How far would you hack to a meet?

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gingerspice

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Have had a run of bad luck hunting recently and so REALLY would like to go out this Saturday! But new trailor comes next week, well I can't pick it up until then!

So question as above - how far would you hack to a meet? Obviously have to accomodate hack home as well, can find out where rough route of day will be so can decide when to leave to get home.

My Grandfather used to hack everywhere in our county in his day! Even got on trains with the horse to go to far flung corners :D so I'm trying not to be to soft on horse but we all do get used to driving everywhere!

Thanks.
 
Depends how fit my horse is and how tough the day will be.
I would happily hack an hour to a meet. One of ours hacked and hour and a half the other day.
 
OH and I will hack my lad up to (and including) 8 miles to a meet - we just allow plenty of time and walk most of the way.

take a note of how long it takes you, so you can work out roughly when to leave in order to be home before dark.

stuff a fluorescent tabard in your pocket in case you do get left in the dark.

We try to set ourselves a cut off point for turning for home if they hunt away from our direction, and allow ourselves a little longer out if they hunt towards home.

No reason why you can't hack the distance if your horse is fit! hope you have fun!
 
Oh I feel better now - worked out the hack will be 5 miles there, but looks like hounds will work away from home through the day so will need to give myself a cut off time to turn to home and leave lots of time - and stuff something bright in pocket just in case for return trip!

Thanks for comments and tips!
 
I always try my hardest to hack to meets. As best way to warm up for day. Max i'll hack is about 7miles but then hounds are coming homeward bound...
I have always used hacking to meet as part of horse's fitness programme. So i start in autunm at silly o'clock!!
Remember light does go very quickly on these winter nights and dark horse with dark coat not good combination!
 
I used to hack 7 miles mainly by road to get to the local opening and NYD meet on a Shire X Cob, have a days hunting then hack back home. My eldest daughter joined me on few occasions, though she would ride the Shire X and I would ride my TB X Con. By using the Ordnance Survey map to check the route which we ride for fun anyway we can see that it comes in at about 18 to 22 miles depending upon how far you actually travel.
 
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