In-hand hacking equipment

[Katie92]

Hi, I’m planning on taking my horse out for some in-hand hacks just to gain his confidence a little bit on some new routes - he’s well behaved out solo hacking but can be a little bit nervous if we go somewhere new or unfamiliar.

The route I’m planning involves about 5-10 mins of road work so I’ll be wearing hi vis & my hat (he is excellent on roads and in traffic, fortunately) but I believe for this reason legally I need to take him in a bridle rather than a headcollar. My question is, should I just be leading him with the reins over his head like I would around the yard, or do I need to attach him to a lead rope or lunge line via a lunge adapter/converter to give myself a little bit extra to hold onto?

I’m completely new to the idea of in-hand hacking so any advice is welcome!

 

[Sprogladite01]

When I take my girl for in hand hacks, she wears her bridle and I use a lunge line (over her poll). I just feel it gives me more of a chance to hold onto her if she takes off for whatever reason. I wear all my hi viz and I also put hi viz boots on her just in case we part ways. She's a very good girl but can't be too careful!

 

[JGC]

I prefer to have them on a long leadrope or lunge line on the bridle for leading out as I find you get a bit more length and a better grip. I also use a fluo/reflective walker rug.

 

[Jacksie]

Gloves! Makes such a difference in grip and avoiding rope burns if they do anything silly!

 

[expanding_horizon]

Gloves, hat, hi viz on you and horse, and yes reins twisted out of the way and a longer rope attached to the bit gives you more control if they do spook / spin.

 

[AmyMay]

And remember to put yourself on the right of the horse when you’re on the road.

 

[SEL]

I have a high viz walker on the horse (or bright rug) and clip leadrope to bridle. Tonnes of high viz on human

 

[PeterNatt]

Wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket so that other road users can see your hand signals more easily.
Also wear a Hat-Cam such as a Techalogic DC1 which films from fron and rear at the same time.. You can get a 7% discount if you use the code PWAS1 when ordering on-line..

 

[black and brown]

I had a cheek piece on my bridle snap whilst out long reining. Fortunately the horse was very sensible and didn't react. Ever since I've always popped a headcollar over the bridle as a safety measure to get me home!

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I’m doing this a lot with my new horse as still awaiting my saddler but we only have about 200m of no through road to do before we’re on bridleways.

I use a bridle and a 4m (13ft) rope which is clipped through the right bit ring and is threaded under the chin through the opposite bit ring.

I wear my riding hat, gloves and hi-viz tabard without fail. Today how I was not almost knocked completely over I do not know but he did a sudden massive spook and spun into me and for a few seconds it was pretty scary. Although I didn’t get knocked over I’m glad I had my hat on. This morning I briefly considered not wearing it as it can get quite hot walking in it. It was a good reminder of why I wear it.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi, I’m planning on taking my horse out for some in-hand hacks just to gain his confidence a little bit on some new routes - he’s well behaved out solo hacking but can be a little bit nervous if we go somewhere new or unfamiliar.

The route I’m planning involves about 5-10 mins of road work so I’ll be wearing hi vis & my hat (he is excellent on roads and in traffic, fortunately) but I believe for this reason legally I need to take him in a bridle rather than a headcollar. My question is, should I just be leading him with the reins over his head like I would around the yard, or do I need to attach him to a lead rope or lunge line via a lunge adapter/converter to give myself a little bit extra to hold onto?

I’m completely new to the idea of in-hand hacking so any advice is welcome!

Bridle, reins twisted with throat lash secure through them. Lunge rein attached to bridle
hi viz rug,
brushing boots prefer hi viz ones,
hi viz whip to keep cars away
a phone
if the first time a headcollar underneath for extra security and a lead rope coiled up and attached to roller
lead on the road side, ie off side

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

And remember to put yourself on the right of the horse when you’re on the road.

I have seen two riders lead wrong this week - one was on the pavement and horse on loose lead reins walking behind her in the traffic with huge tractor with trailer coming up behind her,


the other someone ride and leading with lead horse on the road side.

Accident waiting to happen.

 

[horsimous]

I’d remove the reins completely, use a lunge line and have the horse in bridle, side reins (not really tight), any usual boots roller & pad. Then gloves, Jod boots, hat &high vis for me and high vis for them. Oh and my phone.

 

[Caol Ila]

Gosh I was half arsed when I was doing in-hand hacking. Rope halter, dressage whip, hi-viz sheet on horse and hi-viz jacket on me. That was it.

Horse was not (and is not) bitted, so I guess there’s that.

 

[Landcruiser]

Gosh I was half arsed when I was doing in-hand hacking. Rope halter, dressage whip, hi-viz sheet on horse and hi-viz jacket on me. That was it.

Horse was not (and is not) bitted, so I guess there’s that.

That's what I use, with a 12 foot rope. Very happy with it - I don't believe there's a legal requirement to use a bridle - a rope halter gives far more control anyway.

 

[winnie]

As Landcruiser says, there is no legal requirement to use a bridle on the roads - I checked thoroughly when starting to walk my lot out in hand. All it says is that your horse must have suitable tack to give you adequate control. For me that is a rope halter and long rope, gives me much more control and easier to quickly position horse.

 

[Katie92]

Thank you all for the great suggestions, definitely some things I hadn’t thought of!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I like to use different colour hi viz on me to the horse, just in case the yellow isn’t picked up but the orange works better or vice versa.

Mim goes out in a quarter sheet, and either her rope halter or her micklem multiway set up bitless but with the cavesson ring which can be useful. I don’t tend to bit her if we are hacking in hand, unless that bridle happens to have the bit attached and then I’m lazy

She does a lot of in-hand work in her micklem; leg yield, half pass, shoulder in etc. I usually bit her for that.