VERY happy Hackers!!

[Moggy in Manolos]

Just read thread about happy hackers & couldn t resist adding my own!My sister and I are more "mature"ladies(we re 49 & 50),I have a sec D and Sis has a fell.We went out "hacking"yesterday morning.Both ponies are fairly well schooled and have done bits of dressage & showing& can jump, they re both forward going,quite strong,V excitable and,to be honest make each other worse.Mine is a typical D who doesn t mind big tractors but hates daffodils!
So off we went.Hacked fairly sedately round the roads-lots of people on "posh" horses doing the same-then we went on the tracks/gallops for some fun-had 2 good canters jumped a log,had an interesting moment when a deer ran across our path,then had a bloody good gallop on rubber track-(well,as fast as a welsh & fell can gallop!!)-we did nt see any of the "posh" horses go faster than a walk(I hasten to add we dont go galloping past people)-and there were only 2 teenagers on ponies going at it like us!
Anyway-the upshot of this ramble is that we are competent riders,ponies are NOT plods-anything but-and we have a very nice time re-living our mis-spent youth on a Sunday morning-and we re proud to be VERY happy hackers!!!

Wish there was a like button on here

 

[touchstone]

I agree that a big part of getting eventers fit is hacking:-

1. Get your horse fit

Eventer Julie Tew advises:

“Competing an unfit horse – especially if you’re unfit, too – is not safe. Every week, event horses need to be hacked three times, schooled twice and galloped once or twice.”

3. Train your youngster

Says eventer William Fox-Pitt:

“Get young or inexperienced horses used to as much as possible. Out hacking, ride through puddles and over small ditches. Hack with a more experienced horse to give you more confidence.”




I know plenty of folk who use hacking as an opportunity for interval training and a good pipe opener, if we daren't do this because it is 'too dangerous' then the world will be a sadder place imo.

Those that enjoy hunting would soon lose the thrill without a good gallop I'm sure.



As for those who don't want to gallop then fine, your horse, your decision.

Personally I couldn't care less if someone has a hairy cob, warmblood, tb, shire or donkey - the important thing is that they have fun with them, if bagging trophies is your thing then all well and good, if hacking out is your thing then all well and good but neither is better than the other and we should be celebrating the diversity of opportunities that owning horses brings in my humble opinion.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

If my horse got injured on the roads because I wanted a blast I'd never forgive myself. My horses are my everything and given how dangerous the roads are I don't understand how people can make things more risky then they already are, it's insane in my eyes.

I can't be bothered to read any further but I thuink you are over reacting at tad

You are assuming that everyone lives/hacks near busy roads and doesn't have the common sense to check they are in a safe area before they set of on a canter/gallop.

We are very fortunate around here to not only have extensive bridleways but we also have 18 miles of off road riding and the lanes are so quiet there is grass growing in the moiddle of some of them

So calm down and accept that everyone will have their own boundaries of what is safe and what isn't and stop judging them by your own boundaries I doubt there is a single poster on here that would put either their horses or themselves at risk.

 

[CalllyH]

Go in a field and shut the gate.....Simples

Ridiculous. Get in the real world.

 

[autumn7]

"I play polocrosse, it's fast furious and dangerous,
I'm a national champion for the second year running in my grade,
I picked up a best player award at the national champs this year,
I hold a european title
one of my ponies has a world championship title under his belt.... "

Super_Kat, you're obviously exceedingly good. May I suggest that you now broaden your competence/confidence to include fast work in suitably designated areas eg. open fields, forestry, rubber gallops etc. It shouldn't require too much more on the schooling front to have full control of your quality horses in such situations. Many ex-polo ponies hunt superbly and their riders appear to have no problem pulling up, likewise eventers, pointers, etc. although agreed, confidence and trust is required when riding out in the big wide world at speed.

 

[lhotse]

Super-kat certainly likes to blow her own trumpet doesn't she!!

 

[Bop!]

Now THERE is a great idea!

I'm sorry but I just can't believe you would agree with such a irresponsible idea as this!!!!!

What if someone stubbed their toe on the pebbles, or tripped over them and went through the glass pain of the front door, what if a small child choked on the pebble? The implications of this kind of behaviour are horrific!!! Fuzzy Furry you should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting it!

You obviously don't love your pebbles (either posh or not) or your friends and family (or postman) as much as me

 

[lhotse]

And what about the poor pebbles, has anyone stopped to consider what might happen if one gets dropped on the road?

 

[DragonSlayer]

I'm sorry but I just can't believe you would agree with such a irresponsible idea as this!!!!!

What if someone stubbed their toe on the pebbles, or tripped over them and went through the glass pain of the front door, what if a small child choked on the pebble? The implications of this kind of behaviour are horrific!!! Fuzzy Furry you should be ashamed of yourself for suggesting it!

You obviously don't love your pebbles (either posh or not) or your friends and family (or postman) as much as me

What.....? but.....waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

And what about the poor pebbles, has anyone stopped to consider what might happen if one gets dropped on the road?

That's IT! I'm never doing ANYTHING again! I'll sit on the couch from morning till night as I jut darent go out the front door....!

 

[DragonSlayer]

I'm a national champion for the second year running in my grade, I also picked up a best player award at the national champs this year, I hold a european title and one of my ponies has a world championship title under his belt.

I have many things I could say to this, but I would get banned.

I don't care if you have won an olympic gold, what the FOOK are you trying to prove telling us this here? That you are better than us?

I don't think so....

 

[nala1]

I can see super kat's point but as others have said, life itself is a risk and if you didn't take any risks life wouldn't be worth living. You can minimise the risks though, I wear enough hi viz to light up a High Street including the Polite range, I am not the world's best rider and even though I ride a calm cob you never know what might happen, on that I DO agree wholeheartedly with super kat and have seen my fair share of accidents involving other people's horses so I if the unimaginable were to happen I wear a set of these

http://unicornleather.co.uk/Locata-Twin-Packs-Save-by-buying-both-at-once.php

which help deal with an emergency and to provide evidence of idiots driving too fast, close or both I wear one of these

http://unicornleather.co.uk/NEW-Headcam-for-Riders.php

It won't stop an accident but deals with it effectively if it does, what else apart from sit indoors or sell my horse can I do?

 

[sheep]

http://unicornleather.co.uk/NEW-Headcam-for-Riders.php

It won't stop an accident but deals with it effectively if it does, what else apart from sit indoors or sell my horse can I do?

Get someone else to hack out wearing it, sure you can watch the video back after, just as fun as riding!

 

[Mince Pie]

Plenty of secure off road hacking out there

The place where we gallop is specially designated for horses,on a rubber track,and is 2 (closed) gates from the nearest road.

Enclosed enough for you? Nuff said really, still can't quite believe your post.

Maybe there should be a clique for middle -aged riders who remember the days when we were ALLOWED to have fun!!!

I'm not middle aged but can I join in too?

 

[Spudlet]

What.....? but.....waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!



That's IT! I'm never doing ANYTHING again! I'll sit on the couch from morning till night as I jut darent go out the front door....!

HOW could you suggest such a thing? What about the strain on the poor couch hmm? Hmmm?! It could get an RSI!

Seriously, the levels of irresponsibility on this thread are SHOCKING!

 

[touchstone]

HOW could you suggest such a thing? What about the strain on the poor couch hmm? Hmmm?! It could get an RSI!

Seriously, the levels of irresponsibility on this thread are SHOCKING!

I agree, not to mention the risk of suffocation if you were to nod off on those soft fluffy cushions - totally irresponsible!

 

[fburton]

I don't understand why you lot care so much if people look down on you?!

Quite! Everyone is different. Surely each of us has something we can look down on other people about, for a fulfilled life. Atrocious riding skills, lack of success in competitions, low income, poor spelling... whatever! Why should anyone care?

 

[Fellewell]

Hang on a second though, if you've got a horse that can jump, surely a fenced arena would be little assistance if you fell off in the school and it jumped out. The horse could just as easily end up on the road in that scenario. And of course, the horse could jump out of its field as well, and be on the roads in an heartbeat.

It seems to me that either all horses must be ridden and given turnout in indoor arenas only, or must be made to wear diving boots at all times to weigh them down a bit.

Glad we've got that one sorted!

Cobs have diving boots for feet anyway, couple this with the handicap of two matronly ladies....put it this way, if something with blood had passed at a leisurely canter it would have been an 'eat my dust' situation (posh or not)

I may be on the wrong thread

 

[Fellewell]

Quite! Everyone is different. Surely each of us has something we can look down on other people about, for a fulfilled life. Atrocious riding skills, lack of success in competitions, low income, poor spelling... whatever! Why should anyone care?

It's like the line from the film:

She asks; "What are you rebelling against?"

He replies; "Well...what have you got?"

 

[Amaranta]

I do not look down on 'Happy Hackers' it is up to them what they do for fun and not for me to comment on. However, it does seem that some Happy Hackers have a bit of a chip on their shoulder, you don't get 'competition' riders moaning on about the fact that they are looked down upon by Happy Hackers do you? Perhaps there is some inverted snobbery going on here.

Personally I feel it is probably the occasional competitor who is more likely to look down on you - and they are not competition riders tbh, more happy hackers who do a little competition - nothing wrong in that, just don't knock others for doing what they love.

signed

A Competition Rider

 

[ApacheWarrior]

I always think of the 'what if's'. Having seen the aftermath of a yard friend going out for a canter on a hack, horse spooked, she came off, horse was loose and ran across a busy road and got taken out by a car doing 60mph. The canter was not worth the dead horse or the injured driver.

I was standing quietly on the verge when a car passed - horse bronked for no reason as it levelled with us and I went under - travelled along the road being pushed by a car wheel pushing my face..... I wasn't doing anything risky at all - I was stationery, car was travelling slowly...... accidents happen. I can't avoid traffic for ever more. Well, I could.... but I'd not be able to have a horse. Gotta weigh up the risk factor.

 

[minkymoo]

Actually, both the OP and Super-Kat have pi55ed me off

leskaneen - I have what you would consider a 'posh' horse (ridiculous description anyway) because he is neither a pony nor a cob.

We are expert hackers Nd go for miles and miles both on and off road in all paces.

Super-Kat, some of us don't have a convenient field where we can close the gate for a gallop and to assume that anyone who goes for a blast in an open field is quite frankly absurd.

My horse is very well schooled http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXenp96rTDA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
And I can go for a blast without causing havoc.

Humph.

 

[minkymoo]

FWIW I do have some footage of me going for a gallop with (steady here) the dog! Loose! Following!!

Gasp!

 

[Natz88]

I hack at least 4/5 times a week alone & in company. Luckily we do have alot of, off road hacking, but we do have to go on the roads to get to them be it not for long. Yeah there is a risk out hacking, but there is a risk with horses full stop riding & on the ground. I was riding round a field few weeks ago on 1 of mine we was only walking & a rabbit ran between his legs he had a paddy & I came of although he did just stand there.

My hafligner is not good in traffic (although he has got a lot better) so I try to only do abit on the road, but I can't avoid them to much as it won't help him get over his fears avoiding traffic, 2years ago if a trailer come along he would be off, but now he will stand & watch it go past (be it with his eyes out on stalks) so yes there are risks, but I feel my boy has benefited from doing road work. Few months ago we had a phone call at 10pm in the evening to say 2 of ours were found wondering the streets as they had broke out (luckily neither of them were injured, they seemed rather pleased with themselves )

As I say it's each to their own, we all have different views on things. I am happy with what I do, so I couldn't care less what other people think my boys are happy & I won't push them into risky situations.

 

[hessy12]

I have many things I could say to this, but I would get banned.

I don't care if you have won an olympic gold, what the FOOK are you trying to prove telling us this here? That you are better than us?

I don't think so....

So nicely put, I second you. This post has me in fits of laughter from the number of pompous replies from a few. Each to their own in a mantra that might help such folk just get over themselves.

 

[rhino]

I don't care if you have won an olympic gold, what the FOOK are you trying to prove telling us this here? That you are better than us?

Ah, but I think you're forgetting that she's no ordinary Kat, she's a superKat... and therefore not a mere mortal like the rest of us.

 

[LaurenBay]

I went for a hack at the weekend, quick somemeone call the RSPCA!

 

[highlandponygirl]

Well i think i might be bad cause when i go for a gallop in the big feild i sometimes hold the reins at the buckle end so she can run like a nutter , but she seems to appreciate the freedom.

 

[HihoGinger]

http://unicornleather.co.uk/NEW-Headcam-for-Riders.php

It won't stop an accident but deals with it effectively if it does, what else apart from sit indoors or sell my horse can I do?

Get someone else to hack out wearing it, sure you can watch the video back after, just as fun as riding!

They are very good for capturing those moments of hooleying down the aforementioned riverbank whilst recklessly endangering the lives of you and all around you!
Please excuse the slowness of my cob, but with his diving boots for feet he had no chance against my friend's "posh" TB/WB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4FzG5SFsEo

 

[Goldenstar]

I can't really understand where superkat is coming from if it came from a dressage diva who kept her horse in padded cell and took it from there to the school on a path of rubber cobbles I could figure it but top level polo cross is fast furious and can lead to catastrophic injurys ( my friends sons horse broke it's shoulder during a game and was PTS
I think superkat manages risk by thinking the risk is worth it during a game but I would kick myself is I damaged my horses having a bit of silly fun that's a trade of that competitive riders take all the time for example should I take my 5yo hunting which will improve his ability to look after himself teach him loads about life even though he is showing great talent for the flat work ,what if he damages himself ? Competitive riders make these trades all the time in their heads now I will hunt mine lightly but I own him what if I did not


would I go for a blast and risk having to ring the owner and say I fancied a spin and I broke your horse these things are more complicated than it might first appear.
no one is any better than any one else, hackers do not necessary enjoy their horses more than competitive riders or vice versatile
I don't think OP meanlt to have us all at each others throats when she started this off !!!!!

 

[FionaM12]

Plenty of secure off road hacking out there

Where?

I wish this was true for me. The farm I keep Mollie on has lots of (summer) grazing fields, but we're not allowed to ride on them. There's a tiny enclosed area for "schooling" but it's uneven, boggy at times and almost too small to canter in!