Post by Dragonmaster on Dec 1, 2011 0:53:00 GMT 1
I was thinking as I was riding out in the sunshine this morning... and we have had some discussion about this on the DG before... about all the skill required in hacking.
We are referred to as 'Happy Hackers' - well that is probably quite true as I bet most of us who do hack out regularly are very happy when doing so. But the implication is rather derisory. In fact I was once told via Facebook by a young acquaintance of mine (who I've known since she was 5!) that *her* horse had to work for his living (she events) and was not just a happy hacker.
Now I'm sure Red & Rosie dont think that going 4 miles up steep hills is 'just a walk in the park', it's quite hard work for them.
Now, I am absolutely not belittling those who do compete and do most of their riding in an arena. That is their chosen discipline and that is fine, but why is 'hacking' not seen as our 'chosen discipline'? Why are we seen as some sort of second class rider?
Going back to my riding school days, you were not allowed to go out on a hack until the instructors believed your standard of riding was up to it. It was something you aimed for as a novice rider.
Lets consider the required skills to be a competent hacker...
You need to have confidence that you can handle your horse, and confident that your horse is very unlikely to do anything that you can't handle. In order for this to happen your horse has to be confident in you, his rider. He has to see you as someone who is fit to be in charge of his safety. This means that when someone starts up an electric hedge trimmer in a garden just as you are passing the hedge, the horse only startles, and you stay with him. He doesnt run away as you did not get frightened or tense when he jumped.
This means that as a rider you need to have a secure, balanced and independent seat, so that you do not even come near falling off if the horse gets spooked.
Both horse and rider need to understand and be able to do basic schooling: leg yielding, turn about the forehand & back up (for gates) and to practice it for parts of the ride.
You need to be able to control the pace in walk, trot & canter as some times you will need to go steady and others you can go fast.
I have a few more thoughts on this but what do you DGers think? What are the skills needed for safe & happy hacking?
Is hacking a valid Equestrian Discipline? Or is hacking just something for the not so good riders who can't compete?
We are referred to as 'Happy Hackers' - well that is probably quite true as I bet most of us who do hack out regularly are very happy when doing so. But the implication is rather derisory. In fact I was once told via Facebook by a young acquaintance of mine (who I've known since she was 5!) that *her* horse had to work for his living (she events) and was not just a happy hacker.
Now I'm sure Red & Rosie dont think that going 4 miles up steep hills is 'just a walk in the park', it's quite hard work for them.
Now, I am absolutely not belittling those who do compete and do most of their riding in an arena. That is their chosen discipline and that is fine, but why is 'hacking' not seen as our 'chosen discipline'? Why are we seen as some sort of second class rider?
Going back to my riding school days, you were not allowed to go out on a hack until the instructors believed your standard of riding was up to it. It was something you aimed for as a novice rider.
Lets consider the required skills to be a competent hacker...
You need to have confidence that you can handle your horse, and confident that your horse is very unlikely to do anything that you can't handle. In order for this to happen your horse has to be confident in you, his rider. He has to see you as someone who is fit to be in charge of his safety. This means that when someone starts up an electric hedge trimmer in a garden just as you are passing the hedge, the horse only startles, and you stay with him. He doesnt run away as you did not get frightened or tense when he jumped.
This means that as a rider you need to have a secure, balanced and independent seat, so that you do not even come near falling off if the horse gets spooked.
Both horse and rider need to understand and be able to do basic schooling: leg yielding, turn about the forehand & back up (for gates) and to practice it for parts of the ride.
You need to be able to control the pace in walk, trot & canter as some times you will need to go steady and others you can go fast.
I have a few more thoughts on this but what do you DGers think? What are the skills needed for safe & happy hacking?
Is hacking a valid Equestrian Discipline? Or is hacking just something for the not so good riders who can't compete?