how far do you hack?

noblesteed

noblesteed

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just wondering. Found a lovely new yard for my horse but it's a 10 mile hack to get him there and he's not very fit, though he's turned out all day... Last summer we were doing 5 miles or more, and did a picnic ride of about 10.
Thinking about giving it a go, as I don't have transport though could borrow some, I quite fancy the ride! Would anyone do it? And what should I take on the journey?
 
A 10 mile hack would be pretty routine for us on a weekend - so the distance wouldn't put me off at all.

You can always alternate walking and riding if you're worried about the horse. But 10 miles is no distance.
 
Personally, I would do it. If he's not very fit, I would walk him all the way so would allow plenty of time and maybe get off and walk myself for a while, particularly if it's a hilly route. I would definitely get off and walk the last mile.
I think sometimes we worry about distance too much, when we should worry more about working unfit horses too hard and fast. I hardly ever walk more than two or three miles on my own feet but I know I am more than capable of walking ten miles, even if I might ache a bit the next day!
I'd take a hoofpick, use a spare stirrup leather as a neck strap and, if there's opportunity, allow him to have a drink where you can. You might want to take yourself a drink too, especially if you are going to do some in-hand.
Will you be able to turn him out at the other end?
 
I used to hack 9 miles with my old pony when I was a kid, to a show. Then would compete/jump etc etc., then hack back again. Ditto hunting.

So I'd go for it.

BUT...... bear in mind that yours just might get out of his "herd area" and decide he doesn't want to go any further thank you! I don't think I'd get my cob to go 10 miles out of his territory unless he had another horse with him. So you might be easier transporting him TBH.
 
Over this summer my 7yr old has been doing close to that at wkends, & pre-child I would hack that to compete without a thought, & close to that to hunt. And don't think anything of a 12mile round trip to one local show. If horse is unfit though I would be prepared to get off & walk some of the way. And especially if its warm maybe get someone to meet you halfway with water & handgraze horse while you have a lunchbreak.
 
10 miles is nothing...that's a standard hack for me [5 miles away, 5 miles back] You'll be fine, if he tires, take it slow and don't rush him :)
 
We hack 5 miles to get to local hunt meets and 5 home again. I regularly hack between 6 and 8 miles 3 times during the week and sometimes longer at weekends.
 
ChristmasSparkles said:
10 miles is nothing...that's a standard hack for me [5 miles away, 5 miles back] You'll be fine, if he tires, take it slow and don't rush him :)
Click to expand...

Same as above, and sometimes a bit further.

On the journey I'd take a drink for yourself, hoof pick, headcollar and lead rope and a mobile. Shouldn't see any problems, so long as the roads you're riding along are suitable.
 
I'm just bringing an older horse, very grass fat, back into work after injury and over a year off. My smallest block is four miles which takes us less than an hour (at walk only) the next sized block is six miles; we're doing that in 90 minutes or less; all at walk; as he gets fitter it will get faster than that. On that basis, I'd expect to do ten miles in just over two hours so just take plenty of time; don't do anything stupid like not setting off until after 3pm; do it either morning or just after your lunch (gives time to settle in in daylight then) Take your mobile, make sure people know the route you'll take and that your horse is in comfortable tack with decent shoes that aren't loose. Wear hat, gloves and hi-viz yourself and take something like Tic Tacs/mints/fruit pastilles to munch on the way. Have a lot of fun doing it too.
 
Yes I would do it as long as I was happy with the roads involved! Think we have been up to ten miles on a weekend even when my horse was unfit, helps to get off every now and then and I'd usually end up walking the end part mainly because I couldn't get back on with no suitable mounting block and legs of jelly! DEFINITELY take water! I get sooo thirsty on long hacks!
 
Yes I would do it & as others have said you can always get off & walk for a bit. I have just recently done a 16 mile ride, think I was more stiff the next day :p
 
I did a 10 mile hack yesterday and it took just over 2 hrs with no trotting.
I would leave at about 11am then he will be able to be turned out for a few hrs in the afternoon
 
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