Who never hacks out and why ?

I would be very very sad if I couldnt hack out, I love it! I take my horse out about twice a week in the winter and three times a week in the summer. She loves it too, I also school and compete but I never do more than 2 days in a row schooling, I would get so bored and so would my horse.
Sometimes I do get nervous, especially going on the roads but I just get on with it because once were on the common its so amazing. We also have off road hacking where I am, but I still go on the roads to get to the better common. Every time I go out, I go on a different route so my horse finds it interesting.

To me hacking is one of the most enjoyable things I do with my horse, shes a sensitive TB and we have the odd hairy moment but hacking out so often has chilled her out so much.
When I come across a scary jump SJ or XC I just think about the time I got her past that building site, tractor, low flying aeroplane etc and I know that we can do it. It builds up our trust in each other.

Today I went hacking and we had a canter along a stunning ridgeway in the winter sun and it was breathtaking. I would never let nerves stop me from feeling so alive and at one with my horse.
 
I rarely hack, my yard comes out on to a busy road and a dangerous bend, we have to contend with 4 buses an hour going passed the yard. The one thing my horse does not like is buses, I have managed to get her past them on the odd occasion I have been unfortunate enough to meet one - but it is really dangerous, she rears up and wont move (forwards, we get lots of up) until the bus has stopped and turned off its engine, I find it is very difficult to get bus drivers to do this. So now I only go out on a sunday morning as there are only 2 buses an hour then. But due to weather in the last 2 weeks I haven't been able to get her out. She is fine with traffic and buses in company but there is rarely any of that for us. On her own on the road it can be a bit hairy as I'm always thinking "what if a bus comes"
To those who think its pointless having a horse if you don't hack - I'd rather be in the school and alive than on the road and dead!
 
I absolutely love hacking, really hate schooling, well I tolerate it but I get bored after a while. My old horse was great out hacking altho when I bought him he was quite spooky and would spook and jump to the opposite side of the road (mind it was on a busy road) since then tho I never hacked him out on a busy road. He got better with the spooking tho. But I really hope the next horse I get is good on roads and likes hacking too. The horse will go back if he doesn't.
 
I would hate not to be able to hack. It's the best bit of having a horse!! Nice frosty, sunny morning hacks, having a gallop, jumping logs, and just wandering your own route!! I think that roadwork is also good for them, makes them learn a lot.

So to those who never hack... does that mean that you have never galloped your horse??
 
We hack out, all of us, including the two rising three year old babe (on vet's orders - clicky stifle(?)). Took Little Cob and LIttle Lad yesterday and was very impressed by Little Cob - Little Lad is bombproof, but Little Cob likes to stick his nose up Big Cob's bum as he feels safer there lol We have narrow lanes, which was fun today given the noise the cars made when they went through the slush, and then we're onto a busy road through a village, then onto a beautiful estate. On the estate though, despite the beautiful tracks etc, or rather because of them, there are a lot of machines and things that make noises, so the work we've done on the roads comes in very useful!

I worked hard on my nerves to hack my girl out - I just kept thinking that te more I took her out, the quicker we would get to be like the others who could hack out when they wanted to and go and have fun. I also thought it was better for her to be out and about as we only had a menage, which was not good for a youngster all the time. Our Little Cob staled completely from being only in the school and totally switched off - hacking got him interested in life again. I admit to some nerves about the new horse, although she is said to be calm, it's all going to be so very different for her.
 
I agree with the first comment by lulup - but there is a lot you can do to get over your fears and improve your own confidence. I was looking at a Hypnosis web site earlier - sounds a bit way out but a lot of professional riders use this and other therapies; they also have problems with nerves/ confidence sometimes - we all do.

For the horses, have you considered sound training ? There is a new uk site out - don't think I can mention the web site but stable sounds might find it. Safety should come first - but there are things you can do if it's just nerves/ inexperience. Don't just give in before you have tried something because you and your horse will be missing out - even if you have to box up to find a good ride and don't go very often.
 
i can take or leave hacking...depends what mood i'm in. i don't like taking the mare on the road as she is unpredictable in traffic, too dangerous and unfair on other road users, she is, however fab on sponsered rides so we do a few of those, off road and loads of fun. i hack my sec d out more, apart from the odd moment he's a lovely hack and he enjoys it too.
 
BeanOnTheMulledWine - hadn't thought about not galloping, I just adore that excited cantering on the spot at the beginning of a gallop track - and then flying away with my horse going as fast as his little legs can carry him!
 
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