Sad! Just another Happy Hacker!!!!!

[Hippona]

Both my current horses were bought as 4/5 year olds who had never hacked out alone. One of them literally poo-ed himself at the sight of traffic. He was bred as a 'show horse' ...and did that very well as a youngster.....Ok- yes, he's an arab....but as OP said...surely theres more than one string to a bow? He's now a riding horse.....learning to jump.

I occasionally school them, but 95% of the time they are hacked out.
On road, off road. Schooling as I go.

All all round education is best....what if something happens and I can't keep either of them forever? Surely its better for future prospects that they are safe all-rounders.

Anyhoo....my horses are for fun.....and to me, thats more than going round in circles in an arena. Hacking out is where its at

 

[MissMoo]

Friends and I have had this self same discussion. Not only is it impossible to buy properly brought up & educated horses as happy hackers, it's near impossible if you want to find one compete.

I think it's partly because traditional methods were actually best and 'specialists' used to break in and bring on youngsters, they would ride them away and give them an education which resulted in sane, calm horses. Now everyone thinks they can educate a young horse and they do so by experimenting with lots of methods, confusing themselves and the horses.

I also think it's because we have had no loyalty to traditional hunter types, either IDxTB or native/cob crosses. instead the market has been deluged with poor quality (often stupid) warmbloods who have had an iffy upbringing and are as often as not unsound.

A final nail in the coffin I think is the way horses spend all their time in an arena. It results in injury and boredon/stupidity.

It's bizarre, sensible horses used to be the norm. Now they are the exception.

Completely agree!

 

[OWLIE185]

I don't think it is the horses but the riders. In my day riding schools would take one out for hacks in Winter on the roads and then in Summer it would include some fields. There was little if any riding in Manages or indoor arenas. That way riders where taught to ride in traffic on horses used to traffic. I used to ride at a riding school in North London and one could even go for day rides in to the Hertfordshire countryside. This involved crossing the A1!

Once I got my own horse I hacked it ever day without exception by itself or in company on the roads. We would ride all around the streets of North London and venture in to Central London and hack around Hyde Park.

To the riders and horses this was normal and there was nothing that would frighten them at all.

There were of course some horses that found traffic difficult and I used to ride one that did not like double decker buses - we used to escape in to peoples front gardens on the occasions we met one. (He was eventually lost in a gambling debt).

Sadly todays riding schools do not offer the opportunity for riders to ride out on the roads so riders themselves never learn the skills to do so.

I still hack out on the roads but the number of riders I meet has diminished to practically 0.

Anyone fancy going for a hack in central London?

 

[chaps89]

But (and this is the crux of the matter). How much would you pay for a good allrounder and Happy hacker, of a good age and conformation? Most people think they should only spend about £2k max. Competition riders are preprepared to pay much more. So if you produced nice good allrounders would you aim them at the 'Happy Hacker' where you'd be lucky to get a couple of grand or the RC competition rider where you'd get £5k + easily.

I think it is still very easy to find a good allrounder but you must accept that a safe horse is actually worth far more than one that just does some competing.

This is my fear when it comes to horse hunting next time round, that it's going to cost because I want something safe to do a bit of everything but primarily hacking, we'll see what happens when the time comes tho.

Mine is now retired but he only ever used to hack (limited schooling due to his arthritis & the fact he just hated it. I would probably go in the school once, maybe twice a month at most but never for more than 20 minutes, it wasn't worth it!)
He has been kept on a yard where you hacked alongside the m25 and under the flight path of planes coming into land at heathrow terminal 5, he has been kept in west london and hacked around towns & along/over the a4 & tube lines etc. People asked why- well if I didn't hack him there I'd have never have ridden him, just got to make the most of what you've got. And tbh I'd rather ride him round those areas as horses are such a novelty most people slow down so they can stare or take photo's
Plus in the countryside mine likes to find things 10 fields away he can use as an excuse for playing up *rolls eyes* But I've been on those yards too and been at places with fantastic off road hacking, so he has done it all. He'd have his moments, he was never boring (I've been in far more ditches than I care to count when he's said 'no') so he was never totally straight forward and he wasn't a 'novice ride' but anyone competent could handle him as he never did anything nasty, he was fun and fantastic with so many different kinds of hazards, finding another like him isn't going to be easy!

 

[Ahrena]

These threads make me grin about my super horse.

I hack him for hours, in company or alone, I can put a novice on him and he's super yet he competes 1.10 sj and eventing (and has competed up to 1.30m).

He's also incredibly easy to do, so laid back on the ground, no quirks. All with 1 eye too!

I have a nut job too who I had for years before him and god I appreciate a nice chilled horse now! I can trust him with my life whereas with the other I always have/had to think before I did anything to make sure she would be ok.

It does make me sad reading this as I know how super my boy is but it does re enforce the thought that I will probably never have another like him.

 

[Pigeon]

I wonder if it's just that a lot of people don't hack much any more, so the horses aren't exposed to the kind of things you see out and about?

Mine's ace to hack, both alone and in company, on fields and on the road, and that was the main requirement when I bought him.

 

[TheoryX1]

Why is it sad to to 'just another happy hacker'. There is no shame in it, not everyone wants to jump 1.20, event at Novice or Elementary dressage. In fact I know a hell of a lot of happy hackers and to be fair I am one of them and I feel no shame whatsoever, and in my eyes, I am not just a happy hacker, I am a happy hacker and am proud of it.

It takes a tremendous amount of courage to go out on the roads, particularly in neavy traffic. It takes a lot of time, patience, not to mention training to produce a calm, safe horse that wont hot up, wont jog along, wont spook at the first plastic bag is sees, will walk past tractors, lorries and motor bikes, and wont tank off with you when it first touches grass with its hooves.

So many people want to be the next Charlotte Dujardin, Tina Fletcher or Zara Phillips, and buy totally unsuitable horses as well. You are not 'better' than me because you compete. You might have a taller, better bred horse than me, but is your horse safer than mine just because you spend all your time in the arena schooling it? Probaly not. My little cob although 20 years old with a wicked old streak is as safe as houses on the road. He will walk past anything without turning a hair and I can canter him across any grass and know I can pull up, he wont buck me off, I put my daughters boyfriend on him last week, he cant ride, but Mini TX took him out on a lead rein and he was an impeccable gentleman with him.

How many people can say that of their horses.

Please, no more 'JUST A HAPPY HACKER' You should all be proud of yourselves!

 

[FairyLights]

^^^^^^^^^^^
great post

 

[cob&onion]

I have what you would describe as a *happy hacker*.

When i got back into horses i was looking for something safe, easy and something that could live out.
Everything like the above was well out the price range. So i came across a lovely yearling cob, i had a bit of a wait!! 5 years on she has become the safe happy hacker, who is schooling nicely (still on a learning curve but we are getting there) lives out and lives on fresh air! Its been a wait but its been worth it and so rewarding!
I didnt pay alot for her but i bet i have easily quadrupled that amount if i where to sell her
I currently have another one in the form of a welsh D, he too has a lovely laid back nature. Time will tell

Along side my first youngster i had a TB who was fairly highly strung and taught me alot

IO love hacking and a also love the feeling of being safe. My 7 and 8yr old both ride her on the lead rein, shes so good with them

 

[Serephin]

I am a happy hacker and I have a super little cob. He is known as the most sensible horse on the yard and acts as nanny to other less obliging horses. He has done it all in his lifetime.

Although he can have his moments (will spin and spook on ocassions) but will do whatever you ask of him. Loves to jump, hates schooling but knows it all, just makes you work for it and press the right buttons!

I sometimes feel that others look down at us as I have no interest in competing, but I can get on my horse after 2 weeks or more and ride out on my own without any issues. I love him.

 

[Amy567]

It does make me sad reading this as I know how super my boy is but it does re enforce the thought that I will probably never have another like him.

This really does depend on your budget and whether or not you're willing to put the work in. I bought a youngster because he had the most important part for me under the belt (his jump and paces, though not necessarily well schooled ones) and I'm putting the work in for his hacking.

All of my horses (bar one spooky one and one not so competitive one!) have been competition horses that hack safely alone and in company. I really don't understand why people say they are few and far between. Sort out preferences and make the rest better, it doesn't matter age of the horse, old dogs can learn new tricks and all that. I've recently taught my 16 yo TB X SJ competition mare that things aren't scarey, and so now I have a hugely competitive, successful horse that hacks out safely lone and in company with novices and experienced riders alike. My new one is going to be exactly the same because all of my horses have to hack alone and in company and I want to compete. My facilities aren't great, so they get schooled on the roads in winter.

3 weeks on and the new one (Matty) and I are already hacking on busy roads past combine harvesters, tractors, fertiliser tractory thingys, haulage lorries, cars, trailers, vans, all on our own. He's much better, only doesn't like puddles, again, something to work on. It doesn't take long, especially when you're doing these things, to get a relationship and build trust. With trust, you're horse will do almost anything for you, you just need to find the temperament.

 

[TheoryX1]

I am a happy hacker and I have a super little cob. He is known as the most sensible horse on the yard and acts as nanny to other less obliging horses. He has done it all in his lifetime.

Although he can have his moments (will spin and spook on ocassions) but will do whatever you ask of him. Loves to jump, hates schooling but knows it all, just makes you work for it and press the right buttons!

I sometimes feel that others look down at us as I have no interest in competing, but I can get on my horse after 2 weeks or more and ride out on my own without any issues. I love him.

Serephin - do we perhaps share the same horse ina parallel universe? Sounds identical to mine, even down to the spinning and spooking, hence my comment regarding his wicked streak!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

warmbloods are often thought of as school only horses as there is a lot less hacking generally available on the continent

My Westphalian was brought up on the continent, only imported here aged 12 and is absolutely 'bombproof'. IMO one of the main problems is the breeding of warmbloods where crosses are put to outcrosses and neither temperment nor looks can be predicted with any certainty.
My mare is a pedigree'd and branded Draft horse, who, I believe, was imported for breeding. If all warmblood breeders were prepared to breed first crosses, with the mare being the Draft and the stallion being a TB, I think that the resultant foals would be consistently calm and sensible with the TB lightening of the build and much more like a traditional British hunter-type.

 

[Orangehorse]

Agree that hacking out alone should be part of every horse's education, but sadly this doesn't seem to be true. When recently looking for a horse for someone I would say that out of every 5 advertised, only one could be ridden out by itself.

I think this is due to the decline of the "nagsman" who would take a youngster and simply educate it, not worry about whether or not it could trot 20 metre circles or not, that would come later.

There are lots of the older generation who are very content to go hacking and not compete due to lots of different reasons - family commitments, some infirmity, simply getting older. However, I am sure that many of these ladies did lots of jumping, competiting and racing around the countryside jumping large fences years ago - we just don't want to do it any more, but we still want to go out into the countryside, riding a nice well mannered horse to be able to enjoy it.

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

My horse is a talented young showjumper. He hacks out a dream!

 

[vickyb]

I am always mystified when I see ad's for horses with the words 'hacks out alone'. That should be taken as read! In my day if you were the average owner with a horse, you hacked. You hacked to get it fit, hacked for fun and friendship, and hacked to enjoy yourself and the countryside. While you were hacking you would also be training the animal (it doesn't all have to be done in a school) - popping over logs, extending, collecting etc, you get the picture. Schooling was done in a field, or a school if you were lucky enough to have one near, but not every day. I would die of boredom if the only riding I ever did was in a school. Where is the fun these days? Yes, we competed, hunter trialled, showed and hunted as well - all for fun. Because our horses were fit and roundly educated (and not wrapped in cotton wool) they were healthy, happy and biddable. An awful lot of horse owners seem to be stuck up their own backsides these days.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have never had a horse that did not hack , I have bought horses that where not great hacks but they become hacks if you do it all the time.
I have to admit my best horse ever was a bit of a liability as a hack you had to be careful where you looked as you would find yourself on the other side of the hedge you looked over , her aside they have been great.
Horses need to hack what ever you do with them , I am always curious how dressage horses who never hack manage in strange places at shows how do you ride for the lorry park to the warm up on a horse who goes stable arena stable at home .
I hack a lot I don't like hacking except if we are doing "extreme hacking" with is my name for jumping every ditch , wading in every water crossing and scrambling up every bank I can find and I Love fast work but hacking is time consuming and when people work I understand how you just go in the school because it's quick and easy if you are short of time.then when you do go out the horse is fresh and you get put off.
I learnt to ride at a old fashioned type riding school we hacked a lot we fell off a lot you could not do that now you would be sued , as soon as I could half stay on i was sent hunting to fall off some more.( my parents had three of us so I suppose they could risk losing one.)
Many people have learned older and don't get the exposure to hacking young and schools have to be so much more careful, no one had an arena when I was young so it was hacking or not riding now I can only think of one friend who does not have daily access to an arena and she will load to one about three times a week.
Horses have changed in that they used to be produced ( where I lived at least ) with hunting in mind and autumn hunting was their main four year old education then the ones who showed something extra went on to complete now few people produce like that now.
But I would expect to pay good money for a good hack and I don't think you can beat a good TB for hacking.

 

[skint1]

You have a point. My passion is in having sane, tough as old boots, healthy and happy horses who enjoy work. With mine, for their first year of ridden life, time spent in the school is minimal, mostly, they learn to enjoy getting out and about, learning to carry themselves with a rider over all sorts of terrain and to be able to cope with all traffic, bouncy castles, balloons in trees, building sites, riding in wind and rain without complaint.
They will learn to be ridden by a few different people and not worry about the rider twisting about, hanging off them to open gates, taking a coat off or opening an OS map.
I want them to be anyones ride, uncomplicated and straightforward. To mature mentally and physically so that they are ready to begin work in whatever direction they are most suited.
Then, if ever they are sold, or later become retired from competition, they will be useful as a hack for any level of rider. Its kind of their insurance for the future.
Quirky horses maybe great when they are in their prime, but options are limited for them as veterns. Happy hackers are so often the poor relations of the horse world, but a bombproof horse and rider have a longer shelf life. In terms of horse welfare, thats got to be worth something.

It sounds like you are just the sort of person who "made" my mare, she is older now and having done hunting and eventing in her younger years she is showing some wear and tear in the form of arthritis and mild copd, so we are happy hackers, and we really are very happy, we don't go too far or too fast, though she still enjoys a good gallop or a fun ride on her own terms, which imo she has earned. What a pleasure this mare is to own and I can't really put into words how much I really appreciate her. Every day I thank the horse people in her distant past for the great job they did with her

 

[Serephin]

@ TheoryX1 - could be!

 

[Orangehorse]

Sadly many people do not hack out regularly as the roads close to their stables are too busy to be safe. That means either ride in an arena to exercise or put the horse into a trailer and take out, which can take a long time.

So there is some excuse for not all horses being able to be hacked out all the time.

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

Sadly many people do not hack out regularly as the roads close to their stables are too busy to be safe. That means either ride in an arena to exercise or put the horse into a trailer and take out, which can take a long time.

So there is some excuse for not all horses being able to be hacked out all the time.

If you grew up in London and had a pony/horse the roads have always been too busy to be safe.
The thing is, that was accepted and we still hacked everywhere.

Out of the yard onto a main A road, a major artery between the A1 and north London, two bus routes.
There were also no speed cameras and much, much less instructions to drivers telling them to keep the speed down.

We would hack alone or in company as a matter of course. Consequently, when the new McDonalds opened on the main high street, we became quite regular customers on our ponies/horses.
The original "drive through".

 

[Rhodders]

I have one I put him up for sale a few months back and when it came to it, I just couldn't sell him so probably the people like me have them stashed in their fields and won't let go of them.
not to everyone's taste, but will hack alone for miles, doesn't spook (it's too much effort) can do a bit of x country, a 2ft 6 course of jumps and behaves himself on fun rides - not super keen on circles though, not his favourite thing

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

Rhodders....that picture is lovely.

If I had that picture no way would I sell the pony in it. What a complete doll he is.

 

[suffolkmare]

Interesting thread. I used to ride at a riding school in Hayes, West London, and we regularly hacked out, usually crossing the Uxbridge Road (using a pedestrian crossing ) The horses were of course fine in traffic, loved it when we "let go" on a field or off-road track, and we were even told off for "speeding" on the track around Stockley park golf course . Now we live in Suffolk and our boy is from our riding school and has rarely hacked out due to the horrible straight road that goes past it. We plan to take him out and educate him, but just a little way out of his "comfort zone" and he gets worried We are taking baby steps!

 

[Shantara]

I'm well on the way to having one myself just need to iron out a few kinks and we're there!!

We can potter along the lanes at a snails pace, or we can blast around the fields and jump logs!
I think "Happy Hackers" is a good name, but it's so bloomin' patronising!
I hack and I'm damned happy about it! Good hacking horses are worth their weight in gold. I'm not really into high level comps, Ned does just fine for what I want show-wise too

I even "happy hacked" all the way too and from Milton Keynes!!

 

[Rhodders]

Rhodders....that picture is lovely.

If I had that picture no way would I sell the pony in it. What a complete doll he is.

Thank you - I just couldn't do it, cried like a baby and removed the add as soon as someone wanted to come and see him

 

[honetpot]

Over the years I produced my children's ponies buying unbacked or just backed ponies. As part of their education they were hacked everywhere, on village roads, busy roads, trips to the shop, windsurfing lake, subway underpass, five days a week. We didn't have a school and schooled very little on hacks in corners of fields yet they competed showing and dressage with respectable results.
The ponies lived out 24/7, didn't do the same things two days in a row and certainly did not go round and round in circles for hours trying to get them ' on the b**** bit' with to most people seems to mean nose on chest with quarters trailing behind.
Someone once commented my daughters always had nice ponies as if they were privileged when the truth was we bought cheap and worked hard at making them nice and happy. When you come to want to sell them the work that this takes is never reflected in the price.
We did the same when we started with buying horses so my advice is go and buy a nice three year old, get a really old fashioned book like Anthony Crossleys Training the Young Horse and put in the work the old fashioned way with turn out, no gadgets and regular work. If you have not the time to do this you may have to pay £4000 for a happy hacker that everyone wants.

 

[ShadowHunter]

See this is the problem im going to have in a few months when im looking for my first one. At the minute, all i want to is a happy hacker but im looking and their few and far between. Most horses i see now are youngsters or green 4 year olds which I'm not looking for or competition horses that i (maybe foolishly) think that they will be wasted with me so i'd be feeling guilty.
All im looking for is something that enjoys going out and having fun which is my favourite thing to do, but at the same time i dont want one too old so im at a loss either way.