Possibly a stupid question with an easy answer. What is ‘hacking’ as it relates to your general riding schedule? I keep reading and hearing of people hacking their horses, and certainly it can’t be the UK definition that is more toward riding out/trail riding…especially in the dead of winter.
So how is a ‘hack day’ different than say a dressage day?
Thanks so much for helping this newbie to eventing!
Hack day = trail ride, almost always walking, perhaps occasionally with a little bit of trot/canter. I try to include hills when possible. Usually for a minimum of 30 minutes, preferably 45. Many hours of hacking is the best thing to build a sturdy base of fitness.
It’s a good weekly break to get out of the arena, mentally refreshing, and ease back into work after a day off (or much time off). With most horses, I hack on a loose rein, and my only rule is to maintain an active 4-beat walk. (NO jigging!!) I don’t care if they’re round and on the bit. I want them relaxed and having a good time, minding their own balance on hills and paying attention to their own feet over rocks, branches, and anything else in the way. For spooky or hot horses, I might have to walk on more contact and give them something to do (shoulder in, lateral work) but I try to graduate them to a loose rein if possible.
Apparently I was wrong about the riding out!
Thanks for the reply. As a convert from H/J land…I’m learning. The farm I’ll be moving to has a long driveway with a grassy verge…and is within riding distance of a horse friendly park for riding…guess that will be our hacks when it gets nicer outside.
Yep. Hacking is getting out of the ring. It’s a way to get exercise and a bit of LSD fitness work. It’s also a way to decompress, stretch our legs, and take a little pressure off. Lots of walking, sometimes trot and canter, too. I also sometimes do a “dressage hack,” which is a w/t/c hack, maybe stopping in flat-ish places along the way to do a little flatwork. When in full work, I usually hack twice a week, plus short hacks before and/or after a schooling in the ring.
Of course, what Toby and I need most right now are nice, long walk hacks, but we are stuck in the ring, walking, because of nasty footing. :no:
“Hacking” can be different depending on the discipline, too. A lot of my hunter/jumper friends use “hacking” to describe an easy flat session in the ring. I sometimes have to clarify with them what they are talking about. The “hack” class in a hunter show is usually the w/t/c class in a division. Sooo, hacking can really depend a lot on who you are talking to.
ETA: we posted at the same time. So, you obviously know the h/j meaning.
I worked for a British woman for years, so my definition of hacking is trail riding with a purpose. Lots of power-walking on light contact, some trot and canter, maybe a gallop to let the horse blow off a little steam. A flat school in the ring is just that–a flat school in the ring.
I have no ring, so all my rides include at least a 5-10 minute hack to and from my designated schooling area. In all kinds of weather, too, unless it’s raining pretty hard (ground gets greasy and slippery VERY fast) or just too stinkin’ cold and windy. I’m attempting to a) keep my TB sane and b) keep the cowpony somewhat fit for the upcoming calving season so I’ve been doing lots of power-walks with them. And some dressage schooling when the ground isn’t too bad. And some cattle herding with both of them when we desperately need a “fun” ride. 
I much prefer outside the arena to inside. My “hacking” or trail rides usually consist of 30% walk, 50% trot, and 20% canter/gallop. When possible we ride where it’s hilly. I have an OTTB so she loves a long hack with lots of trot and canter (well she most loves to Gallop!!!). I have her do some lateral work, back up, circles where possible. I think it is so good for her mind (and my mind too!!!)
I also use the term hacking for riding out. I don’t “go for a hack” in the arena
Yup. Out of the ring. Most of the time for me it is walking. Especially durning the winter when we are either on snow or the roads.
Hacking outside the arena is invaluable for teaching a horse to look after itself (good stuff in above posts) but possibly one aspect that gets a bit forgotten is that hacking also teaches the rider about how a horse moves over different ground (through mud, water, rocky places) and when going up and down hills. That knowledge is key to both reading the ground and then riding XC in eventing.
Sometimes the hack is a walk, sometimes a trot and sometimes a canter, but always out of an arena, and usually relaxed, as opposed to doing trot set out of the arena where you are focused on forward and tempo and time.
I’d never heard of “hacking” being anything other than riding out until I started riding with a H/J trainer :yes:
We don’t have trails we can ride to, and no trailer, so while we get out of the ring whenever possible, hacking means low key exercise, and mental break for the horse. For the rider you can use it for things two pt on the flat to build strength, focusing on your old strength etc.
I agree with Willesdon that hacking is of benefit to horse and rider, especially new and timid riders. Getting comfortable with your horse when it is not confined by an arena (indoor our outdoor) and negotiating something other than flat ground is invaluable to both horse and rider and developing your partnership and confidence in each other.
Personally, my hacking on a loose rein got my horse to streeeetch his neck and open his shoulder and lift his back much more than any arena work trying to establish contact. Once he was stretching at that hacking walk, trot and canter, he almost magically improved his flatwork.
There can be elements of schooling in a hack, though, primarily (for me) the mental. Good for me, because I have done 99.6% of my riding in the ring, and good for maresie, who can sometimes be, uh… reactive?
(Oh, dear. Pheasants. Pheasants are not your friend…)
Is there some reason that schooling cannot be done whilst out hacking ? You can school when out hunting too.
Hack (noun).
(i) Hacks
The ideal Show Hack is of Thoroughbred type and should be capable of carrying an average adult. The Hack must be a pleasure to ride and have excellent manners. The Hack should be in self-carriage and be light and soft to ride, it should also have correct conformation with the emphasis on quality and elegance. The latter stems from a well set on head and neck combined with a good length of shoulder. The movement should be smooth and graceful with a true pointing of the toe. To achieve these qualities the Hack must be extremely well schooled.
Hacks can be:
Small Hack: mare or gelding four years old and over, exceeding 148cms, but not exceeding 154cms.
Large Hack: mare or gelding four years old and over, exceeding 154cms, but not exceeding 160cms.
The Association recommends that Shows should provide two classes for Hacks, but if it is only possible to hold one class the full range of height should be covered and the wording should be as follows:
Open Hack: mare or gelding four years old and over, exceeding 148cms, but not exceeding 160cms.
For Novice, Ladies Side Saddle, Young Rider, Restricted, Amateur and Amateur Owner Rider classes see Rule 7 (Definitions and Classifications).
Hack Judging: to be judged on type, ride, manners and conformation. It is recommended that Judges use the following percentages when judging Hacks: Ride 40%, Conformation 40%, Individual Show 20%.
The compulsory individual show should not exceed 1½ minutes and should include walk, trot, canter, rein-back, stand still and obedience to the leg. Judges should penalise lack of manners.
ii) A horse for rent
Hack (verb)
Trail ride. (hopefully on a horse that qualifies as a noun)
Hacking is the best thing ever for reactive horses. We ride on nice trails with lots of hills, change up the tempo, trot over logs and sticks, canter in the field, long rein down hills, scare deer. But lots of long reins and stretching is so valuable.
All my riding right now is hacking, I am the queen of hacking.
kicks stupid snow
Love the hacking, hate the ring! I school in my back meadow, which is pretty flat, but… I just love riding out. My father in law has the farm across the street and next to us, and is a calf roper. He put in a stonedust ring across the street (huge), that I could use whenever I’d like.
I’ve used it once in… a year? To take a sale video. Otherwise, out of the ring we go! Don’t get me wrong, arenas are nice but I feel like once you teach a horse everything you can outside of the ring, it’s not a hard transition to take it inside the ring. Whereas vice versa, if you become too dependent, is definitely not true.
OP: as a jumper rider who trains with an eventer, who rides with eventer buddies, and who has no other jumper friends in the area, I feel your pain! I have now gotten into the habit of referring to non-jumping ringwork as flatting so I don’t get confused looks when I talk about having a good hack in the ring.
As for the schooling part- my two guys go on at least short hacks several times a week, but they generally have to work a bit. If we do hills they have to go straight and work over their back up the hill. Then we’ll do loose reins, and then perhaps do more schooling- like canter voltes on a flat part of the field. It is what works for us, and my horses love it. Lots of jumpers (and show hunters) never get out of the ring, but I cannot imagine not doing it- I’ve always hacked out.
Thanks for all the info guys! I’ll learn, I promise! I won’t even be eventing til next year but we are doing some baby work with Titan this year.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;7418700]
Is there some reason that schooling cannot be done whilst out hacking ? You can school when out hunting too.[/QUOTE]
I feel that pretty much any time you swing your leg over a horse, you are schooling it in SOMETHING. Hacking, for me, however, is not about schooling movements or practicing anything, but about relaxing, decompressing, and getting a miles without it being all about “Work, work, work.” I still focus on straight and forward. I may request a certain way of going (especially if riding a star gazer or looky-loo), I still expect decent transitions. They also learn about balancing themselves, paying attention, and how to go places that may be scary without melting down. All beneficial to their education. Technically, all of that IS schooling certain things, but, for the most part, the attitude it is approached with is different than what happens when we ACTUALLY school.
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