What’s considered a light hack?

[Petmurf]

We’re under physio orders to just do light schooling/light hacking for the next 2 weeks and I wondered what’s considered a light hack?

We’re in the Pennines so hills everywhere, I have a choice tomorrow to do a 50 minute hack with a big road hill coming back or a 1 hr 45 hack again with big hills but the hills are off road on bridleways and home is all down hill?


which do you reckon?

 

[ponynutz]

A light hack to me is up to 30 minutes with just walk and some light trot not on tarmac. Possibly 45 with just walk but that’s pushing it. With hilly ground I’d push that number even lower to be honest. It does also really depend on whether this is fitness or injury rehabilitation.

Perhaps my opinion is because I didn’t grow up surrounded with particularly good hacking though.

 

[Chianti]

We’re under physio orders to just do light schooling/light hacking for the next 2 weeks and I wondered what’s considered a light hack?

We’re in the Pennines so hills everywhere, I have a choice tomorrow to do a 50 minute hack with a big road hill coming back or a 1 hr 45 hack again with big hills but the hills are off road on bridleways and home is all down hill?


which do you reckon?

I don't think either of those would be a light hack to me.

 

[motherof2beasts!]

Neither of those are light hacks , I’d say 30 mins walking hack maybe a trot on soft ground. It’s a bit boring but no little lanes you can just pootle for a few mins?!

 

[Red-1]

My light hack would be 40 minutes on flat, good going, if it is for a physical issue.

 

[Petmurf]

OK Thank you. I’ll go another shorter way which isn’t a loop but we don’t do it very often so he should be fine the next time we need to go that way.

 

[Petmurf]

Neither of those are light hacks , I’d say 30 mins walking hack maybe a trot on soft ground. It’s a bit boring but no little lanes you can just pootle for a few mins?!

Yes a really quiet lane with a tiny hill which we’ll do instead. Thank you

 

[Barton Bounty]

That to me isnt light hacking 20/30 minutes of easy relatively flat work is light hacking I would say

 

[Barton Bounty]

Yes a really quiet lane with a tiny hill which we’ll do instead. Thank you

That sounds much petter @Petmurf

 

[motherof2beasts!]

Yes a really quiet lane with a tiny hill which we’ll do instead. Thank you

yes that will definetly be a light hack, it’s always hard trying to find a loop most short hacks involve turning around on yourself, which seems to activate turbo mode.

 

[Jenko109]

Very open to interpretation.

If I see an older horse advertised as needing a quieter life and suited to light hacking, I would assume that horse would be fine for a sedate, mainly walking hack with some trotting and the odd canter for an hour or two.

Coming back from long term injury and being told to start light hacking, I would assume a 20-30 minute walk would be the 'light hack'

I would just confirm with your physio exactly what she means.

 

[Petmurf]

yes that will definetly be a light hack, it’s always hard trying to find a loop most short hacks involve turning around on yourself, which seems to activate turbo mode.

And with my boy, next time round napping mode