How often do you hack your horses?

[lukeylou]

just wondering, as i can only hack at weekends in the winter, and sometimes not even then if the weathers bad! sometimes i feel pretty bad schooling him all the time....

 

[monkeybum13]

As often as possible. I hack on saturday and then sunday is either hacking/competition.
I am lucky enough that my mum hacks out 2/3 times a week before work so then I school on evenings with floodlights.
However if weather is really horrible I will school rather than hack. By really horrible I mean roads/paths too slippy or visibility is poor.

 

[AmyMay]

He's ridden out 5 days a week - regardless of the weather.

.

 

[Seahorse]

Once or twice a week.

 

[Marshmallow29]

I usually only go out once a week for a hack (well, usually it's my daughter riding as it's her pony and I walk with them). She doesn't get home until it's dark in winter and I am too busy at work, even though I work from home, to get up in the daylight in the week. Sometimes a friend takes pony out in the week though which is great. I do wish we could go out more. We were out several times a week when the nights were lighter.

 

[cellie]

4 times a week if possible,sometimes in good weather we hack to cool down after schooling so 5 / 6 times.

 

[JoJo_]

I really should hack out more. Once a week in winter and if the weather is that bad at the weekend sometimes I cant even do that.

 

[spotty_pony]

At the moment just at weekends because I work Monday - Friday and it's too dark to hack after work. In the summer, usually 3-4 times per week.

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Hacked 3-4 times in the winter and summer. Rode in THAT rain the other day and it wasn't too bad once I was out in it.. wouldn't do it if I had the choice though

In winter that may just be a 30 minute walk around the block in the weekdays, or a 1-2 hour walk/ trot / canter wherever I fancy

We have 2 floodlit schools but 50 liveries..

 

[_HP_]

As and when I feel like it.

I haven't ridden one of mine for a month. They live out so its no big deal if they don't get ridden.

 

[somethingorother]

Before the weather got icky and he came in 24/7 and decided he was going to be a plank at every opportunity it was twice a week. Now i've not hacked out for a couple of weeks, as i got fed up of having no one to hack out with and ending up skidding sideways down a steep road every time a big vehicle comes near us.

I miss it.
He goes out every weekend with his other sharer though as they always have someone to go out with

 

[algy666]

More than I school ... usually about 3/4 times a week

 

[emmanash]

about 3 times a week hacking out and then a lesson down the school once a week, trying to iron out a few creases ready for next year!

 

[Ziggy_]

I try to hack every other day... one day in the school lungeing/schooling or jumping then a hack the next day. Providing that the weather is OK, and by that I mean the roads are safe and visibility is good. We do have some off road hacking which I save for rainy days and trot/canter the whole way round, always fun!!

 

[NeedNewHorse]

Only at weekends due to the weather which is pants and I to feel horribly guilty. I do sometimes try and hack out in the morning before work but it's not very successful as I have to go alone and my mare is nappy and we don't get very far but that's another story!!
x

 

[chestnut cob]

In summer I try to hack 4 times a week but in winter it's only once or twice a week. Even if I take him for a lesson one of the weekend days, I try to at least get a 20 min hack after to cool off (whether lesson is at home or away).

I can't stand schooling every night in winter so he does go on the walker twice a week. I school probably twice (once over poles to do something more interesting), long rein once and work in hand once, plus one day off.

 

[Storminateacup]

In Spring, Summer and Autumn 4- 5 days a week, winter well thats a different matter! 2- 3 times down to 0 times by Dec/Jan/Feb because the weather so miserable.

 

[aimeejay]

Twice a week in winter

Too many times in summer

 

[bushbaby28]

I have the same problem as you- once, maybe twice a week if weathers ok and the rest of the time i school and feel mean!!

 

[freyaandrogue]

only at the weekend in winter, and thats if im not competing, which is quite often the case!! sometimes ill compete both days, which gives him a break from schooling. if one day he has the other day hacking, and if not competing then one day hack/one day school or both hack.
in summer i probably hack about three times a week, i like to hack and it is nice for them, but have to say i probably wouldn't hack as much as i try to if the horse was a bit easier to manage in the school, if he comes out stressed (doesnt take much) ill go for a hack just to chill him out, or sometimes ill go down the lane to warm up or cool down

 

[MegaBeast]

Happily as I'm still a student I can hack out pretty much as and when I want as not generally in every day 9-5 so hack out probably 3-4 times a week. Don't like hacking at weekends as feel the roads are busier and drivers less considerate.

Once I start my "proper job" in July I'll be reduced to hacking just on weekends when I would proabably be competing so will be reduced dramatically unless can negotiate flexi starts or finishes a couple of times a week (fingers crossed !)

 

[Jojo_Pea4]

I hack one weekend day maybe 2. But the other might be a lessons or competing. I do hack in all weather as long as not dangerous.

 

[JoBo]

About once a week. Would like to get out more but with hunting, lessons and competing, it’s fitting it all in.

 

[little_flea]

Once a week - not possible during the week due to work, and one day of the weekend is often a competition (if not, hack both days). Would really like to do more though as Maggie loves hacking. Most horses on our yard are competition horses and don't hack at all...

I don't love hacking but I think it is very important to the horse, especially now when our fields are flooded and they stay in a lot.

 

[soulfull]

once or twice a week usually

 

[Flame_]

Hardly ever at the moment. My horse is stupid on the roads and getting a decent babysitter for her is tricky so I've pretty much given up for the winter. It's not like she minds, she's much happier in her comfort zone of the school, its me that gets bored senseless.

We'll hopefully get back to doing plenty of farm rides and off road endurance in the summer.

 

[251libby]

Not enough - she really doesn't enjoy it, and I love it so bit of a shame, I probably only go for a proper hack once a month and it's nagging her all the way.
But, we go for a canter on the tracks once or twice a week and hack round the xc course once a week if it's not too wet.
So you could count that as hacking

 

[Hullabaloo]

This time of year I only manage once most weeks. I tend to have a lesson or go out competing one day at the weekend and try to hack the other.

 

[Shantih]

Every time I ride (which in winter is only once or twice a week), unless I'm boxing out to a lesson. In summer, I hack out 5 or 6 times a week.

 

[jesterfaerie]

Sadly he isn't in work right now but as he is kept at home with no facilities he was hacked at least 4 times per week in the winter when he is in work I am hoping he will hack to lessons and competitions.