How far would you hack to a show ??

Horseback Rider

Horseback Rider

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As above have been let down with transport so am planning to hack over early so I can untack etc. Just trying to work out the distance on google maps, but wondering what people think is reasonable ??
 
I will be really interested to see the replies to this.

Us oldies remember the days when you hacked 10 miles to a show or hunter trial carrying everything in a bag, did the comps and then rode home. Our horses were fit and it never did them any harm.

These days anything thats not on your own yard seems to warrant using transport.
 
well its about 6 miles each way as trying to avoid fast main roads, planning to get there early so I can untack and rest him before classes. I to rememeber hacking my pony five miles to x country course - completing it and then hacking back. Think that was back before people started becoming fluffy ;-)
 
We used to hack 8 or so miles, do a hunter trials and then go back home again. If your horse is fit, it shouldn't be a problem!
 
I think 6 miles is do able if the weather is not too bad otherwise if it's pouring I'm to soft these days to put up with it. Horse would be miserable too.
 
I second what Rocksmum says. We would get up at the crack of dawn to get the ponies ready, hack anything up to ten miles, do the show and hack home again. Such fun as there was a huge crowd of us who would get together. Having said that, there was a lot less traffic on the roads and it always felt safe to do things like that. We used to do what we called "downs rides" too up on the Ridgeway in Wiltshire. Packed lunch attached to the saddle with baling string!! We would stay out all day and find somewhere for the ponies to eat, drink and rest while we had our picnic. Wonderful times.
 
another one who hacked to shows, up to 10 miles was considered okay, after that we used to hire the local farmer and his cattle lorry, do people still do that ??
 
rockysmum said:
I will be really interested to see the replies to this.

Us oldies remember the days when you hacked 10 miles to a show or hunter trial carrying everything in a bag, did the comps and then rode home. Our horses were fit and it never did them any harm.

These days anything thats not on your own yard seems to warrant using transport.
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I was just thinking exactly the same, no one does this anymore, mind you, I remember hacking 8 miles to a show on pickles, he jogged all the way there, he always jogged!! I competed in a couple of shows, team/relay showjumping, clear round, individual showjumping then it was time for home. My friends had a foreign exchange student from germany who was a pain in the... you know what, she would not shut up about how excellent her riding was and kept pestering to ride everyones horses. I told her she could ride pix back home ;) my friends said it was classic, they remember me driving off, looking out of the back window of the volvo with a smug grin on my face, when they arrived on the horses, this girl was puce, and verrrrry silent all evening... bliss :)

Riding to the show used to be 50% of the fun!
 
I still hack my highland 8 miles to our local show. Last time I did an In-hand show, Ridden and a Working Hunter and hacked home. It takes us 2 hours each way so a nice little hack :)

Pony was STILL bouncing when we turned into the yard after finishing.

It's not so much how far you go, as how fit you and your horse are.

I am looking to get her much fitter and join local riding club and hack 16 miles there. Although I might look at riding over, staying over and then hacking home when finish competing.

I love it as it gives me time to settle my nerves before I get there although the last time was scary as we were halfway between the yard and venue when the thunder started, and it was raining so we were soaked but that was part of the fun :)
 
Now and again I hack the 5miles each way to our local show ground, I usually just walk as a gentle warm up so it takes about an hour. I have a little saddle bag that I put all my bits in and then I just smile sweetly at someone with a horsebox and ask if I they would mind me leaving my things in/by their box, or failing that I ask someone to meet me there. The times I have done it George has always been placed in the dressage, so he obviously likes the warm up :)
 
I used to hack miles to shows as I didn't have any transport. As a rule of thumb, if it would take longer than two hours it was too far. I think the furthest I would go was 8 or 9 miles (each way). At one time I had a ride and drive pony, which was great for shows as I could chuck everything in the trap and take a friend as well! Your horse needs to be fit though.
 
I happily hack to the show field with my horse for the riding club and pony club events that are held there as I have no transport. I find its really good at warming up and keeping my horse relaxed and also means I can come and go as I please. It only takes about 30-45 mins to get there down quiet country lanes.
 
I hack to shows whenever I can - I prefer it to boxing as my pony is much happier hacking and its a good warm up.

I've done 1 1/2 hours hack, with some good trots and canters included, a couple of dressage tests or showing classes, then the hack back with no probs. I usually get someone to meet me there with hay & water - or if thats not possible take a backpack and smile nicely when I'm there for someone to get me water for my pony. :)
 
I only go to shows that I can hack to as I don't have transport and the shows I go to regularly are about 7 miles away which takes me an hour and 45 minutes at a walk only as I have to ride on busy roads. We hack, then whoop everyone's butts (lol :D), collect our winnings, then hack back home and Hattie is still revved! There is a show 11 miles away that I'm not brave enough to hack to just yet :p

My OH meets us at shows with hay, water, grooming stuff and show tack/clothes and I ride to them in full hi-viz.
 
In my mad youth I'd happily hack at least 10miles to a show and one time we rode over the day before as the hack would take about 2hours - next day went to the show and then road home afterwards.

I even remember leading my young unbroken pony 7miles to a show, carrying all my grooming kit, lunch showing gear etc showing him in the youngstock classes and then walking home again.
 
I'm ashamed to say that I box to my local show which is less than a mile away. Trouble is I'm always on my own so its really convenient to have all my stuff with me. I also hate riding on the roads. Certainly used to enjoy hacking to shows in my youth though.
 
30 odd years ago when a trailer or a lorry was only accessible to the lucky few, we used to hack about 10 miles or so to shows, parents would drive over with grooming kit, water etc stay all day, do a couple of events, then gymkhana games and then hack home (journey which never seemed to end) :( We had no alternative way f going to events. Hunting - used to hack about the same and hope hounds would hunt torwards home and not miles away into the moor. :( We never seemed to have issues with our ponies then, I always had a lazy smug which wouldn't move even with a rocket up his bum, my friends had the little Sec A GTI ponies, much to my envy.
 
I wish I had more opportunities to hack to shows, whilst the distance wouldn't be a problem the routes are not very horse friendly with some busy roads to go along.

I'd definitely hack 6 miles to a show, think of it as a built in warm up ;)
 
I now box to shows as there are no events within an hours drive from where I now live, actually an ashamed to say, the village I live in now gas an annual show and even though it is within half hire walk, I will box my boy there as hacking him with others from the yard will just wind him up and when he gets in a tizzy, I may as well not bother with the show. :) :)
 
i used to hack regulalrly to shows - bout 9 mile round trip & only stopped this year as at 21 i thought it was too big an ask for Ruby - would happily do that kind of distance on a younger horse any time
 
I've done 3 miles each way. It really depends on the fitness of the horse and the intensity of the competition though. The current pony is tired out after 2 hours gentle hacking or a hour of hacking with some schooling so wouldn't attempt any distance yet but I think on a fit pony I'd be happy up to an hour each way :) A gentle walk home is probably much much better than cooped up in a box anyway especially if the horse isn't great at travelling.
 
How is everyone working out what the maximum distance is that you would be prepared to go? I find 5 miles is very little, personally.

I go by how fit my horse is and what she can comfortably manage as well as preparing a few weeks in advance. For this I work out my full distance (16 miles), so I aim to have my horse doing approx 20 miles, 3 times a week. She is fit and aas full of energy as any other horse at the show. She also comes home full of energy and you see her careering around her field after being turned out as well as the same the next day.

I love having the time to myself - just me and my pony before the nerves and after the pandemonium. The weather does play a part and I don't think I'd bother if it was especially hot, as I don't think that would be fair to her. I'd perfer to go in the rain, than hot and humid temperature. :)
 
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I don't have transport so I have to hack to everything I want to go to. My limit is up to an hour's hack away, but I keep it steady. I also hack to and from all of the hunt meets I go to. I think, in some ways riding to a show is better than going in a lorry/trailer as you can make sure your horse is warmed up/cooled down properly and it is often far less stressful for both horse and rider.
 
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