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Post by solomon on Nov 9, 2009 22:20:56 GMT
We are so lucky at our new yard, we have been there 9 weeks now and still haven't done the same hack twice. We do go to the same woods a lot but there are so many tracks through them it is fab. None of our circular routes are less han an hour, we have bridleways,lanes and a common. also a disused railway line, perfect for a canter. where do you all ride, our old yard there was a choice of two hacks!
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Post by fleabitten on Nov 9, 2009 22:22:37 GMT
Great!!! Glad you have lots of hacking buddies - perhaps you could send a few over to DB!
At home there is at least 6.
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Post by racaille on Nov 10, 2009 11:04:31 GMT
Wherever I want, really!!! We are allowed to go around the edges of fields and vineyards and there are dirt tracks all over the place, many of which are excellent canters. There are no hedges or fences here - a newcomer tried to close off a track near me with a chain which I am delighted to see has already been removed. The hunters just won't have it.
I can leave my house gates and not set foot on tarmac for a couple of hours if I want. I know I am spoilt ;D
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Post by fimacg on Nov 10, 2009 12:29:22 GMT
you lot are very spoilt, but I can't really complain apart from the fact the shortest circular route I have takes 3 hours... now that I am back on the roads (allbeit quiet ones)
When the crops are out and the fields are dry I can go wherever I want, but now it is getting too muddy or winter barley is in my month of bliss is over, there are still quite a few stubble fields around but the dry ones have sheep in now and the wet ones are well WET!
for hacks of 2hrs+ I have the forest but it takes an hour to hack up there but then you could be gone all day and not touch the same track twice.
2 new paths are proposed as part of our Core path network - one 1km up the road from me and 1km down the road from me linking up more areas of the forest... probably only need to wait another 10 years for that plan to come to fruition though
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Post by fleabitten on Nov 10, 2009 14:56:31 GMT
there are 3 bridle paths near me - proper ones - but they are just straight tracks leading from one road to the other. However, farmers have f'ed the first one up - the track is all crumbled away and its all rutted and there used to be a fence on either side but they took it down. Its up the middle of a big field.
Then theres 2 lanes - but theyre probably private - oops - have been down both to explore - its lovely being on a track.
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Post by duckles on Nov 10, 2009 17:47:10 GMT
I don't think I can even bare to comment on this thread!! I have 2 hacks - even with variations (like going into a field in autumn) and keeping to walk- one lasts less than an hour - the other can be up to 2 hours. Neither are circular and both are on roads!
I do really enjoy them as I enjoy anything to do with horses but reading you lot makes me very sorry for myself!!
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Post by solomon on Nov 10, 2009 21:25:25 GMT
Duckles where do you live? I know what it is like our old place was the same, hence why we moved. One of our two hacks used to be a narrow alley at the back of peoples gardens, after going under the motorway!
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Post by scattymare on Nov 11, 2009 18:29:39 GMT
We have great hacking near me - you need to do a small bit of roadwork to get to them but there are miles of bridleways. The closest is an estate which was a ten minute walk away, me and P could spend up to 3 hours wandering different routes.
Where Katie is she's a ten minute walk from the RSPB which is lovely to ride through. There is a great ride also the other way but you have to cross a common full of gypsy ponies. Going the other way out the yard there is also a good ride through the sand dunes (more like quarries!) that me and P did a couple of times. Need to get Katie past the stallion and pigs first though!
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Post by Blonde Donkey on Nov 11, 2009 18:37:51 GMT
Where the big girls are kept we have awesome hacking where we can go to the beach and round all the local villages takes a good two hours in walk, and up the other lane we have a superb uphill gallop and some logs to jump.
At ours we have a 100 metre grass path and that is it without going on the busy main roads.
At the local yard there are tracks to where the girls are kept so i intend on hacking there for lessons and my mums friend hacking over for a good long ride
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haffyfan
Administrator 
is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
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Post by haffyfan on Nov 11, 2009 19:29:11 GMT
Thats great Sol..bet your glad you decided to take the plunge and move now.
I am also very lucky as Notts has over 500 miles of paths for riders to use and I have immediate off road hacking straight out my field gate and can ride for several hours without hitting a road. Their are also excellent links to other paths/parks/woods etc that literally just cross at the roads so no riding along roads is needed, which are fully utilised with the rides ( including 100 milers although these take in the private estate and estate roads too) which are hosted just round the corner from us during the season.
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Post by duckles on Nov 11, 2009 19:39:39 GMT
Soloman - I live in Ireland. We don't really have bridle paths here - there are very very rare rights of way that you can ride on but none near me. The only places similar would be public lands like a forest where you can ride if you have a permit. (None near me)
While the horses are kept in a really country area - on one side there is the sea (an esturary so no beach rides!!)
On the other side there are loads of little roads but unfortunately most are cut off by an access road to the motorway.
I used to always envy you lot with bridle ways and quiet off road hacking - I suppose the person I should really envy is Racaille with Napolean's law that allows everyone to ride anywhere!! (actually I envy her already).
I would love to have hacking some of you have - well you never know, maybe some day...
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Post by fleabitten on Nov 11, 2009 21:22:54 GMT
They are trying to get more rights of way for horse riders (in northern ireland anyway). The URRA have been campaigning along with BHS Ireland and theyre getting some MPs on the case too which is great.
Like duckles, there are random bridle paths (tracks) here and there but nothing really. Just forests and beaches and country parks but you have to box them there.
Still, i think roadwork is very good for horses.
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jane
Novice Willy Washer
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Post by jane on Nov 11, 2009 22:48:59 GMT
I am lucky, i live in a tiny village in the hills not far from Llangollen in North East Wales, we have the Berwyns and the Clwydian Range, I can be out for hours, the roads here are quiet anyway and the traffic is usually minimal, people seem to be good with horses here. I hack in the mountains and there are so many rights of way, there is also a special trail for bikers, walkers and riders.
At this time of year I tend to go out for four hours at a time, and do circularish rides, sometimes I make sure i am passing friends places for a cup of tea.... or sometimes I think 'never been ther before' so try out new routes.
I know that I am extremley lucky.
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Post by solomon on Nov 15, 2009 20:41:35 GMT
Wow Jane that sounds amazing, we are coming for a holiday!
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jane
Novice Willy Washer
Posts: 954
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Post by jane on Nov 15, 2009 23:01:56 GMT
Hey Sol.
you'd be very welcome I can recommend two excellent pony trekking centres..... one of which I worked for for nineteen years. I can always join the trekks at either farm.
or bring your own horse and I can find you somewhere to board them and just come out with me!
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Post by gingernut on Nov 26, 2009 18:15:59 GMT
We have really good hacking but sadly our yard lane is on a national speed limit road, luckily we have a cycle path which we can ride down but we have the yard on the 'wrong side' of the road really as the back lanes on the other side hardly sees any traffic but on our side it can be quite busy. Hence the reason I'm waiting until the depths of winter until i venture out on P for the first time. The roads should be really quiet then. In summer for about 8 weeks we've decided not to hack at all due to the amount of traffic and the way the holiday makers drive round here. Shame really as when I had my first ponies over 10 years ago I used to go out for hours now it can get a bit scary!!
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Post by solomon on Nov 26, 2009 21:54:26 GMT
So frustrating aren't they flippin' rubbish drivers!
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