How often do you hack out?

[MissJessica]

I aim to hack out twice a week at weekends when I am not working in the 8-6.
I put myself under a lot of pressure to do this and tell myself it is for my horses sanity, however wondering whether the pressure is relevant?
How often do you hack out?

 

[amandaco2]

3 to 4x week.

 

[kinnygirl1]

3 or 4 times a week atm BUT that's because I am stabled somewhere with off road hacking. When I stabled at a yard you had to go out on roads to hack I hacked maybe once a month if that! Hate riding in traffic so couldn't enjoy it. No sense in putting pressure on yourself...just enjoy what you do.

 

[Jo1987]

3 or 4 times a week - it's our main occupation! Use the school every 10 days or so.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I aim to hack out twice a week at weekends when I am not working in the 8-6.
I put myself under a lot of pressure to do this and tell myself it is for my horses sanity, however wondering whether the pressure is relevant?
How often do you hack out?

NONE horse off work for a month so far and only in walk work prior for a year and a half and been off work much of that year and a half. I am fed up with being grounded indefinitely

 

[Kitei]

Aiming for once or twice a week at current yard, so half of our sessions are hacks. Keeps him sane and he works better in the school for a few days after a hack.

 

[chestnut cob]

Depends what I've got on but at the moment I hack once and sharer hacks him twice then he schools on two days and maybe gets a jump on a 6th or 2 days off.

 

[Equi]

As of today, once! lol

I plan to start going on the road a lot more, but never made the leap. Today i did and was impressed with my mare so will do it again.

 

[amandaco2]

I use a hack to warm up and cool off too. Schooling usually 3 to 5x week.

 

[MissJessica]

I am having issues spinning at cars currently, so envious of your off road hacking Kinnygirl1!
My horse is too clever for his own good and seems to have learnt a new evasion tactic.
What my horse doesn't realise is that he is spinning into their pathway, narrowly avoiding their bonnets, so we aren't hacking UFN!
Shame because we love hacking, just wanted to compare our habits to others.

PS. Well done Equi

 

[Ella19]

Once a week or once every two weeks. Our hacking isn't great. I work Saturdays, Sundays we do something as a yard like xc, grid work, so that only leaves Thursday where I have only myself and my horse for company.

 

[Lintel]

I hack out most of the time- I get awful bored schooling! We have a lesson once a week and hack out the other 4-5 days but if I'm feeling really adventurous I'll have a wee school or a jump once! hehe!

 

[orionstar]

At least once a week. I'm only managing the weekends at the moment and one of those days is a hack regardless. Roll on the clock change, and I'll be out 3 or 4 times a week, with another couple of schooling days in the arena!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I have two horses and hack out on both of them with a friend who rides one, at weekends.

During the week, if I'm hacking, I would be going solo. So slightly more of a challenge as although both horses WILL go solo reasonably happily, they are both totally different rides when ridden on their own, to the way they are hacking out together. Both are far more spooky for one thing.

I did try the lead-one, ride-one, but ran into a problem when we encountered a mega-spook in the village. The horse I was riding decided to spin and turn, taking mare who I was leading, with him. Not terribly helpful when you've got the bus coming in one direction and cyclist-up-your-@rse in the other So that little project was discontinued PDQ - a huge pity as it was saving me a huge amount of time and I had thought that both horses going out together would be fine (they are fieldmates) - Nope!

During this last winter I have to admit that I've slobbed a bit and chucked them out in the field during the week; and only ridden at weekends.

I've only just got myself motivated enough to hack out solo during the week again; took them both out (once each) last week as the weather was so gorgeous; didn't get out this week as work commitments.

Really really need a riding companion for midweek; the friend I ride with at weekends unfortunately isn't free during the week.

 

[vicky86]

Probably about once a week on average. Our hacking is good once you get to it but have to go on a busy road for about half a mile to reach the bridle paths. All the horses are good in the traffic but are likely to freak at a dog behind a hedge etc which is fine on a quiet road or path but not so fun with traffic around so we don't tend to ride alone as all are fairly hot competition types and its just not worth the risk.
I don't really feel bad that they don't hack more. They all get turned out everyday in pairs or small groups, I keep their schooling varied with pole work, jumping, lunging etc, also over the spring/summer I take them round the fields for a good canter. I don't put myself under pressure if I don't manage to get out (the weeks I can't coordinate with someone else which is unusual but with 3 to ride sometimes one wont get out), they are happy in their work and would rather them and me stay safe as I didn't buy them for hacking really.

 

[PeterNatt]

Every day in the late Spring/Summer.

 

[el_Snowflakes]

Only at the weekends. When the evenings are lighter I will probably hack a few times a week. Because I'm busy this weekend I've only hacked out once. However last weekend I went for a long-ish hack on the Saturday & a beach gallop in the sunday

 

[Jazzy B]

4/5 times a week - only go in school 1/2 a week sometimes 0 a week as we both hate it, but sometimes needs must... Prefer to school whilst out hacking.

 

[Gloi]

Every day that the weather is not awful.

 

[Vodkagirly]

4-6 times a wee. I do most schooling on hacks and only use a school for lessons. I find hacking the best way to keep fit and attentive. We have great hacking.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

3-4 in winter, 4-5 in summer. I'm very lucky to have fab hacking on my doorstep but job prevents it in the winter due to light and I'm past riding in all weathers.

Have a 20yr old recovering from an injury/ operation and not sure if will be going back to any schooling or competing although vet thinks he can after scan last Friday.

 

[gingernut81]

Nowhere near enough! I am lucky if I get twice a month at the moment but I do try and get out once a week. This purely down to child care. I am hoping once I move yards I can do some schooling in the field as can't do anything at present yard.

 

[Kat]

In winter both weekend days providing we aren't hunting. In summer more as I can hack after work once it is light until 8pm.

 

[dibbin]

At the moment, once a week. It's still too dark when I get in from work to go out in the evening and I have a lesson on a Saturday morning, so we usually hack out on a Sunday. I should be able to do some more once it starts getting lighter at night though.

 

[EquiEquestrian556]

In the winter, once or twice at weekends, also providing we aren't hunting or going SJing.
In the summer we hack out a lot, 5 or 6 times a week.

 

[biggingerpony]

We have amazing hacking so probably twice a week during the winter and hopefully 4 times a week in the summer!

 

[Ponycarrots]

Purposefully once or twice but I have to hack at least 40 mins walk or 25 mins trot to the nearest arena so more like 4 or 5 times a week!

 

[Sologirl]

As often as time/weather allows! I love hacking and infinitely prefer it to schooling Need to get more flatwork/jumping in but the lure of a peaceful amble or a stubble gallop is just too strong LOL

 

[xgemmax]

Depends on the weather and daylight hours! Usually 1-3 times a week but in winter even less as I don't like riding in the rain

 

[Embo]

Never - still building up the courage to go out.

Sharer hacks him on a Saturday and do I lend him to friends who need an extra horse to go out on, so the HORSE hacks - but I don't haha!

It's a stupid fear, I know he is good as others have taken him out. How I plan to start XC schooling, I don't know!