How to not hack out with people without being rude?

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There are some lovely girls on the yard who always kind of feel sorry for me that I hack out on my own, but truth is I try to avoid it at all costs!

They take about an hour to amble round the block but I'm trying to get my horse fit for hunting and besides at least prefer to walk at reasonable horse speed..

Anyway at the mo just trying to avoid hacking at the same time but do you think I could just say i prefer to hack out alone or would that be rude?
 
Just say it's more to be beneficial for your horse as you need to be certain he'd go away on his own out on the hunting field, hacking to the meet, hacking back when needed etc. :)
 
Sar, why does that not surprise me lol. I dont think it would be rude at all. When I was on a livery yard I used to tell them if they didnt want to keep up to go off on their own as I was more than happy with mine and my horses company.
 
_daisy_ said:
Sar, why does that not surprise me lol. I dont think it would be rude at all. When I was on a livery yard I used to tell them if they didnt want to keep up to go off on their own as I was more than happy with mine and my horses company.
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My idea of a hack is a bit different to most other peoples I think! I do like hacking on my own though it's really nice not being around people just with the Badge! :)
 
If they like to amble, tell them you plan to spend the majority of the hack at a fast trot to get him fit fpr hunting. That should put them off - you don't necessarily have to do it :)
 
God, I feel your pain. I tend to go on my own but occasionally get 'nobbled' by the local mothers to take their children with me. I'm way to polite to say no. The last time was truly painful. A hack which takes 40mins (thanks to stubble fields) took an hour and forty. I had to stop every 40 secs to let the girl catch up (er, she's actually about 16) and had neckache from turning round. Then I saw her mum in the supermarket the next day "Oooh, Belinda (not her real name) absolutely loves coming out with you, really, must arrange another hack soon."
Yeah. Over my dead body. If mum's want their children to ride out, why don't they get a horse themselves?
 
Why dont you just tell the the truth... That you're trying to get your horse huting fit and so will be going at a fast pace? If they still want to join you, then they have to keep up, if not, there may come a time when you DO fancie a quiet hack with company, so maybe dont cut all strings?
 
Just be straight with them if their a nice bunch them surely they won't be offended, something like ''well I would love to normally but at the moment I'm taking him out on his own because I'm getting him fit for hunting so it means I'm doing a lot of varied work while I'm out so we like to go at our own pace''

....with a gritted smile on your face :D

I'm sure they'll understand.
 
We used to have DIY liveries like that, who were basically scared of their own horses and wanted company. Their horses spinning and messing used to drive my horse mad. Even my groom, who works when I'm away was driven mad by them ringing her to see what time she was riding. She does two hours aday, and ended up being there four hours due to the liveries! Then we loaned a pony out and ended escorting the child out all the time (parents just assumed, never even asked!). It was like running an unpaid ridiing school!

I much prefer hacking alone, as does my mare. Tell them thanks very much (you don't want to upset them) but your horse gets fussy in company and you school her on hacks etc..
 
i used to hack out on my own all the time and there would be the odd day where i missed having someone to ride with but after i moved to a new yard i had the yard 'creep' trying to get me on her side (i didn't know anyone so wasn't fussed about anything!) before the others 'took' me away leaving her with no friends again! anyway she kept coming out on hacks on her (so say) super safe pony and every 10 yards i'd have to stop and wait for her as she would be shouting for me to wait before i turned a corner or something!
in the end i just told her i can't keep doing it as it's actually upsetting my horse having to keep stopping and waiting and i needed to get him fit, she didn't like it but only cause she thought i'd 'gone to the other side'! lol

tell them straight and hopefully they won't be offended by it.
 
I am very aware of my horse being much slower than others - I try my best to keep up and its very tiring! Luckily a girl I ride out with doesn't mind, she will stop and wait and I will trot to catch up, although I do try and keep him walking out. Her horse is very spooky on its own.

I try not to rely on her as my only hacking buddy - she has helped me with my confidence no end - I went out by myself the other day and it was lovely to not have to worry about being too slow.

As for OP - I would say, you are getting him fit for hunting so it is going to be a lot of trotting and some fast work - that will put off anyone who doesn't want to do that sort of hack, without having to be rude.
 
I'm doing the same! Trying to get fit for hunting, and some people who want to hack with me just want to walk......

So I just tell them now I'm 'on a program!' to get her up to hunting fitness....

So they say 'oh.....nevermind then'...and look really sad like it's my fault....

I got past feeling guilty years ago! Too old and cynical now....:D

It's not being rude, it's the truth, we weren't put on this earth to purely help others, we have a right to live our own lives, and as long as it's not hurting anyone else, why should we bend over backwards?

Do I sound harsh? To some, maybe, but years of being walked over has made me put my own and my families priorities above everybody elses.

I don't go out me way to upset people, I just learnt to say No when I wanted to, and Yes to what I want....

:D
 
Just tell them the truth, and I bet they wont be at all offended.

People at my yard had no quarms about telling me why they didn't want my horse hacking out with them, and they'd often use colourful language too! I never got offended. I'm big enough to understand that my TB, who was often a bit 'sharp' was likely to make their horses feel more on edge, which isn't what the others wanted on a hack.
 
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