Does Just Being A Happy Hacker Make You A Good Rider?

by goldie1995 in Haynet Forum · 3 months ago · 28 Replies · View last reply

goldie1995

I have read on another forum an interesting thread that if you only hack out does it mean you can really ride properly? They were saying that anyone can sit on a horse and hack out as you don't use correct position or aids as if you were riding in an arena. What are your thoughts on this? I'm a happy hacker and only school occasionally but does that mean I'm not a good rider? Surely if you can sit a spook, negotiate hazards while out hacking that makes you a good rider too?

Rowena Day

Yes and no really there are some really good riders who are concious of their positions out hacking and there are some really bad riders who only school!

Haynet Admin

Interesting subject and a good point Rowena. I would class myself as a Happy Hacker and very rarely compete (too stressful for me - lol) I think it does take some skill to deal with the hazards riding out on the roads/lanes/fields/woods and perhaps this is a skill that riders who only school would not have. Saying that when I do go in a school and have a lesson, the seat and aids are a different ball game too. Wouldnt say it would make me any less of a rider just because I hack though.

Lorraine Jennings

You ride therefore you are a rider.

You stay on therefore you are a well balanced good rider.

That is all :)

Lorraine Jennings

PS although - of course a few school your horse schooling guides wouldn't hurt! *shameless I know ...

lmel

I'm a happy hacker too, but while I'm out there, dealing with spooks, obstacles, etc. I'm always thinking about my position, aids, etc. And I make a point of working without stirrups as well. I'm just having more fun, as is Harley. Not to say we don't sometimes work in the school too!

alison barton

Hi first thanks for responding to my blog yesterday re looking for more time in the saddle.Its good to know someone is out there! At the moment I don't hack out at all. There are a few reasons for this :I started back riding in September after a break of about 15 years and needed the confines of the arena for confidence, I hadn't had much schooling before and had quite alot of bad habits to address. I have enjoyed seeing progress. I also want to improve particulary on my flat work aids etc and I am really enjoying that. Hacking out from Redbrook is a bit tricky when the weather is bad. But I have been told the hack is great particularly when the bluebells are out. So I will definately incorporate hacking out come the spring. Sounds to me like you are a capable and confident rider/hacker incorporating schooling in your hacks and having fun which of course is the best thing of all, so enjoy and I will try a hack soon.

heucherella

I do a bit of everything - dressage, jumping, trec, xc. But I am mainly a hacker and proud of it. On an average solo hack I will work on transitions, on changing pace withing a gait, and will spend time working in an outline. We leg yield across the lane and back, we back up when opening gates. We pop logs when we come across them, and go up and down broad steps onto a bridleway. I sit spooks, deal with occasional planting, and control some very enthusiastic galloping. So it's not 'just' hacking, is it?

I think comments like that stem from people who slop along with washing-line reins, chatting away. We all do it occasionally, but it is the exception for me, not the rule.

Le Puy

I don't think it matters what you do on your horse, you can be a good rider or a bad rider.

There's a lot to be said for hacking and I find it strange that some people tend to dismiss it.

It's suprising what you can do out hacking, be it jumping , schooling or just relaxing your horse, letting him stretch on a long rein.

Lorraine Jennings

If I'm honest this 'equestrian snobbery' over hacking has always niggled me. (And I speak as someone who enjoys schooling more than anything in the whole world!) Why should you have to explain why you 'only' hack? It's your hobby and do as you please. If your horse is happy and you're both enjoying each others company you must be doing something right!

Happy future hacking everyone :)

Haynet Admin

I think I know where the original thread was read which doesnt suprise me at the response it received over "there" (I am being diplomatic here!) There are a couple of interesting threads again on "there" at the moment about cliques of members berating riders on there just because they ask advice, or are happy hackers.... "Equestrian Snobbery" at it's best...not a nice trait in my eyes i'm afraid!

Lorraine Jennings

I'm not going there ... lol I just nearly did but I deleted it :)

Margaret

This is one of those situation where both disciplines can benefit from each other. I fit into "this"category. I have NO interest in showing at this point, but I do take lessons. I also think the horse and rider both benefit from "hacking". Schooling helps with communication for both, really. I believe a horse that responds to leg cues and body movement and is more than a neck reiner is a much safer horse and the mind of a horse certainly benefits from hacking... I have witnessed this first hand! Actually, I think hacking is the more difficult for many as their are lots of things that many a schooled horse is terrified of... the "safety" of that ring is gone. So... snobbery might just be a bit of fear ! (Granted, not everyone has access to nice trails and rode)

maddiandoscar

I'll warn you guys in advance that this could turn into an essay (Because an essay about riding is way more fun to write than an essay about cities becoming sustainable)

Firstly, how can you define a good rider? I've know many people who only - or mainly - hack and I would say are brillaint riders. They ride the horses that other people would be too scared to hack out because of behaviour problems and such, and they ride them well. They have control, know what to do when things go wrong, can always stop them and always stay on. Now if they went and did a dressage test they might not come out with a very good score but does that mean they're not a good rider, because they don't ride to what the judges want to see?

Secondly, if you have no desire to compete does it really matter? If the idea of entering a dressage or show jumping ring fills you with horror and you'd much rather hack out all year round then why should you feel like you have to school? Obviously some horses will benefit from schooling every now and then even if they are just hacking but that depends on the horse. That's another thing that annoys be on forums - people having the view that one rule fits all horses. It doesn't. Ever.

Finally, why does hacking mean that you're not improving? You could be schooling your horse out hacking, for example. Your horse will probably be more forward in the school if you only go in it occasionally so all those things that need impulsion *can* work better on a hack because the horse wants to go. So hacking could benefit your schooling and riding. Chances are if you hack out past lots of 'scary' things regularly your horse is less likely to spook mid-test ;-)

Now back to the essays I'm supposed to be writing....

goldie1995

Good point Maddi and thanks for all the replies. Knew it would get some good views without any acid replies. Like you say admin I did read it "there" and was staggered at the responses a while ago...

maddiandoscar

I want to know where "there" is now so I can go and have a lol... ;-)

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