i just hack

J

jellyshake

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 May 2008
Messages
257
Location
wiltshire
Visit site
why do us happy hackers get made to feel inferior for 'just' hacking, like we're somehow not serious riders, we just play at ponies like kids do
mad.gif

I've hacked out this morning and encountered 2 tractors and trailers, a bus, a huge new shiny road sign, 2 trials bikes and umpteen cars and vans plus a multitude or horse eating monsters like railings, newly dug ditch, dumped freezer and 2 alpacas! my girl was a bloody star and led her not so confident companian past the extremely scary tractors, and waited politely while me and friend cooed at some cute youngsters in a field lol
wink.gif

But according to some thats not real riding and my horse is really not worth much at all seeing as she's just a hack, oh and of course i'm obviously not as dedicated to my horse because we don't compete
shocked.gif

How many others out there are made to feel inferior by folks who compete? the same folks who can't or won't hack out because their horse doesn't like it but think they are better because they can ride pretty patterns in the safety of a school
tongue.gif
 
I just 'hack' and it can be the most gruelling experience ever and I love it
cool.gif
smile.gif


Your horse has to have a bit of every discipline in him, as everything is encountered, and when you get a ’goodun’ like I have then the bond and companionship, can never be matched
smile.gif


I have never felt inferior, in actual fact when my old boy and I used to regularly ride out for hours and hours and go on holiday together, many people were fascinated and would even ask for routes
smile.gif


PS ... Next time you feel 'infereror' ask them how they cope with gates and obstacles ..... as I bet you would beat them hands down
shocked.gif
shocked.gif
wink.gif
 
Bravo !

I have one of each, a girlie that loves to hack, and my younger horse for competing.

Any horse can take you around a show ring, fewer horses like my old girl and by the sounds of things look after their rider on the roads! In my eyes my old girl is priceless due to the trust I have in her. We used to go out for hours and have loads of fun.

But im afraid its just sterotyping.
 
I know exactly what you mean,i had a argument last week with one of the other liveries because i have stopped riding at the moment due to loosing my confidence,i have 2 sharers and he is ridden 5 days a week and going to a big show tomorrow,i am happy being groom and owner even better when he wins his class,but she was saying that i wasnt a proper horse owner because i didnt ride anymore,i am 50 years old have been around horses all my life,she was 21 years old
confused.gif
 
Read the article in this month's Your Horse. I "just" hack. You need nerves of steel to hack. I used to feel I was just a wee happy hacker with no skill. But its the opposite. Anyone can go round and round a sand school but not everyone can take their horse out for miles over the countryside.My laminitic prone darling is such a good hacker! Not today though, 3 shoes on, 1 shoe off! Eaglestone, he was a bit footy on the stones, suppose that's normal since he lost a shoe overnight!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Eaglestone, he was a bit footy on the stones, suppose that's normal since he lost a shoe overnight!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hiya ... I would expect the loss of the shoe is the problem, even more so if it is a fore ..... don't panic yet, unless you have other suspicions .... keep a 'vigilant' eye on him ... my test is always turning on a hard surface, as that is usually one of the first signs, especially when their DP's are up due to heat and rushing around
frown.gif
 

Maybe it's because whereas you require lessons skill and practice for specialising in jumping or dressage for example, in reality pretty much anyone but a beginner rider can jump on and go on a hack on a suitable horse can't they? But then again anyone other than a beginner can do a prelim test or clear round. I knew one woman that never had a lesson in her life and hacked everywhere on a bombproof mount and I myself as a very novice rider used to do prelim dressage and clear rounds.

There's a lot to face out hacking, it's not easy at times dependent on what you're riding..personally I do feel it's certainly a skill in its self and helps a rider gain experience. Be it hacking or specialising, each deserves equal credit!
 
well i used to mainly hack and school competed when i could afford too but tbh jay is harder on a hack than in a comp enviroment anyway all it takes is for a new flower to pop up and its pandamoniam.
 
Hacking is the best bit about riding! Then again I used to get similar for being an adult on a pony.

It takes more skill and braver to hack than make pretty patterns in a school. Anyway Shelle can do it
wink.gif
just because you choose to enjoy YOUR horse the way YOU enjoy riding doesn't make you more or less of a rider than anyone else. I like to compete (despite looking like I'm going to puke before I go into the ring
blush.gif
) but I like hacking even more and wouldn't chose competing over hacking. Nothing beats plodding about in the sunshine with a neddy you trust.
 
To add: I thank god everytime I return from a hack alive - Tia's forward going and always looking out for danger! Staying in the manege is sooo much easier lol. I do admire riders with the confidence to hack, I've never enjoyed it.
 
lol netty, shellee is now multifunctional, she can compete and hack
shocked.gif
mind you she didn't think much of hacking when i got her, everything was out to get her but now we just laugh at those evil purple flowers, but we still mightily respect the yellow JCB monster
wink.gif


I don't have a problem with people who want to compete BTW but i just wish they wouldn't look at me and shellee like we're second rate,
 
Don't paint us all with the same brush!

We compete. We're quite capable of opening and closing gates, yes we make 'pretty patterns in the saftey of the school' but then as we compete our horses we need to make the pretty patterns. and we dont look at 'happy hackers' as though they're second rate.

*pootles back to the corner*
 
It's ok you and shelle could probably have 'em in a fight anyway
wink.gif
tongue.gif


In all seriousness...not everyone does it....but some do and I've been on the brunt end of it too and it's irratating and frustrating.
 
I have to say that I know alot of 'happy hackers' who have alot more balls than people who are too scared to ride their dressage superstar off the yard. Always makes me giggle.!

I'm essentially a happy hacker although i've was doing quite a bit with Oscar until his accident - hopefully be back up and running for winter SJ and a spot of hunting though
 
Heyya. I compete - a lot. But my horse also accompanies out the young three year olds on their first hack, at 7. He is nanny to green horses/riders, is an absolute saint in all traffic... Lorries, motorbikes, tractors, planes, combines. It just depends what you want to do with your horse.
 
[ QUOTE ]

It takes more skill and braver to hack than make pretty patterns in a school.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm afraid I disagree here. Hacking AND schooling have equal merit depending on what you want from your horse-riding.

I know hackers can get a hard time but so do people who don't hack their competition horses, which you have just proved.

Horses for courses and all that.
 
There is a difference though between people who dont hack because they dont want to, and people who just school because they are scared to hack out. As long as the horse/pony is happy and doing what you want it shouldnt matter. I do hate people who criticise what others do when they arent perfect themselves
mad.gif
 
Second the above post. The majority of those who compete also hack, and those that dont often dont want to. For those that are scared to hack this is a diff matter... but surely these people wouldnt trust their horse enough to compete. Dont put us all in one box... you hate being judged, and so do we.
 
[ QUOTE ]
There is a difference though between people who dont hack because they dont want to, and people who just school because they are scared to hack out. As long as the horse/pony is happy and doing what you want it shouldnt matter. I do hate people who criticise what others do when they arent perfect themselves
mad.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

erm, sorry but I wasn't criticising you - just saying that if you are going to get upset about people calling you just a hacker then you cannot say that people who don't hack are not good riders. I understand that hackers can be made to feel inferior but so can people who don't.

If any of you would like to come and hack my SJ mare then please feel free (if you have insurance). I will pass, if you don't mind. Doesn't mean I can't ride though.
frown.gif


ETA - I am not scared of hacking this mare btw, it is just NOT an experience that she or I enjoy together.
 
Haha Arwen! These competition horses can be a handful! It's just that they have a differnet job to a happy hacker... it doesnt mean we are better, or worse riders. You cant lead my friends sjer up the road from his field without him running away from the traffic!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Haha Arwen! These competition horses can be a handful! It's just that they have a differnet job to a happy hacker... it doesnt mean we are better, or worse riders. You cant lead my friends sjer up the road from his field without him running away from the traffic!

[/ QUOTE ]

exactly.
tongue.gif

As I said before, I do think hackers get a hard time. Doesn't mean they have the right to say that those of us who don't are scared, stuck up or incompetent.
blush.gif
 
I think i will sit on the fence for this one. People all ride for different reasons, they all get there 'buzz' from different things. But I think you usually find that if you want to go out and compete you go ot looking for the right horse that you feel can take you all the way, same as if you want to 'just' hack you wouldn't (i don't feel) go out and buy an event horse. I think to be honest as long as both horse and rider are happy then why criticize?
Everyone is capable of making there own choices, I for one would never judge 'just' a hacker or an eventer - hands up to you both! I think we should all be proud of what we do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top