Time Tells
Well-Known Member
Okay then. Years ago, it was easy to buy a safe hacking horse capable of doing a variety of activities to an acceptable level. So why is it there are so few of these horses left?
Now a days, looking for a horse which is not a green younster with good conformation, 3 nice paces and schooled nicely which can hack safely alone and in company without issue or spooking every yard is almost an impossibility. There are hundreds of horsey folk out there desperately seeking such a beast. Some may term such people as merely 'Happy Hackers' second rate horse people, which imo is such an insult. Not all of these people whom hack round the roads or lanes in order to exercise or give their horse relaxation or 'time off' so to speak, are idiots, lack ambition or ability, nor incapable of riding well or aspiring to anything other than sitting on a horse.
It takes great courage these days to get out there on the road exposing themselves and their horses to allsorts of dangers. A speeding car/lorry/motorbike, with an ignorant driver who feels horses should not be on the roads. A bird suddenly flying from the hedgerow, the ignorant gardener who starts the motor just as your horse is passing, children screaming, dogs chasing you, the scary tractor with the huge front loader high in the air or the rattling trailer it is towing behind, the combine harvester, which surely landed from space, a thousand and more frightening objects and noises to contend with, yet according to some, these riders are just a 'Happy Hacker'! I would like to see some show jumpers, eventers and like, expose their horse to all of this. Truth is many would not!
Not everyone wants to event, compete, jump, show or do one specific activity, but a variety and purely non competitive, just for pleasure. Why is it then that the Happy Hacker, generally has to ride a hairy mammoth, veteran horse or otherwise burnt out horse. Please do not misunderstand me, everyone to their own tipple and there is nothing wrong with these horses, it is just a generalization.
Recently I have made several enquiries in my quest for a safe hack. A safe good looking all-rounder capable of doing a wide range of non competitive activities, but doing all of them to an acceptable standard. Most adverts state '100%' in everyway, yet you call the seller and ask, is this horse capable of hacking ALONE for 20 yards without bucking, rearing, napping, spooking, spinning bla bla bla in traffic...errr I would never subject my horse to traffic, or well he/she will, but can be sticky, keep your leg on, or not alone.
Why? Is every horse now a days, reared for one job only and receives no life skills or education other than what the owner wants to do. What happens to that horse when the owner progress's and the horse does not, it is sold to someone else who wants to do the same thing. As for rearing horses and purely boxing them 'where ever' and never educating them to see even one vehicle on the road, is beyond me.
I can understand if you are a stud and breed excellent bloodlines, your horses are not intended to end up hacking round the roads and lanes, fair enough, but it appears most all youngsters now are aimed and reared with a specific event/task in mind. Supposing they fail, what then re-trained an older age, what a nightmare, so the horse suffers purely due to lack of education.
Okay, horses for courses, the 'Jumper, show horse, dressage horse, the eventer and then the all rounder, but very few of them can or will hack safely alone!
So the answer is buy a youngster and bring it on yourself, fair enough, but not everyone is capable or even wants to do this.
Too few safe hacking horses with the capability of a carrying out variety of tasks. I do not know what the answer is...does anyone?
Now a days, looking for a horse which is not a green younster with good conformation, 3 nice paces and schooled nicely which can hack safely alone and in company without issue or spooking every yard is almost an impossibility. There are hundreds of horsey folk out there desperately seeking such a beast. Some may term such people as merely 'Happy Hackers' second rate horse people, which imo is such an insult. Not all of these people whom hack round the roads or lanes in order to exercise or give their horse relaxation or 'time off' so to speak, are idiots, lack ambition or ability, nor incapable of riding well or aspiring to anything other than sitting on a horse.
It takes great courage these days to get out there on the road exposing themselves and their horses to allsorts of dangers. A speeding car/lorry/motorbike, with an ignorant driver who feels horses should not be on the roads. A bird suddenly flying from the hedgerow, the ignorant gardener who starts the motor just as your horse is passing, children screaming, dogs chasing you, the scary tractor with the huge front loader high in the air or the rattling trailer it is towing behind, the combine harvester, which surely landed from space, a thousand and more frightening objects and noises to contend with, yet according to some, these riders are just a 'Happy Hacker'! I would like to see some show jumpers, eventers and like, expose their horse to all of this. Truth is many would not!
Not everyone wants to event, compete, jump, show or do one specific activity, but a variety and purely non competitive, just for pleasure. Why is it then that the Happy Hacker, generally has to ride a hairy mammoth, veteran horse or otherwise burnt out horse. Please do not misunderstand me, everyone to their own tipple and there is nothing wrong with these horses, it is just a generalization.
Recently I have made several enquiries in my quest for a safe hack. A safe good looking all-rounder capable of doing a wide range of non competitive activities, but doing all of them to an acceptable standard. Most adverts state '100%' in everyway, yet you call the seller and ask, is this horse capable of hacking ALONE for 20 yards without bucking, rearing, napping, spooking, spinning bla bla bla in traffic...errr I would never subject my horse to traffic, or well he/she will, but can be sticky, keep your leg on, or not alone.
Why? Is every horse now a days, reared for one job only and receives no life skills or education other than what the owner wants to do. What happens to that horse when the owner progress's and the horse does not, it is sold to someone else who wants to do the same thing. As for rearing horses and purely boxing them 'where ever' and never educating them to see even one vehicle on the road, is beyond me.
I can understand if you are a stud and breed excellent bloodlines, your horses are not intended to end up hacking round the roads and lanes, fair enough, but it appears most all youngsters now are aimed and reared with a specific event/task in mind. Supposing they fail, what then re-trained an older age, what a nightmare, so the horse suffers purely due to lack of education.
Okay, horses for courses, the 'Jumper, show horse, dressage horse, the eventer and then the all rounder, but very few of them can or will hack safely alone!
So the answer is buy a youngster and bring it on yourself, fair enough, but not everyone is capable or even wants to do this.
Too few safe hacking horses with the capability of a carrying out variety of tasks. I do not know what the answer is...does anyone?