How long do you hack out for

Dizzy Woo

Dizzy Woo

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2008
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Went for a lovely impromptu hack with my friend today, we have been notching up nearly 3 hours usually but last week I was so sore after it took me 3 or 4 days to recover :unsure:
Today we did a shorter ride as we had originally planned to go out Monday.
We were out just under 2 hours, despite the rain, it felt 'not right' turning back that bit earlier.
Physically my hip doesn't really hurt this time so that's gotta be better, but I do feel like I was short changed.
I do wish my body would behave and not dictate the time I can spend out with my friend.
Just wondered how long others ride out for, I would love to go out for longer
 
Normally at home it's only for about an hour at the moment due to lack of company and the business of the roads on our routes. Had a lovely hack today though that was 2 hrs. I'd love to do longer hacks next year :)
 
Evie: Very wide and forward going. Very good safe hack but tbh Hour max. Then I crumple in a heap, yow my hips ache etc. Even with bespoke saddle and HM seat saver. But I love her cos she is soooo good.

Cherie, (aka Mighty Mouse) is a total cruise when she is not bucking me off lol.

I could ride her....all day...all night, take her to bed with me. Jump for England, the universe. We can go anywhere together and do anything....if her mood and mine takes us. Get the wrong mix though and total fireworks. Great pony great owner but boy do we clash:smile:
 
At the moment only about an hour... we have very limited hacking around our yard but am planning to get out with my box next spring so hopefully will be able to do longer hacks then.
 
Depends on the blasted weather, a lot of our nicer hacks are flooded atm. But I dont go for more than an hour generally, but am hoping to start building us both up to longer ones to come March.

Thats an aim and objective that is, more riding next year than I did in this one. And I want to learn to jump over ditches without saying 'please dont please dont please dont...oh bugger!!!'
 
crinklesb said:
Probably average of an hour, we don't have any road work to do and are straight out onto forest tracks, we are completely spoilt!
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Same here. In fact I have to plan my hack to include a minimum of 20 minutes on a tarmac lane because otherwise Trevor Jones my trimmer will be cross with me!
 
I used to think it was pointless just to do a round the block ride of 20mins but then realised that anything was better than nothing and even took the opportunity to ride Joy bareback in just her headcollar with a lead rein tied round for reins to and from barn to field.

Hacking out can be any where from 20 mins round the block, to 2.5 hours.

Unfortunately I'm limited to this because I don't ride Joy enough for her to be fit enough to do more although I could do all day and take lunch out with me if she was.

If I do do a longer hack of 2+ hours, I always do a short hack as my next one as its so easy to take Joy for granted and make her sore by suddenly doing too much because she's so willing and enthusiastic. I need to remember to be sensible and tailor the hacks to her lack of muscle and fitness, whatever her opinion on the matter.
 
Varies between 45 min - 90mins. I hack straight onto the other forest as well and can go for miles in any direction, however I start feeling guilty if I go longer. Just for a 45 min hack I'll be gone 2.5 hours from home.
 
I no longer have my share so it is back to a prescribed 1 hour ride.
I'd love to be able to book for an hour and a half - O for a riding school system that allowed one to do that. It would reduce congestion on the normal 1 hour routes too.
I can book for 2 hours - I do this about twice a year in summer to prepare for long trail rides in the States. But one has to book in advance and who wants to be out in pouring winter rain for 2 hours?
 
Lately only been around an hour as only managing to hack mid week at 3, so need to get back before it goes dark.

In the summer we would often do 2-4 hour hacks, roll on next summer!
 
When I had Charlie I would head off for hours sometimes. No particular destination, just exploring. I had got Thyme up to 2 hours + hacking up and down hills by the time I sold her. She'd have been lovely on all day pub rides! Horses are fitter than we give them credit for, I reckon. It is our own endurance or lack of time that are the limiting factors.
 
Skib said:
who wants to be out in pouring winter rain for 2 hours?
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Me!
I remember being on a residential riding holiday and the weather was pretty grim. The escort came in at breakfast and said "well I guess you'd rather not ride today?" I said "I certainly do!' I think she was a bit peeved. Had hoped for a day off but had 6 hours in the rain instead!
 
I worried about my own escort in foul weather this week going just for an hour and was told that she would be working anyway - none the less her gloves gave no protection. Her hands wet and cold. This is a moral thing isnt it? That riding is on the whole an extra expense and I bought good brand and quality winter riding clothes years ago so I am protected from weather. But staff are usually not highly paid. Or dont spend on clothes. My OH has no proper winter gloves to ride in and wont spend the money.
 
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Riding is an all weather sport. If there were a risk issue or a health and safety issue, the ride could be cancelled and riders refunded. Cancellation is always an option, as happens when it is icy or very windy. But given that the ride was not cancelled, I did not feel obliged to 'choose' an unwanted shopping day, as the other riders did, when I had paid for a very precious weekend of RIDING.
 
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