string routes together, as he gets fitter.

 

[HollyB66]

Wow expensive!! OH thinks I might be able to get an app for my Iphone.

Gates etc. will come into play, but my hour ride has a million gates (which we aren't very good at) and it's a lot further than 4 miles.

I'm not very good at expaining things, but if you give her as squeeze (but not asking for trot) to increase her pace and then she trots, bring her back and try again until she understands what you are asking her to do. Might also help if you hacked with someone who's horse was a fairly brisk walker? Even if she didn't keep up in walk she'd have to jog along a bit to keep up but at least it might give her the idea of walking on and you the idea of how to keep the pace up. Probably hasn't helped at all but I tried!

I know it was pricey - my excuse is that I bought it before I had a horse, I wouldn't be able to afford one now

Yes, you can get an ap for your Iphone, my hacking buddy has one. Not as accurate, but definitely adequate.

One of my hacking buddies is a brisk walker and we do 'jog' to keep up - we were doing it only this morning. I was trying to get her to stride out, but she kept trotting. Her hacking buddy is a 14.1 cob and my mare is a 14.3 arab x, so she shouldn't have any excuse - it must be how I'm riding her.

We didn't have a good average speed today, as we met up with a rider who is currently taking it slow due to a rest over the winter.

And, you did explain it well thanks

 

[foraday]

Our smallest ride is 8 miles and I have to say the biggest is easily 100 miles!

Tend to do our 12 or 15 miles at least twice a week.

I use my garmin forerunner 301 to map my routes-gives me my horses speed, the gradients we went up, the speed and his heart rate. downloaded on to my laptop

We do have amazing hacking all off road-do sometimes have to cross a couple of roads now and again

 

[HollyB66]

Our smallest ride is 8 miles and I have to say the biggest is easily 100 miles!

Tend to do our 12 or 15 miles at least twice a week.

I use my garmin forerunner 301 to map my routes-gives me my horses speed, the gradients we went up, the speed and his heart rate. downloaded on to my laptop

We do have amazing hacking all off road-do sometimes have to cross a couple of roads now and again

Wow! your hacking sounds great! Where abouts are you based?

Do you have to attach a sensor to measure his heart rate? I was looking at the forerunners when I opted for my satmap.

Are you interested in Endurance or just like to monitor for fun?

Sorry for so many questions

 

[Starbucks]

I know it was pricey - my excuse is that I bought it before I had a horse, I wouldn't be able to afford one now

Yes, you can get an ap for your Iphone, my hacking buddy has one. Not as accurate, but definitely adequate.

One of my hacking buddies is a brisk walker and we do 'jog' to keep up - we were doing it only this morning. I was trying to get her to stride out, but she kept trotting. Her hacking buddy is a 14.1 cob and my mare is a 14.3 arab x, so she shouldn't have any excuse - it must be how I'm riding her.

We didn't have a good average speed today, as we met up with a rider who is currently taking it slow due to a rest over the winter.

And, you did explain it well thanks

I think some horses just find it easier than others, my dad is quite strict with his horses (and a good rider - much better than me!) but his little TB just can't keep up with my horse, so he just has to jog along a little bit. Hope you get your time speaded up a bit, sounds like you're quite into it.

 

[HollyB66]

I think some horses just find it easier than others, my dad is quite strict with his horses (and a good rider - much better than me!) but his little TB just can't keep up with my horse, so he just has to jog along a little bit. Hope you get your time speaded up a bit, sounds like you're quite into it.

Yeah, thx

 

[marmalade76]

I have no idea what distances I cover but I usually hack for an hour, virtually all off road and I mostly walk or canter with the odd trot and gallop. There are lots of gates on my short routes.

I do 2 1/2 - 3hr hacks if I have company, wouldn't go that far alone. Usually more galloping on these rides, nearly finished off one of my friends, he he! :-

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=408962

 

[LizzyandToddy]

You really can't be hanging about!!!

There's no way I could cover 12 miles in an hour, or 20 miles in 2 hours. Do you canter most of the way, have to cross any roads? I would like to get my average speed up, but just can't seem to do it.

I'm really quite lucky in that we are allowed over most of the fields around here and there are plenty of bridle paths, so I tend to trot in quite long stretches, and canter in order to get him fit for xc I only really have to travel about a mile or two on the roads am very fortunate! Was I riding on the roads more, i'd probably take it much steadier! x

 

[AprilBlossom]

I have no idea what distances I cover but I usually hack for an hour, virtually all off road and I mostly walk or canter with the odd trot and gallop. There are lots of gates on my short routes.

I do 2 1/2 - 3hr hacks if I have company, wouldn't go that far alone. Usually more galloping on these rides, nearly finished off one of my friends, he he! :-

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=408962

I have just spotted this!! Lol b***h!

Seriously, when I hacked with Marm I think we did 7 squillion miles...

 

[SonnysHumanSlave]

I did 2.41miles today at an average 4mph today. It took 56minutes.

That Includes the total wobbly ted had for about 10mins though.

 

[Heucherella]

I hack for about 2 hours both days at the weekend, and now it is lighter am fitting in one 45 minute hack during the week too. I have been extending the weekend hacks further and further all year, but they don't take any longer to do, as we have been getting fitter too, so go faster! We did manage a 10 mile route last weekend, and it took 2 1/2 hours, but that was because it was incredibly muddy on the tracks so had to stick to walk for a long section. I would love to get into endurance - but I gather you don't see many Clydesdales doing it