Is it ok to 'just' be a happy hacker?

Foxy girl said:
I'm struggling a bit with what I want to do with my horse versus what those I ride with or know do with their horses. I have young children and a job and riding is my down time - I get very stressed travelling my horse and enjoy 'just' hacking out locally, having the odd lesson and going to our local show once a year. I've just bought a pony for my kids to ride out on and my aim is to be able to ride with them. I suppose my question is - is that enough? Yes :) If that's what you like to do, then that's just fineMy friends are off doing fun rides and shows and stuff and although I like the sound of it and am slightly envious, I am also more than happy just doing what I'm doing.

Any other people out here who are 'just' happy hackers?
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Yes, me.
 
I find a lot of people dont like hacking as it is more scarey than a school.
I don't like the hacking in my area, its all roads and no fun. But I am in enforced hacking due to pony arthritis, and I'm more than a little jealous of those who are happy hacking like I used to be. I love schooling.g and dressage, but somewhere along the way hacking became about keeping sound and not fun. Partly due to the ever busying roads.
I need to get in touch with my inner happy hacker. Please, pass on your secrets!
 
Of course it is!!!

A horse could be described as a vehicle or a pet. Or both. Just think about the vehicle bit: if you can drive it doesn't mean you are going to be doing rally driving or Grand Prix, but if you CAN drive, that's more than some people can achieve. A dog is mainly a pet, but some do marvellous things like Crufts or agility, or sheepdog trials, and some walk their dogs daily. Some amount of training goes into each. Some people wouldn't know how to teach a dog to heel or sit or recall.....just walking a dog would require skills.

Your horse isn't going to be mooching about the field, bored, thinking "Lord, when IS she taking me to Badminton, I need a challenge!"

As long as a horse is well fed, well looked after...honestly...just do what YOU enjoy. I think hacking is astonishingly underrated, as you have to have a well trained horse to be safe, meeting ANY obstacle or eventuality.
 
I hope it's OK cause that is what I do.

My mare was a SJ comp horse who lacked confidence and worried about everything and so I had to teach her about the scarey things in life and it's hacking out that has done it for her. She has gone from a spooky loopey to a nanny horse who loves her life and trusts me.

Just this week, we were out riding with somone whose horse bolted in the woods, we were unable to block him and he badly dropped his rider before clearing off.

My girl although freaked by the incident, did as I asked and behaved impeccably! I am so proud of her. What more can we ask of our horses than that and it's worth so much more than any coloured ribbon?
 
Nothing wrong with it at all x My main aim for my 4yr old is to hack hack hack then hack some more :) With a little dressage thrown in for good measure :) I do aim to eventually compete her at Medium level dressage but other than that just to be able to tack up and hit the tracks for 3/4hrs on a weekend again is the thing I am most looking forward to with her x
 
And that is why I love this forum - because the ARE like minded horsey people out there and we ARE all doing our best and having some fun along the way, whatever form that fun might take!

Hurrah for Happy Hackers! :)
 
I was for years and happy with it too. Nothing nicer than off on your own with your horse across the fields enjoying yourself with no pressure of how you look and for the horse to be out enjoying it too and sight seeing rather than working to am outline. It gets even better when you start taking one of your children with you, me and one of my daughters get dropped off at the end of bridleways and ride home without having to do the road work to get there the old boy loves it he's always loved going home! What got my competitive juices flowing again though was taking her to riding club show jumping I was like...I want a go! Hence new youngster!!
 
I'd say I'm more of a happy hacker.. Although I do school it's more like just pooling around :)
I don think I could be a serious person who competes.. They all look far too stressed and dont seem to enjoy their rising as much (before I get shot down! That's the people I have met and on my yard) :)
 
katie_southwest said:
For me thats what I bought a horse for!! Tacking up, and riding out across dartmoor , wouldnt have it any other way :)
Yes I have a lesson once every 2 weeks, and also go to the odd local show but for me nothing beats this :)

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My smile says it all :)

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The smiles (yours and your lovely cob's!) and the views sums up happy hacking for me. I do nothing at the moment beyond hacking and happy to do so. Hacks can teach horse and rider a lot and be challenging in their own way but also great chill out time for both and also bonding I think. Can't wait for the weather to get warmer and longer evenings to get out more myself!
 
Of course it is!! I don't really hack my horse out much as she is a bit of a handful and although I recently managed to over come her fear of leaving the yard I only hack her out to make sure she doesn't go back to her own ways but if I had a horse that I could be hacked on a long rein for hours I would love to be a happy hacker! :D
 
Done various things in a very long horsy life, but hacking is the best. Go for it!

Total unwinder, total bond with your horse. You'll see more wildlife than you ever would on your feet (have NEVER understood why birds are not frightened by the clip clop of horse-shoes but they aren't.??). You discover new routes, make new friends, as you have the chance to stop and chat to farmers, people doing their gardens etc. (I once met a postman coming off duty who turned out to be a racer of huskies - we talked for ages) and you can give people who like horses but have no contact with them a chance to meet and pat one. I have a friend with a gentle giant of a Clydesdale. The mare will look into prams and blow very gently at the occupants, who seem to love it!

Enjoy your hacking; your horse certainly will!
 
Enfys said:
Yes, me.
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I wasn't always though, I had a horse because I hunted, if I had not hunted - at that time, then I would not have chosen to have a horse of my own. Before I hunted regularly I did endurance and raced, the horses had a job to do because I enjoyed the competing, exercising was sometimes a chore.

Now, very sadly, I cannot hunt, so I breed, just occasionally I also pull a mare out of the paddocks and go for a ride, only when I feel like it though.
 
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Just specifically bred one to go happy hacking on in my old age, foaly is bred to be quiet, sensible, not too tall to clamber onto, not need feeding, live out and not care if I can't be bothered. All carefully timed to my hoped for retirement moment.

I have been in horses for decades, hunting, Hoys, dressage etc etc, but a peaceful hack on a trusted horse is unbeatable.
 
Of course. People choose to do other things with their horses because the human chooses, not because the horse wants to do or or even needs to do it so you can choose to be a happy hacker if you want.
 
I detest the label 'happy hacker'. It's patronising.
I mainly just hack too, I occasionally jump and take part in a local show, but honestly that's just me trying to get the horse forwards and clinging on, trying not to fall off! Haha!

There's nothing wrong with hacking and being happy about it!
 
You're paying, therefore you do as you like. I doubt the horse is weeping about not attending Burleigh this year.

I really object to people banging on about how a horse is wasted if not out competing/hunting every five minutes. No horse is wasted that is loved. :)
 
I am prob a 'happy hacker'. I have a stressful job and do horrible shiftwork. Nothing better than going out for a hack and my horse loves it!!!

I do ride in the school too and plan to do a bit more schooling etc in summer.

I often think happy hacker is bit of an insult. To hack can take skill in a different way, dealing with spooks and traffic.
 
Absolutely fine! To be honest that's all I do with my horse, my daughter competes a lot in the summer so don't have time! My horse is a well bred jumping mare but all I have done with her so far is pop a few logs in the woods! She is happy and healthy though and as others have said she doesn't know she could be competing...can't imagine her crying herself to sleep wishing she was out jumping every weekend bless her!
Just enjoy your horse, riding out with your kids lovely and a great way to spend time with them and your horse! Have fun!
 
ssshhhh dont tell anyone but after spending all spring, summer and autumn competing nearly every weekend i threw in the towel and have spend the last few months HACKING! (gasp!)
And it has been the best winter i have spent with my gorgeous boys! no worrying about bathing and clipping (shock horror i let them grow coats!!) no worrying about whether they culd be kept fit enough to jump etc.
I spend glorious days pottering around the countryside, and didnt even have to get up before sunrise to scrub the mud off sleepy horses, just brushed the important bits and set off. Did the occasional cheeky canter along the verges too, along with stubble field racing and pheasant frightening.

I had soooo much fun I am planning to half the comp schedule this year and make sure i spend so quality time with my boys just having fun hacking! we're going to fit in some beach rides and box up and take them to some estates where you can explore..... ooooo I cant wait!!
 
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