How long before I can go on hacks?

[Muffin61]

I’m a mature novice rider (46), I’ve been riding on and off for about a year after getting the bug once my wife purchased her TB in May lat year. I have mainly been riding in the school and taking 1 to 1 lessons about once a week, but have been riding two different horses, both of which are kindly loaned to me, so I ride 2-3 times a week. I’m reasonably confident and have managed to stay on when the TB X spooked and the ID X I ride did a 180 on me (spooked because the horse I was next to spooked).

I’m OK in walk and trot and learning to canter. I wonder how long I have to wait until I can safely get out on hacks? I ask because I may start to get bored just going round the school.

 

[alicep]

welcome to the forum. can you go out in company with an experienced rider?? you could see how you get on going for a plod together -no fast work!!! or what i did for my friend who is a novice and came to ride my neddie, i took a bike and she rode. that way i was there armed with mobile should anything happen. i thinks its a case of when you feel comfortable and ready.

 

[dozzie]

I think you should learn to canter first. Just in case your horse gets spooked or silly when out on a hack. Unless you can be absolutely sure the horse will do nothing silly and will plod round sensibly in which case you could try it.

 

[Happytohack]

Welcome to the forum. If you can find something completely ploddy to ride, why not go out for an accompanied walk round the block? My husband is no rider, but he has a sit on one of our oldies and walks out with me occasionally. I think you will find hacking out much more interesting than being in the school constantly.

 

[Breezesbenefactor]

I'd be wanting to canter first and also maybe a fall or a spooking session...something out of the norm. Hacking I take it will be in company? I had to wait around 9 months before I was on a hack in a group. Couldn't understand the logic then but I do now

 

[Blizzard]

I actually learned to ride out on hacks, never had a lesson in the school for the first 6 yrs of riding

However I was on very safe horses at the time and luckily was cantering after a few lessons.

However, looking back, I wouldnt advise doing it this way!

You mention you have been on both horses when they have spooked, well out hacking, you can expect that to happen quite a lot.

And there is a big difference to sitting to a spook in the school and out on the roads, for one there is the traffic, or just other walkers, and the risk of the horse getting loose if you were to fall off.

I must say though, if you ahve been riding for a year, having lessons and riding 2-3 times a week, I dont really understand why you havent been taught canter yet?! No wonder you are getting bored!

 

[snurse]

Go when you feel confident enough. Don't go alone. Take an experienced horse/rider with you. Take a mobile phone. Also, if you can, avoid heavy traffic, or any traffic at all if you're lucky enough to have country lanes. THere's something very unnerving about a lorry swishing past, and once you're nervous, the horse will be. On the other hand, our hackiing is open moorland, and some horses see this as very exciting! Not trying to put you off. Just be careful, relax, and enjoy.

 

[Muffin61]

Many thanks for the reply, I forgot to mention I am going on a riding holiday in a couple of weeks up in Durham and will be doing a mixture of school and hacks. After all the feedback and advise I feel confident to give it a go but will be in company. Thanks again.