How far is it fair to hack to a lesson or competition?

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Maia

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As the title says really, if you have a eventing or hunting fit horse how far would you be prepared/feel is fair to hack to either a lesson (say 1hr) or a competition (say 1 or 2 dressage tests, 1 round of SJ). Would you hack to a Hunter trial with a fit horse?
 
When I was a kid I used to hack and hour and a half to a hunter trial.
Couldn't be bothered with that malarky now though!
 
I hacked an hour and a half to a lesson once when I was without transport. Felt quite guilty by the time we got back though so wouldn't go that far again. I used to regularly hack 30 mins to a lesson though and that was ideal warm up, cool down distance
 
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I have done in the past but events were only 5mins and 15 mins away, but I would not hack any longer than 30 mins.

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Can I ask why only that far? When we were kids we hacked to all the local shows in the surrounding villages (often a good few miles away) spent all day at the show and then hacked home again at the end of the day and our ponies probably weren't close on hunting fit! Admitedly I wouldn't go that far now but I frequently go out for 3-4 hour hacks with some decent canter blasts and don't think twice about it! Likewise, I wouldn't think twice about a days hunting...
 
Depends on how fit your horse (and you) are, and how tiring the lesson etc may be.

I wouldn't think twice about a steady 5 miles each way.

Being of the generation where having transport was a luxury, I routinely used to hack 5 (often more) miles to a Meet, hunt and then maybe have to hack 10 miles home. Never killed (or even lamed) my horses, they were all as fit as fiddles. They coped a lot better than I did.


I think we molly coddle horses too much, if they are fit enough for the job, then a steady 5 mile hack to a lesson isn't going to take anything away from them. Competition, hmm, again, it depends what you are doing, a couple of rounds of jumping, no problem. Trailers are so convenient, and I have to admit, when YOU are tired, it's maybe wet and cold, then it is a more pleasant option to load up and get home quickly. If you have hunted/ridden your horse into the ground, then that's bad planning. On the other hand a quiet hack home means you get back to the yard with a calm and cooled horse.
 
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I used to regularly hack 30 mins to a lesson though and that was ideal warm up, cool down distance

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This is my current thinking. I'm within 2 miles of 1 instructors, 3 of another and can hack toi both in 30 - 45 mins, have an hours lesson, and then hack home again at a quiet pace and my horse is fine with this and I find that she is nicely warmed up by the time we get there and as we walk home on a long rein she is nicely cooled down by the time we get back. This summer I'm hoping to take her to some local events but am transportless! The furthest venue I was thinking of hacking to is just over 6 miles, the others are about 3-4 miles and the local RC that I've recently joined also holds rallies etc that are about 3-4 miles hack from my yard. My horse is not far off hunting fit and I was hoping to get her fittness up a bit more by the summer - Am I being unfair in considering hacking to these venues (especially given she can stop and have a break inbetween hacking and lesson/competition)?
 
I used to hack to a venue that was 90 minutes from home. I would always give my mare at least an hour's rest with her saddle off before hacking home. There were usually 3 or 4 of us hacking together for some or all of the route, so it was social and we looked out for each other at the show. You will be amazed at how little stuff you need for a show when you have to carry it on your back!
 
When I was 15, we (5 of us) used to hack 2 hours to a "local" show, compete in a good 2 or 3 show jumping classes then hack back!
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Wouldn't even dream of doing it now!

We all had very fit horses I hasten to add!
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Before I could tow a trailer I used to hack 3 miles to lessons & competitions. My horses always coped. It acts as a good warm up & cool down too. Horses used to work all day so what's 3-4 hours work to a fit horse? It's great that you have so many places nearby. Go & enjoy!!
 
have done 9+ miles to a show, did 6 classes, came home..no problem....several times!
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that was BL....before lorry......
 
I hacked Daisy an hour each way to go hunting this winter. I was worried that she would be tired after a full days hunting so I tried to get off and walk her in hand on the way back but she was far too silly so I had to get back on. It all depends on how fit your horse is, the type of land you are riding on and how fast you are going.
 
I hack 20 mins for a lesson and 20 mins back - for several reasons a) my mum is to lazy to take me! 2)it probs takes less time than getting the lorry out and putting it back again and 3)my horse seems to go better!
 
I'd say if your horse is fit enough to hunt all day, then it's fit enough to hack an hour to a lesson or competition. If you think about it, providing you allow enough time so you don't have to rush, that is much less effort for the horse than a whole day's hunting!

Before lorries and trailers, people used to do these kind of distances all the time!
 
I'm glad to read all this, my prospective new yard is 4 miles from where I go to dressage shows and as I don't have transport i was hoping to still be able to hack to the shows and back.
 
Gosh, yes, we used to hack to shows, hunting, etc. Ride all day and then hack home. Ponies didn't get laminitis in those days!

My sisters used to get the rosette for the pony club members who had hacked the furthest to a rally.

Of course, the traffic on the roads is the big problem now. There are places where we used to ride that would be at least very unpleasant to ride, and possibly dangerous.
 
Thanks for the replies
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I had thought the same but a couple of friends told me it was cruel to expect a horse to work after an hour or so's hack and even crueler to ask it to hack home again - oddly neither could offer me a lift when I asked as it would mean "going out their way!"
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Up until recently I used to hack 4 miles each way for an hours lesson.

And this is going back a few years....20yrs ago (!!) had a NF mare on loan and used to hack her to the Show about an hours' ride away, do a couple of clear rounds, family pony class, handy pony several times, 6 gymkhana races, share my sandwiches with her, she'd drink someone elses water and then I'd hack home in the evening, complete with any prizes I'd won and her wearing all her rosettes. That seemed a perfectly acceptable good day out!!

OK, we only went to a few shows in the 6 month period.

I'd do the same now if the roads were quieter/safer and my bum didn't hurt so much!!!
 
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