How important is hacking alone to you?

[Pearlsasinger]

I think it is one of THE most importnat things a horse should be able to do. Like the OP, I don't recall having any horses that couldn't or wouldn;t hack alone, you just expected a horse to do it.

It seems to be a very recent thing andf I don't know why - maybe when people learn to ride these days, due to certain trends and maybe H&S/Insurance, riding schools do more lessons in schools as opposed to lessons out on an hours hack? That is what we used to do at the riding school - they didn't have fancy arenas back then your lessons were just in the fields. If those fields were too wet you'd go out on a hack instead andm, to be honest I think this is where you learn to RIDE.

People now seem very nervous of hacking out and maybe too many yards have been set up without thought for actual availability of decent hacking (ie, too many busy roads nearby) so people don't venture out and then the horses don't get that vital experience. It's really sad that some people don't see the importance of hacking out and think schooling a horse and achieving an 'outline' is the basis of riding.

I could have written that myself, and you're much younger than me, LadyT25.
I am often horrified by some of the practices I see when others are hacking, they really seem to have no idea at all. We were taught to thank drivers who passed wide/carefully/slowly, to trot on to a suitable passing place if necessary and to ALWAYS be aware of other road users/pedestrians. We were also taught to ride with care off road, not knocking over dog-walkers/cyclists etc and to keep a sensible distance away from other horses and, one of my personal bugbears; not to let our horses 'talk' to others over walls.

 

[Shysmum]

was really looking forward to a long hack out this morning - till someone rudely invited themselves along.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Mmm yes I agree with "ladyt25"; when I started riding (a LONG time ago!) everyone used to hack solo; yes we all used to get together and have a mad hoon occasionally but everybody's pony was able to hack alone. I remember going out solo when I was just 13 years old with my first pony; and he was just a 5 y.o. And we survived!

IMO there's nothing like taking a horse out solo to get it focussed and listening to the rider. All the time in the school can't replicate the sorts of hazards and spooks you get out on a hack, even off-road, and there's nothing like it to bond horse & rider. A good hoon across open country, done solo, is unsurpassed in getting a horse to go forward and off the leg; and I try to make sure that my two get out on their own at least once a week as an antidote to separation anxiety and all that sort of stuff.

When I had my boy, he was a total numpty at hacking solo, had been in a trekking centre and had never done it, so we had to start from scratch, building confidence and working on his various issues like napping, spinning and trying to back me into a ditch! Various people said I'd never ever get him to hack solo, but (with the help of my trainer) we did it!!! And now he'll hack happily solo and be a really nice ride with it. But I think it was the solo hacking that really bonded us TBH. Yes schooling has its place, of course it does, but with a lot of horses especially with confidence issues I think you've just got to go out for a hack and bite the bullet.

At the end of the day, there's nothing like being totally alone in a wild landscape with a big strong horse...... that's what MY riding means to me, basically. Yes its fun doing all the other stuff, but this is where the pulse beats, for me.

 

[kerrieberry2]

it is the most important thing because I have a mare that I can't take out in company as she goes mental! jogs the whole way, tanks off and pretty much winds herself up! so for 11 years I have ridden alone 95% of the time! and I fully expect my youngster to hack out on his own when I start him next year! and i think he will, because at the moment he is much calmer on his own and a little **** when he's walked with another horse!

 

[deicinmerlyn]

Just to add, I would look at such a horse but would expect it to affect the price (as any fault would) and I would then expect to have to put the schooling in to get them to hack alone.

May i ask what that schooling would be? Clava

 

[hessy12]

It is THE most important thing to me. I agree with many posts about how in the past, horses were expected to do this as routine.
I love my hacking and my gelding knows all our routes and loves a good gallop. As do I!

 

[DressageDiva1962]

To me its the most important thing in the world, I live in an isolated location with my ponies on my own land and have nobody to hack with on a regular basis and I've always preferred being on my own and hacked happily for 18 years on my beloved pony whose now retired.

I've recently sold a lovely horse but he was too big for me and a bit sharp so I didnt feel confident on him but he was an absolute star to hack on his own apart from the odd spook, so we bought a 15 year old pony which is now stuck in field as after 3 months of trying he refuses to leave the yard under saddle....no joy with the previous owners who blame my inability to ride properly on his behaviour.....I now have a nice big dog in the shape of a 13.2hh pony to take for long walks and a lovely expensive made to measure saddle gathering dust in my utility room !!

So yes its very important to me although I doubt at this stage I'll ever have the opportunity ride on my own again !!

 

[Clava]

May i ask what that schooling would be? Clava

Basically teaching it to hack of course.

 

[BillyBob-Sleigh]

I think a lot of it depends on the horses temperament rather than just schooling. My youngster will hack on his own and is absolutely fantastic in traffic, a JCB could pass and he wouldn't cause a fuss BUT he is extremely spooky, not just hacking but with life in general! I know what schooling he's had because I've brought him on but no amount of training will sort out his temperament, although I appreciate that in the majority of cases it is to blame.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

When I bought my cob 5 years ago I was told that he would hack alone but to honest he was a nervous wreck but I like to hack alone so have done so since having him. He now will hack either with or without company with no problem at all just had to keep doing it. I enjoy the peace and quiet of riding on my own.

 

[ihatework]

Being someone always short on time and needing to be able to ride at short notice then not hacking alone at all would be a deal breaker for me.

That said I don't need a horse that is perfect to hack alone. Happy to deal with mildly spooky/spinny etc, and could also just about manage something not good in traffic alone.

I worry about either the psycological make up of a horse, or the level of riding/training the horse has had if it is a complete non hacker, and whether this rubs off in a competition environment if a horse is truely that insecure that is does not hack with a decent rider on?

 

[dark_prince]

I'm not too bothered as I never hack on my own (mum would go mad and I like the company) but I would want the horse to be able to go front or back.

 

[mandwhy]

I would say very important unless I could afford a yard where there were loads of people (who I would like to hack with) and fancy facilities... Which I can't!

However if the horse has a good temperament I.e. is not obviously a spooky worrying type, I would be prepared to put in the practise and training if at a good price, however even in that case it helps to go out in company as well to back up the training and give confidence. That would most likely be for something young that just hasn't done it much otherwise I would think it had been tried and failed.

My new horse hacks alone fine but has not seen much traffic due to her rural location before, so I am doing some in hand until we have a saddle, and enjoying it too

 

[Black_Horse_White]

It's very important to me as I don't always have company, and I like going out on my own. I wouldn't buy a horse that is not confident having out alone.

 

[maxapple]

Essential - my friend and I rent our own little yard and I'm often up there on my own. I love hacking out after work on my own for a bit of down time.

I have 3 horses and all 3 hack out alone. I bought my 5 yr old when she was 4 and had never hacked alone - but within a week we were off on a little ride alone.

I'd never buy an older horse that wouldn't hack alone.

 

[Cortez]

All of ours HAVE to be able to work alone, it's part of their job. We don't hack on the roads, but are lucky enough to have 400 acres of parkland to use for a warm up, so hack on that. Why wouldn't a horse be able to go out on their own? Basic schooling.

 

[Hollywood]

IMO it's an important part of a horses education, as it gives variety to a horses work. I feel very sorry for horses that are just exercised in a menage - how boring for them and the rider too. My just backed 3 year old is hacking out on her own now for 20 mins to half an hour 3 times a week and a little schooling once a week. She taken it all in her stride and loves it.

 

[PapaFrita]

Its not terribly important to me but I would expect any horse to do it.

This. I don't hack out over here. If you saw the traffic you'd understand why.

 

[Irishbabygirl]

It would definitely be a deal breaker for me, I love hacking by myself - its the only time I get some peace and quiet!

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I love hacking alone and I wouldn't have a horse that was really difficult of dangerous to hack alone. I think part of the trouble these days is a lot of yards go virtually directly onto roads where if the horse plays up it is difficult to deal with it. You can also blame riders but what about those that breed and bring on youngsters are they not doing their job properly? imo it should be one of the first things a youngster learns not the last.

It's taken me ages to get my WB to hack confidently alone and moving to a yard with almost limitless off-road hacking was the turning point. He is still a little sticky going out of the yard and for two pins he'd go back - he is a spooky type and not that confident, very suspicious of anything new or different. I have a network of great rides up to 2 hours worth but if I go off those well known tracks he starts to revert back and it becomes a much harder ride with spooking and spinning if he sees something like prostrate fence posts I usually save those rides for calm warm days when I have plenty of stamina!

 

[zaminda]

I prefer to buy mine unbacked, and always ride out on my own from early on. I also school horses out of the issue, as i is an issue for many people. However, I have friends who always go out in company, so for them it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[casinosolo]

It's very important to me; as much as I love hacking in groups, sometimes 'just the two of us' time is lovely

Mine definitely prefers hacking in company; he's much less spooky and more forward going when out with others.

However, he is well schooled enough to go out alone and not too nappy about it, although does stop for more attempted 'rests' when he's on his own

 

[TheoryX1]

If a horse cannot hack alone, its a complete deal breaker for me. I bought my horse 8 years ago from a riding school as a bombproof hack. Wrong! He was institutionalised and when I took him out alone he used to spin and bolt for home. Its taken me a long time for him to trust me, but even now only Mini TX, myself and our YO can hack him alone. He is rock solid for us, and anyone else can hack him out in company, but only the three of us can do it alone with him.

He is 19 now and when he retires/goes to the rainbow bridge, my next horse will have to hack alone and be safe on the roads, it just wont be negotiable, as as far as I am concerned, hacking alone is one of life's pleasures.

 

[Echo24]

When looking at horses, one of the things I'd like them to do is hack alone and in company. But then I got worried perhaps I was looking for the impossible, (along with the other things I was looking for!) and thought maybe I need to compromise somewhere, given I'm not a confident hacker and generally go out in company anyway. However I'd hate to get better and more confident with my riding only to be stuck with a horse who I would never be able to enjoy a calm hack on by myself!

 

[popeyesno1fan]

Its not terribly important to me but I would expect any horse to do it.

I'm not being nasty now, but I honestly believe most problems come from the rider. All of my three will hack alone, or so I thought. But put the wrong rider on and there can be problems.

If the rider is not confident the horse picks up on it and either gets frightened, or in the case of mine, decides to take the pee.

So I dont think the horses have changed much from when I was young, but the riders seem to have.

Totally agree, the quietest of horses will act up when rider is nervous. I would expect my horse to hack out alone, as I prefer to hack out on my own, (my control issues), so it's a definite box that needs to be ticked. Although, I know friends that would never hack out alone, so it wouldnt be an issue for them. I do think If you intend to sell on, you'd have to have them hacking alone.

 

[NinjaPony]

It's important for me. I need my horse to be happy to go to shows alone, hack alone, work in the school alone.

 

[chels]

It is a deal breaker for me too, I mostly ride alone and I enjoy it! I'd rather one who was more sensible alone than in groups tbh

 

[Ali27]

When we bought my daughter's mare, she tried rearing, spinning and napping as owner's boyfriend rode her up road. We came back the next day and hacked her in company and she was fine as long as behind! We bought her and two years later, she now happily goes in front in company and hacks out alone! The most important factor was that she was good in traffic which she is! She still prefers hacking in company but great that she will go out on own now! It has taken a bit of work but wouldn't put me off buying!

 

[chestnut cob]

I expect my horses to hack alone, plain and simple. I love hacking in company but I do like to go out alone too because I can school (LY, transitions up and down the road etc). I absolutely expect my horses to be good on the road, mannerly in a field and to hack alone without a fuss or napping. I'm happy to work through any issues and/or insecurities and I don't beat them to make them go, but I do expect it. I do appreciate that there are some horses who simply don't / won't / can't hack alone but I would never buy one of those in the first place. I would take on something that is green about it and wouldn't entertain buying something that is dangerous to hack in the first place.

Hacking is IMHO invaluable for showing the world to a horse. Our hacking is fantastic with loads of off road and varied terrain so I can show my horse woods, a lake (with boats! That always causes a bit of a stir initially!!), farm animals and machinery, tracks, streams, everything. I think it's really good for their confidence. Also, I hunt so I need a horse who hacks alone in case I need to hack back to the box on my own part way through the day.

A horse who won't hack alone isn't an option for me.

 

[3BayGeldings]

It's interesting how pretty much everyone on here will only buy a horse who will hack alone, when 90% of the people I know in real life won't hack their horse alone as it's too spooky/nappy etc.

I'm lucky, my ex-racer is bombproof to hack alone. My old horse was a lot more spooky and nervy when alone, but he improved the more he did it.