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Post by lauranash on Jan 2, 2011 9:23:55 GMT 1
there is a lot of big traffic like tractors over harvest time etc. Yes, should have said the roads around us are only usually very quiet. Sadly we do have that problem too. Also often get stuck behind herds of cows on the move, and frequently meet escapee hens from the (very) free-range chicken farms. We do also have a local farmer whose daughter rides with us and he will occasionally announce that a particular field is now okay for her to use (and friends accompanying her).
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orangetails
Intermediate Poster
Jay, Lilly and Tangle
Posts: 219
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Post by orangetails on Jan 2, 2011 20:48:01 GMT 1
No bridleways within hacking distance of our yard (closest is an old stretch of roman road about 1.5hrs roadwork away, and it's only a hardcore track so can't really canter on it!) - all our local hacking is roadwork - mostly a fairly busy village with a single track country road to venture down if you go a bit further afield, very limited in terms of loops tho as you have to go out and come back along the same 3 miles of road before you get to anything resembling a loop to ride round, so very very dull. There's numerous bridleways within boxing distance but most are pretty disjointed, just going from one bit of road to another which seems senseless to me. If I boxed further (30-60mins) out there'd be more choice, otherwise I mainly box to our local forestry commission, which I pay an annual permit for. It's 10-15mins in the box and quite a large area to ride around whn you get there - you could be out for 3-4hrs with no problems altho again mostly hardcore/gravel tracks so limited fastwork opportunities. Otherwise, we have a school at the yard as well as a jumping paddock, and a short ride around the edge of the fields. After the harvest we can sometimes ride on some local stubble fields which is nice. I'd love better hacking, it's a pain having to box anywhere for a real hack, but there's always compromises in a yard I think, and everything else about where I am is perfect for me and my girls. I'm lucky to have transport so it's fine
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Post by fircones on Jan 5, 2011 19:39:58 GMT 1
Straight on to the South Downs where we are but some of it is pretty challenging hacking - very steep bits and slippery in the winter. You can hack for miles if you want to though. Some short road rides for the winter and a school within ten minutes hacking distance which we can hire.
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izzy
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,077
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Post by izzy on Jan 5, 2011 20:06:27 GMT 1
Lots of circular rides with little roadwork from 30 min to 2hrs long, peddars way 1hr ride away,woods 1hr either way from field,quiet country lanes, approx 4hrs to nearest beach with 2 horsey bn b s ,or 1hr in box to Holkham beach its fantastic miles of sand, very quiet roads with farm traffic but 99% very considerate,ride in field or use friends outdoor schol.Lots of competitions pleasure rides within 1hr drive some hr ride.Indoor schools to hire etc
Whoops got carried away and didnt realise just how much there is on my doorstep!!
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Post by sandy on Jan 5, 2011 22:13:27 GMT 1
Well reading these posts has made me realise how little riding we have. No bridleways, incredibly busy roads, YO who locks the school at the first sign of bad weather - locked since early December and is still locked; A warning notice on the 20 acre rested field that if we leave hoof marks the gate will be locked so that leaves me.............................................a tiny field that is so rutted and boggy that its dangerous to ride or longline in as you stand a good chance of landing flat on your face!
Think a box is required then at least I could get to Solihull Riding club with their 200 acres of off road hacking! Hope I win the premium bonds in the next couple of months!
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Post by KimT on Jan 6, 2011 13:58:47 GMT 1
Bridleways and farm type fields one way and road work followed by bridleways the other. I can chose what I want to do. Have got an arena on yard but its a bit run down so dont go in there very often anymore. I do like a bit of road work and its very good to bombproof your horse. The roads within a mile are very busy and do have lorries, tractors and coaches. Im lucky to ride bombproof horses. After that though theyare typical country roads.
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Post by nich on Jan 6, 2011 14:08:07 GMT 1
we have a path directly in to woodland (have to pay for a permit), then just pop over a road to fields. I wouldn't consider moving anywhere without good hacking, am a bit spoilt as our old yard had 500 acres on their land, and we can box over there still and use it for £10 if we want vaiety (and good fields for fast work).
Hannah i was looking for a while to buy something where we could keep horses at home in Leicestershire, but found places with access to bridleways are rarer than hen's teeth!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2011 15:48:30 GMT 1
Sandy, why does your YO lock the school? What harm is going to be done using it in bad weather?! Sounds mad to me, surely the main benefit of paying for livery where there is a school is it means you can ride more often in bad weather?!
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Post by sandy on Jan 6, 2011 16:26:21 GMT 1
Hi Michelle, Have Pm'd you!
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Post by donnalex on Jan 6, 2011 18:20:49 GMT 1
I ride out on hacks along quiet roads and bridleways. I am lucky that my neighbour is also horsey so we go through each others yards to get out and about. We can go for miles but you do need to be a little bit good in traffic to cross some of the busier roads and if you want to go out for more than a few hours you need to cross the by pass. What area are you looking in?
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Post by arabheaven on Jan 6, 2011 19:51:00 GMT 1
I school 3 times a week and hack twice a week on salisbury plain - have to do 10-15 mins roadwork to get there, quite busy town traffic but mine are both good with traffic xxx
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Post by Liz on Jan 6, 2011 20:06:31 GMT 1
I used to ride over the Quantock Hills and had dorect access. I also rode around lots of very quiet little lanes over the other side of the Taunton to Minehead road and used to enjoy that as a change from hills and forestry land! I only had access to a school for the last couple of years of riding and,tbh, didn't use it much, preferring riding out either by myself (most of the time) or with a couple of friends.
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Post by andyt on Jan 6, 2011 21:33:32 GMT 1
We normally ride around the quiet country back lanes and bridleways here in Hartland. However if we want to box somewhere more interesting Exmoor (69000 hectares of access and 400 miles of bridleways) and Dartmoor (40000 hectares of open access) are under an hour away! ;D
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Post by Hannah on Jan 7, 2011 21:51:53 GMT 1
Andy, we are probably heading in your direction! Looking at Devon/Somerset/Dorset.
Really interesting to hear how different our hacking is and how everyone manages.
I hate having the horses where they are as I really miss having good hacking. I was spoilt before and now nothing is good enough!! I am thinking about moving the horses to get better riding in this area.
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