To those who hack alone...

Bring a whistle, so if something happens your phone you still have a way of attracting attention. As others have said, tags on the horse so if you do part company someone can be contacted if he's found. It's also a good idea to have an emergency contact on you, like in a medical armband, just in case.
 
Never even thought about it before now tbh :o I don't have anyone who wants to do fast work I ride with so I go alone when I want a fast one!
 
I was riding with someone in an area I didn't know at all and she came off, was badly hurt and her horse disappeared over the hills and far away leaving me with an unconscious rider and the mad TB she had lent me! Mobile phones might feel like a talisman but they don't always work. If you're alone, you might be the one who is hurt, phone smashed, or not working. Put a piece of paper in your riding hat with all your info on. Tags fall off jackets without you noticing, or you leave the jacket behind. Tags on bridles are good as long as the bridle stays on, likewise the saddle. In my case, the phone didn't work in such an isolated spot, I hadn't a clue where I was or where the nearest house was, and she had driven us to the stables and was airlifted along with her car keys! Some things you can never plan for. Since then I have found riding alone very daunting.

BTW are you sure that there are no other riders in your area? Check out the FB page Riding buddies!
 
Yes, have done for years, I knew my lovely late Seren inside and out really so felt very happy hacking her alone at all speeds right up until just before I lost her last year. I used to ride our others at all speeds alone too, I was younger and mostly fearless back then
I will have to learn to trust Nell once broken, but that will come I am sure of it, and I hope me and her can have similar wonderful solo hacks at all speeds as me and Seren did as I enjoy a good canter/gallop
 
When riding with others the fastest horse needs to be as slow as the slowest horse otherwise it is just not fun. As far as safety hindsight is a wonderful thing, sadly we do not have it.

I have just signed up for sky guard send4help emergency services which will come to my rescue at the press of a button should I need it and I can speak to them through the transmitter too, now I feel much safer in the knowledge I can get help if I need it. I don't need to worry about no signal on my mobile or the other person not answering the call.
 
I prefer riding on my own. Horse is luckily bombproof in traffic and if you do take a tumble, just sticks his head in a hedge and waits for you (a rare situation, thankfully). It's my time to think and clear my mind without having to make polite conversation. Also, I don't like someone else dictating what pace we will go at, be it fast or slow.
 
I always do fast work when hacking alone. In fact, Fab's better out on his own than with others anyway so no issue! Far prefer hacking alone and doing what i please without someone else to think about. Although will sometimes let OH come with me! :D
 
One of the most magical times I ever had was doing an very early morning ride by myself - about 4:30 in the morning,everyone else in the country asleep and lots of cantering and galloping (and not wearing Hi-Vis either).

Sometimes being worried about being safe outweighs the pleasure of just having the best fun ever.
 
My horse only does trot and gallop, even at the ripe old age of 27! so I ALWAYS hack alone and ALWAYS have a gallop! it is on the the very rare ocassion have to ride out with someone else it will only be walk/jog and trot as she is known to bolt off when in company and not many others can keep up and if they do, they wind her up more haha! so safer to have gallops alone :)
 
I took him out alone and he was fabulous :O) Went through our local golf course that was teeming with people, weird noises and golf carts. He had a big wide eyed look around but soon relaxed when he saw our canter hill. Went off up it like a rocket, then back to a quiet amble at the top. He is such a good boy and I think I could get used to hacking alone and not having to worry about anyone else! Thanks everyone xx
 
Always have done - to be fair, I find a goold old blast along the track is a good cure for a bad day. To be fair my horse is a good boy, he knows he doesnt canter as soon as his feet hit grass and we dont canter all the way across fields either. I am not a lover of cantering in company, even though I have hunted a fair old bit. Have had a few accidents cantering in company as my cob likes to race and gets excited with another horse out cantering. The only person I feel safe out doing fast work with is Mini TX. As she events, her mare is fairly easy to stop and control, and Mini TX is also sensible as well.
 
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