Hopeless Hacker No More!!!

[ANN H]

Promise I won't bore you all with this again (hopefully there'll be no need to!!)
Took Misty out again this weekend with YO on bike and we were out for ........... drum roll .......... one hour and ten minutes! She was as calm as anything apart from when we were approached by five jogging women, and even then she was controllable. (Misty always thinks she's being chased if somebody runs towards her!) Managed to get her past Reg's livery yard on the way home, despite the horse-eating chickens and geese on the yard, although she did start stepping sideways into the middle of the road with her nose nearly touching the floor!! Think I've finally cracked this hacking lark. Its worked wonders for my confidence. Thanks to all NR's for your support and encouragement. I couldn't have done it without you!!

[HairyCob]

Well done Ann! Keep up the good work, and keep us updated- we never get bored of hearing about peoples achievements!

I for one want to know about it the first time you venture out sans friend on bike, and the first time you go out for an hour, and then decide it's such a beautiful day and you're both enjoying yourselves so much you'll just go a bit further, and end up out for three hours!

Top tip though- when you do go out alone, take a mobile... not only does it give you peace of mind that you can call for help if needed, it also means you can phone someone and let them know that your hour has turned into three hours..... saves the yard sending out the national guard;) :D

[ANN H]

I for one want to know about it the first time you venture out sans friend on bike, and the first time you go out for an hour, and then decide it's such a beautiful day and you're both enjoying yourselves so much you'll just go a bit further, and end up out for three hours!

Top tip though- when you do go out alone, take a mobile... not only does it give you peace of mind that you can call for help if needed, it also means you can phone someone and let them know that your hour has turned into three hours..... saves the yard sending out the national guard;) :D[/QUOTE]

[ANN H]

Sorry - pressed the wrong button there!! You know what HairyCob, I think that three hour solo hack might just happen in the not too distant future. I've actually bought one of those velcro mobile phone holders so that I can strap it to my arm in the event that I have no pockets.

[HairyCob]

That's the spirit! Plan ahead... I'm going to buy one of those clip to the saddle water bottle holders... always get thirsty on a long hack... and by the summer when I hope to be going off for three hours, I'll need it, won't I?!:D

[amandal]

Oh well done:D , I'm plagued by confidence problems regarding hacking and know how pleased I'd be with myself if I'd done this. I'm giving my mare some time off as she's moved and isn't yet in her new herd but in a fenced off area in the field with them. Once she's settled I'm determined to go out and actually ride her outside the school

Congratulations again.

[ANN H]

Thanks everyone! Hmmm, water bottle holder. I can see a trip to the tackshop looming!!

[domane]

Ooh! I haven't seen a saddle water bottle holder - where can I get one too???

Well done Ann for your progress! I haven't attempted a 3-hour hack yet as I am not sure my lower regions would cope with saddle position for that long, so I need to build up to it! Although with the good weather coming, I can see it on the horizon.... :D

[Dummer&Drummer]

oo well done you :) i bet you are WELL PLEASED, and so you should be :)

i went to go hacking yesterday 4 of us, they decided last minute that one was lame and he went off home which left 3 of us, with only drummer being able to lead, much as i would not take the others on the normal 6-10 miles we do with lots of cantering and main road work, did take them on 4 mile quiet road work hack, learnt loads about drummer and even came home via the main road :)

[ANN H]

Thanks Sarah. I have it in my diary that from 1/3/06 our 'hacking support group' comes into force. Don't think we need it any more, do you? Well done to you as well. You're obviously having a ball and have found the perfect horse.

[Dummer&Drummer]

i think i still need it lol - still nervous, but this is going dramatically :) i still only been out once totally alone with drummer, maybe not hacking support, but being alone undersaddle support :) i may take drummer to sj comp on sunday and just do 1.8 and 2ft and enjoy a day out with him see how he is and how my nerves are :) - ill be doing the sj round alone - is that not a form of hacking lol :)

[ANN H]

I saw your SJ thread and think you deserve a medal. Solo hacking pales into insignificance compared to SJ-ing!!! Hope all goes well.

[Dummer&Drummer]

dunno about a medal, free bupa care would not go amiss lol

nah see i would rather do a round of sj than go for a couple of hour hack alone :) all over with in 1 min 20 (approx)

gonna look a goon, but hope i dont fall off, at 1.8 and 2ft ill be competing with like under 14yrs i reckon - and trust me, the pc kids at our yard leave me standing in a pile of....sand lol