Those of you who dont compete....

A

Acolyte

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 November 2005
Messages
7,968
Visit site
How often do you hack and how often do you school your horse per week?

I am riding a horse ATM who will never compete, he hunts in the winter and that is all. I am finding that when I ride him I always seem to go hacking - which I enjoy - rather than taking him into the school?

I do feel I 'ought' to ride him in the school (I always did with my own horses, but then we were competing) but he is very badly schooled and TBH I just dont enjoy it. But should I be wanting to improve him in the school so he IS enjoyable?
 
I can't really answer your first question very well, because I don't ride/see my horse very often (someone else does) but on your second point, I've found hunters I have met just don't like schooling. A friend's big hunters just won't do it. He spends the summer hacking and occasionally (he was a grade A SJer) they will just whack some jumps up and vary his work a bit.
I wouldn't ride him in the school if you won't enjoy it, because if he is only going to be hunting, he won't be able to use that schooling mid hedge or something.
wink.gif
 
There is nothing wrong with not wanting to school the horse. If you don't enjoy it, then I doubt the horse will be enjoying it either, so just enjoy your hacks if that's what you want to do.
smile.gif


If you wanted to, you could even try incorporating some schooling into your hacking so you get the best of both worlds. Don't put yourself under any pressure to school him though, just enjoy riding him how you want to.
 
I compete, although not to any great level and certainly not as regularly as some of the "proper" competitors on here!

I try for a 50/50 balance - and I enjoy schooling, for the sake of schooling although I really enjoy my hacking too! I'm more likely to hack rather than school if riding with other people and the weather is nice, although I regularly school out hacking too.

As long as your horse is responsive out hacking, I wouldn't worry - it's supposed to be fun after all!
 
I rarely compete due to a lack of transport.

I generally school twice a week, lunge once a week, jump once a week, and then hack the other 2 days. they have a day off a week, usually because we go out for tea on thurs so i dont have time to ride!!
 
I know several people whose horses have never even seen the inside of a school
smile.gif
They school on the roads etc and their horses are brilliant for hacking out they'll just never win a dressage comp
tongue.gif
 
All I did with my old Arab was hack and endurance. We use to school as we went along. She did have someone else who rode her in the school as well. But with my mare at the mo, I will quite happily ride her in the school. I've never been into schooling in the past, but both of us seem to enjoy it now. I hack 2 days a week and school 3 days a week. Very often though if she's been out for a good canter on a hack she will then listern in the school. If they don't enjoy it then don't feel like you have to force it.
 
I very rarley school. We don't compete, horse is not built for it and I have never wanted to. we school out hacking. I have a lesson about twice a year. I only ever go in the school to either lunge if short of time or free school for a bit of fun.

Horse spent a long time at a riding school and he hates it and so do I
 
Thanks everyone - I think we will carry on doing what we are doing, mixed in with a bit of XC for some fun
smile.gif
smile.gif
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top