How long do you normally hack for?

[xgemmax]

I would consider a short hack to be 20-30 mins and a long hack an hour plus. I don't really like going out for much longer than an hour unless it's nice weather in the summer, nothing worse than being freezing cold/wet and being so far from home lol! Definitely a fair weather rider when it comes to hacking!

 

[julie111]

At the moment 20/30 min short hack or walking inhand in the summer c. 1hr of just quiet walking, unfortunately my cob isn't allowed to do anymore!

 

[marmalade88]

how long do you normally hack for, and what would you consider to be a short or long hack?

The routes I know beside my yard (and I don't know many as I'm still getting over my hacking nerves), are about 1-1.5 hours, and that is what we would consider average.

A couple of weeks ago I went out with a friend, and was out for almost 3 hours, which my poor back complained about!

I agree that 1-1.5 hours is average. I wouldn't both tacking up if I was going to ride for less than 45 minutes. I'd lunge or do in hand work. If I was going to hack the minimum is an hour or I'd go in the school.

I tend to trot a lot and canter a bit I don't really hang around and my boy is very forward going so even in walk we don't dawdle. This is the main reason I hack on my own a lot. When I go for long ones in the summer it can be up to 4 hours.

 

[FFAQ]

Just thinking, do you all have an idea of the mileage you do when hacking out?
My usual 45min middle of winter route is 6 and a half miles. I tend to ride pretty briskly....

If i ride with a lady up the lane (once a month I escort her out) and we go for a hours walk with 1 trot, we do 2.5 miles!

Big difference in time/distance

Cor blimey! You must go at a lick!! I'm hanging my head in shame as my hacking generally consists of a quick trip round the village and takes about 30 minutes. In the winter though, there aren't any good hacks that don't involve a busy main road for us so I must admit that puts me off a bit. Thankfully, my horses are great in traffic, but unfortunately there are a lot of drivers who aren't great with horses!

 

[[69117]]

For me a short hack is 20 to 30 mins round the block, but that is kicking on and trotting the majority.

A 'normal' hack is between 1 and 1.5 hours. When I was a child I would be out all day with friends, taking a picnic and having a wonderful time. Equally I find that if I take my horse home to Gloucestershire I'm out for much longer. At home I have access to around 8000 acres of off-road hacking with no gates, whereas here in Hampshire that's more like 100. It's amazing how quickly 100 acres gets dull!