Horse speed query

[kyanya]

Chickflick's recent thread about how to measure the mileage of routes got me thinking. I decided to get some thread and trace it over an OS map on the route of the hack we took this morning. I then measured the route and it came out at 48cm on the map scale. The map's scale says that 1 mile is about 6.5 cm. So if my calculations are right, the route we did today was about 7 miles, maybe a little bit longer.

This shocks me. 7 miles seems like a long way to me! To me, it seems like you'd need more than 2.5hrs to do 7 miles. Am I wrong?

So basically, what's a general hacking speed in miles per hours for horses? We were generally doing a fairly slow walk but had some short sharp trots and quite a few long canters across a lovely off-road bit. I wouldn't say we did more than 15mins canter in total though because the horses aren't very fit. However, our canters go at quite a strong pace!

So, is 7 miles in 2.5hrs logical?

[DavidH]

Seven miles in 2.5 hours is actually very slow. Average human walking speed is 4 miles per hour and horses on a reasonable walk should make at least 6.
I would expect to do that distance in well under 1.5 hours and on a reasonably fast hack in under an hour.

[kedwards]

Figure a slow walk being about 4-6mph, a trot 8-10mph, and canter 12-14mph. Gallops, of course, can be considerably faster.

Bear in mind, if you measured your distance by the string-and-map method, it was almost certain to be an underestimate of your true mileage unless the trail was pretty straight. The smaller turns and terrain changes that aren't present on a map account for more distance than you might expect.

[virtuallyhorses]

A 10k (is that about 7 miles?) loop (we sometimes ride the marked endurance trails) on one of our forest rides takes around an hour. Speed trotting as used in CTRs is easily 8-10mph, so add in a couple of canters and you can easily do 7 miles in under an hour even if you add in a few walks along the way to take a breather.

[Esther.D]

The shetlands used to do a 14 mile loop in a couple of hours, almost all in trot so averaging approx 7 miles per hour (their legs are half the length of horses so 8-10mph is a bit steep for them to maintain..but is possible if they are fit). We used to be able to do 24 miles in half a day (approx 4 hours) with the pair, again mostly in trot (timing not counting a 1/2hr break in the middle for lunch and a breather) so that was approx 6 miles per hour as it was a longer distance so we took it a little more gently.

[Tiber]

At my old yard the 'hour hack' was eight miles.

When I did it on my own it used to take me about an hour and a half cos I used to stop to splash about in the river and aviod all the roads!

Once did it in 45 mins though.

[kyanya]

Hmm - either we were going really slow, or the string & map has come up not very accurate.

Our hacks aren't too slow, but I must say the walk isn't that fast! A little less than human walking speed sometimes! It was so funny though because we got behind these 2 big 16.2hh horses at one point who had a really quick walk and all our ponies were really trying to keep up but failing miserably! :D

However, I think I probably under-estimated the hacks length. It is called the 'up and downs' because it does go up and down so much, which obviously isn't considered on the map. And I wasn't very accurate with the string either.

[virtuallyhorses]

... A little less than human walking speed sometimes! ...

:) A couple of us went for a leisurely hack along a back road once, we were happily yacking away when a couple pushing a baby stroller passed us (easily...) !! :o

[jowyles]

lol people over take me and my horse all the time in walk which is annoying when ** on a path or something u have to move :eek: