Is 10 miles there and 10 miles back, too far to hack to a show?

sidesaddlegirl

sidesaddlegirl

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I don't drive, have no access to a trailer, don't have a 4x4 anyhow for my OH to drive or a lorry and always get let down by people who promise lifts and then change their mind afterwards.

There is a local show that starts in May to September that I would like to go to along with my "stable girl" and her pony but it's 10 miles away and 10 miles back. I looked on Google maps and it would take us 3 1/2 hours to get there at a walking pace and the same coming back (we'd have to leave out at about 5:45 am to get to the show which starts at 9:30).

I know the way there and it's country roads but they are A roads. Needless to say, we'd be hi-vized up to the eyeballs and the shows are always on a Sunday so hopefully not that much traffic about. My OH would meet us there with water for the neds, stuff for us to drink, mounting block, grooming stuff, a change of clothes for us for when we rode back home so we don't have to ride back in our show clothes.

I'd be riding side saddle at the show but I would ride there and back in my astride saddle to save Hattie's back so at least I could rise to the trot to get there a bit quicker!! I'd change into my side saddle which my OH would bring, at the show.

We wouldn't be entering any show jumping classes, only flat classes like inhand showing, riding horse, etc. Looking at the schedules from last year, most of the ones we'd want to do are in the morning anyhow.

Thank it's doable?
 
IMHO - yes, its too much.
Sorry, but unless both your animals are fit enough for 7 hours walking - and then prob standing in the ring for another 1&half hours (allowing for 3 classes & only 30 mins per class being in the ring) and then some standing about too, I really wouldn't consider going that far.

Mine have been allowed in the past to hack for up to an hour to a local event - usually about 4 miles tops each way - and then no more than 2 classes or a 1hour PC rally session.

Mind you, others may have differing opinions, but you did ask.........and got mine :)
 
As long as you get the horses and yourselves fit enough WHY NOT !!

People used to hack 20 miles to the hunt then hack back (I know my friends did it)

My daughter and her friend used to hack a 12 mile round trip to a show

I think nowadays our horses often don't do anywhere near the work they are capable of


Also in times gone by a horse would work the farm all week, do a days hunting at the weekend then hack 10 miles to the pub and back
 
I wouldn't want to hack that far TBH I think it would be to long a day for them. Could you not hire a trailer / Lorry for the day?
 
Your post had triggered a few memories! :D When I first got into horses in the 1970s, I had no trailer and had to hack to shows (jumping). So, I have done the ten mile there and ten mile back trek. I think the record was twelve each way. The journey back was usually made easier by the fact that I was carrying a bagful of trophies. ;) The most memorable return journey was during a thunderstorm and it was getting dark. It was not my most favourite time in the saddle, I can tell you. I'm afraid I couldn't do it now, far too stiff and the roads are so much more dangerous. It is 'doable'. Whatever your decision, good luck!
 
If your horse is fit, then I don't see why you shouldn't give it a go. You could probably do a bit of trotting and do it a bit faster tbh. Do it once, only enter 2 classes and see how you go :)

We used to hack 3 miles there and back to hunter trials on ponies, do two classes (each round must have been about 1.5 miles or so?) and hack home, not quite as far as you though :)
 
A few random thoughts:

I'm no woss when it comes to hacking places and 20 miles in a day is doable. However, I'm not sure about most of it being on A roads. Whilst we do trot on roads, I wouldn't do mile after mile. Is any of it off road or on verges, to give their legs a rest. Having said that, you would have to be sure of the footing - rabbit holes, drains etc if using the verge.

At a leisurely pace we generally average 4 miles an hour, so 2 1/2 hours should be sufficient to get you there.

You would also need to make sure your horse is fit enough, building up gradually to those sorts of distances.

Doesn't sound as if the show itself is hard work, so they will be 'resting' whilst they are there, ready for the return trip.

Perhaps as a 'one off', not necessarily every week.

Not a huge 'yes' from me, but not a 'no' either. Interested to hear what others think.
 
You have triggered a few memories for me to :D

In the first few years of having Chance i had to hack to ALL my shows, i never had transport, neither could i share lifts etc and i couldnt afford a transporter. Looking back i prob did too much with him as he was only young but he was fit and it hasnt done him any harm.

It would depend on how much work you planned to do at the show. I eventually started riding to my local EC, hiring a stable overnight for him to rest and then riding back the next day. If this was an option for you as well then it maybe something to consider ;)
 
As long as your horses are fit there is no reason why not especially if you are taking it easy, if you think about how much more energy a horse would expend doing a long days hunting for instance.
We are in the borders and the Common ridings that go on over the summer take this many hours and some longer at a faster pace.
Just please make sure the horses are fit enough otherwise it wouldnt be fair so lots of fittening work it was common in my parents younger days for people to hack to the hunt stay all day then hack home horses were very fit of course.
 
So long as everyone involved is fit enough to do the distance I see no problem at all :)

I have no transport & hack to local shows, but farthest I will do is about 4 miles...just because showing isn't my main discipline anymore I'm not that fussed on going farther. Unfortunately BD venues are much farther than local shows so have to hire for those occasions!
 
Both horses are fit and pretty much "bomb proof" on the roads (as much as any horse can be) and we wouldn't be trotting all the way there (just short stretches where we could see no traffic). I know the roads and there are grass verges all the way there to walk on too.

We often hack for 2-3 hours (walk/trot/canter) in the summer and Hattie and I are fine with it too, infact that bl**dy horse still gets strong at the end of it!!

LOL, we'd only be entering 2-3 classes anyways and at £5.00 a class, hiring a lorry for £300 isn't really worth it! Even if I did hire a trailer, I don't have anything to tow it with. There are only 4 shoes, May, June, July and September.

That is a good idea about hiring a stable but there isn't anything along the way besides cow farms, veg farms and a paint ball place :(
 
It's not so much hackng there, but the hacking back!! I used to walk wth my daughter to the local show which was about 3 or 4 miles and i certainly wouldn't want to hack ay further than the 3/4 miles it took to get back!! Shows always seem to go on for much longer than you expect
 
Hmm, although we used to hack a fair way to shows on, really, not very fit ponies, it wasn't as far as 10 miles each way. I don't think I would do it to be honest as I actually think you'll be shattered as will the horses - it'll make it a very looong day!!!

Have you considered saving up a bit and hiring a 3.5T lorry self drive or something? They are usually about £90 for a day and you then have a lot more freedom. Either that or is there the possibility of maybe paying for a stable or paddock for a day somewhere nearer to the event so you ride over the day before, leave the horses to overnight at the yard and then go to the show the next day and ride home? More feasible maybe then doing the whole thing in one day?
 
Perfectly OK, as long as horses are fit and have a supply of water at the show. I think nowadays we molly coddle horses too much. We as kids used to hack miles to go hunting, hunt all day then hack home. But, horses were hard fit and we never had any trouble with them spooking or messing about, they got on did the job, worked hard and fed hard. So hack to the show and enjoy!!!!
 
I would go for it. We used to hack to all our shows as kids, jump and gymkana all day then hack back. Never did our ponies any harm.

Years ago most people hacked and all the ponies were tied up in a row. You never see that now as we are all spoilt with the luxury of transport.

It used to part of the fun hacking there anyway!! Good luck.
 
hi there, I agree with people who have posted above that it is doable, as long as the horses are fit enough. However, have you considered renting a stable in the vicinity of the show, so you could hack one way on Sat, let the horses stay over night near the show, and hack back the following day after the show?
 
There isn't anywhere near the show for us to stay though and there isn't anyplace for us to rent a lorry near us either (the closest one is near Peterborough). This is the problem I have as there isn't anything convenient near us :(

It's so frustrating as I school and school and never get to go anywhere to "show off". All the really local shows have stopped around me and the one down the lane, doesn't do anything in the summer.
 
A 20 mile round trip with a show in-between is fair old hack to be fair! But, as long as you're sure both horses are fit and have no soundness problems just start your fittening work and see how it goes. I would try though to make sure that you have an arrangement with someone with transport available should you need it in an emergency. After all 9 1/2 miles is a very long way to lead a lame horse;)

I used to hack regularly to shows and hunts but it wasn't all on roadsides and never did more than 5-6 miles away.
Is there any way that you could arrange a lift home? £300 does seem an astronomical amount to pay though, surely there is something available for less than that:confused:

Good luck, so sad that you have to go that far afield to have a nice day out.
 
Every weekend in the 1970's I would ride and lead another to shows and some were 10 miles distant. Both horses would then jump in a couple of classes and I would reverse the ride and lead and go home. It can be done.
 
I would approach the challenge as an exercise in long distance riding. Put yourself and your horse on a progressive training schedule to build up stamina. Make sure your tack fits perfectly at all times as you can get away with slight imperfections in fit for hacking and showing but not for really long rides. If you get yourselves and the horses fit for 25-30 mile set speed rides you will be fine. There are plenty of books and websites on endurance riding to pick up tips from. If you trot on tarmac keep to a slow balanced trot to minimise concussion and build up the amount of trotting very gradually. It is quite feasible but will require thorough fittening work over several weeks to ensure enough stamina.
 
Not if there are major fast roads that you don't know involved..
And you would need to imo be doing a 20mile hack at least once a week before hand for a couple of weeks, and a couple of ten mile hacks in order to be fit enough to even contemplate it..
 
SusieT said:
Not if there are major fast roads that you don't know involved..
And you would need to imo be doing a 20mile hack at least once a week before hand for a couple of weeks, and a couple of ten mile hacks in order to be fit enough to even contemplate it..
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SS has already mentioned that there are no bad roads. I really think people have lost touch with the amount of work a horse is able to do, thats why there are so many posts on this forum from owners that are terrified to hack out their horses.
 
sidesaddlegirl said:
There isn't anywhere near the show for us to stay though and there isn't anyplace for us to rent a lorry near us either (the closest one is near Peterborough). This is the problem I have as there isn't anything convenient near us :(

It's so frustrating as I school and school and never get to go anywhere to "show off". All the really local shows have stopped around me and the one down the lane, doesn't do anything in the summer.
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Why don't you ask on here if anyone lives within a mile or 2 of where the show is and could you overnight your ponies with them?

Other than that I think it is doable esp if your horses are fittened up for that level of work. My daughter hunts all day and goodness knows how many miles they cover (must borrow a gps one day!)

Hope you get there and enjoy yourselves and win some cups!
 
I rode to a show 7 miles away in the summer, manageable distance but wouldn't do it again - scary traffic!!!

10 miles should really not take you 3 1/2 hours!! I person could walk it in less than that!
 
If your horse is fit enough I really don't see a problem, particularly if your just doing showing type classes anyway, at the weekends even now I'm doing about 18 miles a day easily, and my horse is by no means as fit as he will be come summer time...

At the end of the day, not even a century ago people were using horses to get from A to B and they were going much further than just 20 miles! The only difference now is the amount of other traffic on the road, and you have already said the traffic shouldn't be a problem for you - so go for it I say! :)
 
I have done it a time or two in the past. The main problem I found was the lack of somewhere to tie the horses up, and a safe place for the tack to live when not on the horse.
 
planete said:
I would approach the challenge as an exercise in long distance riding. Put yourself and your horse on a progressive training schedule to build up stamina. Make sure your tack fits perfectly at all times as you can get away with slight imperfections in fit for hacking and showing but not for really long rides. If you get yourselves and the horses fit for 25-30 mile set speed rides you will be fine. There are plenty of books and websites on endurance riding to pick up tips from. If you trot on tarmac keep to a slow balanced trot to minimise concussion and build up the amount of trotting very gradually. It is quite feasible but will require thorough fittening work over several weeks to ensure enough stamina.
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Oh for gods sake - a bit OTT me thinks!!! She's only talking about walking there and sounds like her horse will be fit enough.

Another point OP - make sure you get your OH or whatever to take a haynet, will be a long time for them to go with no grub.
 
I don't think it's a problem, but then I would routinely take my horse for 3-4 hour hacks last summer. We were doing 50+ miles a week, in addition to our usual schooling most days :)

Of course your horse would have to be fit enough - and why not take this as an opportunity to do some Endurance riding since you'll have done the work already?!
 
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