How much trotting cantering do you do on a hack?

[Connemara24]

Sorry second post in a row. Want to start cantering more on hacks so just wondering what you all do? I trotted for 9 minutes yesterday. He is quite fit and never really sweats when we are riding. Didn't yesterday anyway. Thanks

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Are you referring to riding in fields?
That’s a long time to trot on roads, concussion up the legs (IMO) I only trot for a few minutes on a hack if on the roads, but I trot and canter much more in fields.

Once fit enough, a nice controlled canter in a few fields is lovely ?

 

[Skib]

I think I have posted this before. For 29 years I hacked from a RS where the norm was to give hacking clients 3 chances of canter. Since I ride my share horse on the same sand tracks, I usually canter 3 times on the same circuit.
I am however puzzled by your trotting for 9 minutes. We ride a 1 hour circuit and the day I preferred not to canter, I discovered that I need to trot most of the way to get back on time.

 

[Connemara24]

Are you referring to riding in fields?
That’s a long time to trot on roads, concussion up the legs (IMO) I only trot for a few minutes on a hack if on the roads, but I trot and canter much more in fields.

Once fit enough, a nice controlled canter in a few fields is lovely ?

Thanks for reply. Nope not on roads a mud/grass track. Didn't go on roads once yesterday. Have amazing hacking don't have to go on roads at all if you don't want.

 

[Connemara24]

I think I have posted this before. For 29 years I hacked from a RS where the norm was to give hacking clients 3 chances of canter. Since I ride my share horse on the same sand tracks, I usually canter 3 times on the same circuit.
I am however puzzled by your trotting for 9 minutes. We ride a 1 hour circuit and the day I preferred not to canter, I discovered that I need to trot most of the way to get back on time.

OK great thank you. Sorry think I'm being dim why are you puzzled by my 9 minutes of trotting is that not alot?

 

[Hackback]

I've posted this before too, but the 6 week rehab plan that the vet gave me post suspensory medication ended on 'one and a half hours mainly trot and canter, 3 to 4 times a week'. Mind you it was a gradual build up over 6 weeks (week 1 was 20 minutes walk, 3-4 times a week).

 

[rara007]

My hacking is roadwork with only a few bridle and byways. We canter everywhere suitable but it’s not much! Maximum of 2km unless I go for a really long hack to get to longer tracks.

 

[scruffyponies]

I know I'll get shot for this, but our most extreme trotting hack would be taking out a mix of ridden and driven ponies at a driven horse pace (i.e. a constant modest working trot) around the local lanes for around 8 miles. There would be the occasional halt to allow vehicles to pass (we sometimes have to get 2 carts and 6 ridden ponies into a gateway), and about 3 hills which we always spring in canter.
This usually leads to complaints from the less fit riders.

 

[FlyingCircus]

I know I'll get shot for this, but our most extreme trotting hack would be taking out a mix of ridden and driven ponies at a driven horse pace (i.e. a constant modest working trot) around the local lanes for around 8 miles. There would be the occasional halt to allow vehicles to pass (we sometimes have to get 2 carts and 6 ridden ponies into a gateway), and about 3 hills which we always spring in canter.
This usually leads to complaints from the less fit riders.

I think I'd die ?


When I'm hacking (horses broken atm) I aim to trot and canter most of the 60-90 min ride with walk breaks in between. 9 mins of trot over an hr is not very long.

 

[Fieldlife]

I monitor my hacks with equilab and my typical before work hack is 1hr20 minutes. 55 minutes walking, 9 minutes trotting, 6.5 minutes cantering. That is 5 canters. 2.9 miles walking, 0.9 miles trotting and 1.3 miles cantering.

We do have a about 15 minutes of roadwork to get to the off road. It is uphill on way out / down hill on the way back.

Walking if done purposely is good for fittening too.

 

[AntiPuck]

I started using Equilab to see, as I'm trying to build my horse up slowly - in an hour hack the other day only 5 mins trotting, 1 min cantering (kept being interrupted by bloody dog walkers on the bridle paths!), and the rest walking. That is mostly uphill, though.

I think I'd have to do a lot of the faster work in interval style to be able to get more of it in, like hill intervals, for example, as there are only so many open spaces with good enough ground/few enough walkers to pick up speed.

 

[Connemara24]

Thanks everyone x

 

[spotty_pony]

Depends on lots of things - the horse, what work they have been doing, the ground conditions, the temperature to name a few!