How often do you hack out?

I hack out as often as I can, which might only be twice in the winter but six times in the summer, and even twice in one day occasionally.

I do think it's good for my horse's sanity but so is any kind of work - schooling, lungeing, long reining, being led round the field, being desensitised to wheelie bins etc etc. His fieldmate could not care less about working - his usual response is "what, AGAIN?"

Don't beat yourself up OP and give yourself some relaxation time. I like hacking but it isn't the be all and end of. If you think your horse needs the work, you can probably achieve as much exercise on the lunge in 15 minutes as you can on an hour's steady hack.
 
6 times a week on my event horses during the winter after their end of season break. I don't have a school, so until the fields dry out I do some schooling during the hacks but not on every one as I like hacks to be their time to relax. Once I can get on the fields, I still try to get out at least twice a week when they can just chill out on a long rein, plus the 6 mile round hack to and from the gallops once a week.
 
I don't at all. We live in a country road that comes off of a really busy road with a mcdonalds, petrol station, busy roundabout etc literally 500 yards from our yard. The road is really busy although there is a little bridle path that cuts off the roundabout. If we go the other way out of the gate its almost all blind bends and they average about 60 MPH most of the time! My mare is super spooky and the others are ok in traffic but i wont risk it.
 
at least twice a week for an hour/1.5 hours
Occasionally we go for a longer hack on the weekend. Horse's main job is dressage, but the straight lines, loose reins and varied terrain are good for her :D
 
In winter once or twice a week depending on competitions. In summer 3-4 times a week again depending on competitions. I ride more in the school in the winter but, with mine, less is more in the school as he switches off to it if we do too much so I try to hack as much as possible in summer.
 
Currently teaching baby horse about the big world outside the paddock, which has had it's moments. But I try to alternate schooling and hacking days. I really enjoy riding out, and would hate to not be able to.
 
Usually 3-4 times a week, even if I school I will often do a short hack first as I find it loosens them up without any pressure. We are lucky enough to have great hacking, thankfully.
 
I ride both of my horses 4-5 times per week and we hack out nearly all of the time as we don't have an arena at my yard. I do hire a school from time to time to school my ISH but we do all of our fitness work out hacking. :)
 
2 of the work horses I hack twice a week. Don't really enjoy it, as it is the worst hacking you can think of! The other horses are along the same lines as me, and they don't venture out at all.
My own horse I hack all the time when she is in work, so upto 6 days in the summer months. We have good hacking there.
 
Once a week a proper hack, but we are allowed to ride in the farm fields too so I usually do at least one more hacking/schooling the big fields if that counts. Probably more in summer but I love to school too and usually lunge once when time limited and pole work or jumping if my niece is around. We are extremely lucky to have no road work and be on top of the south downs so its easy to ride outside of the school. I don't think I would if I had to do road work.
 
I don't remember the last day I didn't hack out! I seriously need a rest, but have two rides booked in tomorrow. Am kind of enjoying the popularity and requests to accompany people, but my arse feels like it belongs to someone else, the muscle is so pumped up! Actually contemplated tramadol for my back, earlier! 😮
 
Varies with shifts but I aim for 3-4 times a week hacking, 1 ridden schooling and one inhand work or lunging. If I go on a very long hack one day then I may swap one of the other hacks that week for a schooling session or extra day off
 
About once a week at the moment (worked by me 3 times a week at the moment, 5 times total). Our hacking isn't great so that's more than enough!
 
Try and aim for twice a week.

It's good to give them a change of scenery I think. The hacking is quite uninspiring though, all road work and through heavy (industrial estate) traffic. Luckily she's very good with all traffic. However she can only hack by herself - if anyone comes with us she turns into a churlish, brattish mare who refuses to move.
 
I walk all of mine off around the fields after schooling ground and weather permitting. And they all enjoy a good burn up the setaside at least once a week and a walk around the fields minus the schoolingonce a week. They're all dressage horses and only one jumps, so I like them to be able to switch their brains off and mooch about sometimes
 
I used to hack once a week in winter, and twice a week in summer. The hacking where we are isn't great (lots of roadwork) so I'd only hack for my horses sanity. I didn't enjoy it. If we had great off-road hacking I would've done more, and no doubt enjoyed it too.
 
14 times a week at the moment!! My horse is rehabbing from a ligament injury atm and since Dec we've been out twice a day for 40 mins!! It's killing me I'm very lucky he's a good boy as we have had to go out (offroad) in the pitch black all thru winter! If his scan is ok he'll be back in the field easter Sunday and we can hack a lovely 5 times a week :-D
 
I go hacking whenever I can, but because I really enjoy riding. If I wasn't enjoying the riding, I wouldn't pressure myself to ride and horse could stand in her field eating grass which is what she enjoys doing. During winter and restricted turnout, there is more pressure to go out hacking and I don't enjoy it nearly as much as when it's "free".
 
Loulou2002 said:
I don't at all. We live in a country road that comes off of a really busy road with a mcdonalds, petrol station, busy roundabout etc literally 500 yards from our yard. The road is really busy although there is a little bridle path that cuts off the roundabout. If we go the other way out of the gate its almost all blind bends and they average about 60 MPH most of the time! My mare is super spooky and the others are ok in traffic but i wont risk it.
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How do you exercise? It must be really difficult for you. I get so fed up with the b***** traffic these days - it spoils the country lanes round us.
 
I've not hacked out this year yet. Started a new share at a yard without much hacking and he's not 100% on the roads. My last share didn't have access to hacking either so I can count on one hand the number of hacks I've been on in the last five years! :(
 
Unfortunately I'm another who very rarely hacks out these days (not been out since last September) as the roads round us have just got so dangerous. I used to love hacking and would probably hack at least four times a week for up to three hours at a time.

When the fields are dry enough I'll go for a mooch around them and also school in them instead of the arena but with only a small acreage it only takes a couple of minutes to go round them. I used to worry that it wasn't good for the horses not to do more hacking but it doesn't seem cause them any issues.
 
shadeofshyness said:
I've not hacked out this year yet. Started a new share at a yard without much hacking and he's not 100% on the roads. My last share didn't have access to hacking either so I can count on one hand the number of hacks I've been on in the last five years! :(
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Come with me for a hack round the farm ride :)

Only 20-25 mins walk but still I nice stroll off road
 
shadeofshyness said:
I've not hacked out this year yet. Started a new share at a yard without much hacking and he's not 100% on the roads. My last share didn't have access to hacking either so I can count on one hand the number of hacks I've been on in the last five years! :(
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shadeofshyness said:
Will have to yes! :D I've got a lunge lesson this Saturday though, but maybe next weekend? Wonder if it'll be light enough to go after work soon...
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I'm going to try tonight so I'll let you know :)
 
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