Riding Schools and hacking.

[fleabitten]

Topic 1 - Should riding schools have access to hacking and take lessons out on hacks (not just laneways and bridle paths and farm tracks but actual roads) ? Do you think it is a good idea? Is it too dangerous? What about traffic etc. ?

Does your local riding school take lessons on hacks?

Topic 2 - Does your riding school hold lessons in a small field (lessons as in flatwork and showjumps) every now and then or just use the field for a gallop as part of a hack or does your school take lessons on their cross country course?

Do you think this is a good idea?


Discuss!

[kateflashy]

our old stables had to go on the road to get to and from the bridle way but always had instructor per 3 people keeping 1 at the front and 1 at the back
used to have a cross country course in the field that they would occasionaly hold lessons in
i thought it was good because you learnt more rather then going round in circles all the time you had to control the horse and steer not just follow the one in front

[haffyfan]

The riding school i went to had instant access to woodlands but we also rode on the roads/crossed roads to access further woodland and forestry commision tracks.....but it was in the dark ages before all the health and safety laws so not sure what they do now.

We had an outdoor manage for lessons and a XC course used for XC only. Lessons were never taken in fields etc

[racaille]

We don't have to use roads on hacks so the normal lessons tend to stick to the tracks and paths. Howver, if it is/has been belting with rain a lesson might go out for a 'trotting' on the tarmac lanes. I know in the UK you would avoid trotting on tarmac but since our terrain is so stony, tarmac is the lesser of two evils and, not being an expert on tarmac, it seems quite spongey and absorbent so does not get slippery.
But an all-day rando will necessarily have some roadwork and I think this is a good thing. The club horses are all 100% safe in traffic but sometimes the riders need to aquire a bit more courage!
We have various fields and they are used for all sorts of things. I think it is a very useful exercise, not least because it gets the rider thinking about direction instead of relying on the arena barrier to turn the horse. It also wakes the horse up a bit.

[duckles]

Most riding schools I know have hacks out for everyone who has mastered walk and trot. I don't think they teach on the hack but supervise of course (to a greater or less degree!)

My old school had show jumping lessons in the field in the summer and occasionally did x country but otherwise lessons were in the arena.

I think its great to get out of the arena and if i were running a school i would alternate an indoor lesson with a hack as i think its good to put your skills into practise plus its a lot easier to get a school horse to trot or canter on a hack so really helpful for beginers. Teaches people more independence as well

[aimee]

1. I think every horse should be able to hack out every now and again. Dunno about you lot but it would do my head in looking at the same old mugs every day and riding round the same old school everyday...wheres the stimulation in that? My riding school has their own private track going around the edge of their land...which never gets used at all..complete waste of money/time building it! So yes I do think its a good idea for riding schools to do group hacks...just a shame mine don't. Last week we was practising for our road safety, not on road but in the driveway and up to the main entrance...all the horses flipped out and were so disorientated and confused as to why they weren't in the school! Its sad really.

2. Yes they do have a field, but it has had horses grazing in it since I started there (last Sept) so I have not had the chance to go in there yet. But apparently they do do it in the summer. Have a log and small bank..hardly xc but better than nothing lol