How to Hack Out Safely with Your Horse
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Hacking out is a fantastic way to explore new places and enjoy time with your horse. Other benefits of hacking include building fitness levels, increasing confidence and adding variety to your training. With our tips and tricks, you and your horse will be hacking out safely so you can focus on having fun.
Practise Makes Perfect
Before venturing out for a hack, ensure you and your horse are confident in the manège. Work on transitions, making sure that you have good brakes before heading out. Now is also a good opportunity to practise getting off and on again in case you need to out on a ride. You can also work on opening gates onboard so that you don’t struggle to try for the first time on your hack. Desensitising with common spooky objects such as plastic bags, or encountering vehicles in a safe space prior to your hack is a good idea if roadwork is part of the route.
Go with a friend who has a reliable horse if you are hacking out for the first time. Take it steady and allow your horse time to overcome unfamiliar objects. Keep your rides slow and short to begin with and then build up to longer and faster hacks.
Research the Route
Exploring with a friend is a great way to discover new routes without getting lost! Or, check out some of these online resources:
Equitrekking – trail rides across the USA
Trailmeister – find horse friendly trails and camps in the USA
Parks Canada – find horse trails and campsites in Canada’s National Parks
Ride Maps UK – riding routes in the UK
Plot a Route – user submitted rides around the world
You could also see if there are any equestrian Facebook groups in your area. This is a good way to not only find new routes but maybe some new hacking buddies too.
Dress for the Weather
Summer riding requires light, breathable clothing. Riding tights are a good option for summer. By combining the flexibility of workout leggings with the grip of breeches, these will soon become your go-to for warmer weather. For tops, look for something with UV protection. A ventilated riding hat and gloves are essentials too.
For wet weather, a jacket with a concealed riding pleat will keep you protected from the elements in the saddle. A waterproof exercise sheet for your horse is a good idea too. This saves time as you can put a rug on when you get back to the yard without waiting for them to dry out.
Hacking is enjoyable on crisp, chilly days too with the right clothing. Layer up so that you can easily add or remove clothing as needed. Fleece lined riding tights or breeches will be a wardrobe favourite this time of year, along with insulated riding boots. You might also want to use a fleece exercise sheet on your horse, particularly if they are clipped.
Stay Safe and Be Seen
Wearing hi-viz is essential to ensure you are your horse stay safe by being seen. It’s important to wear hi-viz all year round, both on and off the road. When riding off the roads, hi-viz can help helicopter pilots to spot you sooner, enabling them to avoid you. Also, in the unfortunate event of a fall, hi-viz can make it easier for the emergency services to find you.
Did you know? Wearing hi-viz can give drivers an extra three seconds of reaction time.
Consider the environment you’ll be riding in when selecting your colour of hi-viz. Yellow might blend into green fields and yellow crops during the summertime. Similarly, orange might not be as effective against autumn leaves. While any hi-viz is better than none, it’s worth thinking about the time of year and where you’ll be riding to ensure a good contrast between you and your surroundings. Equisafety has a multi coloured range which is a good way to stand out no matter where you are riding. The lightweight mesh fabric is great for staying cool in the summer too.
Keep in Touch
If you’re hacking alone, let someone at the yard know when you expect to be back.
Always take your phone with you. It’s not only a great way to snap some pics through your horse’s ears but to check the map if you get lost, or call for help.
You might also want to consider an app such as Horse Rider SOS or Safe Rider which notify your emergency contact in the event of a fall.
A bum bag is a great way to store your phone and any other essentials (including polos for your pony).
Here’s to lots of fun and safe hacking adventures with your horse!
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