Have decided to cut back on schooling - need advice on hacking exercises??

MaisieMoo

MaisieMoo

Well-Known Member
Oct 19, 2007
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After getting some advice from you NR's and giving it some serious thought I've decided to cut back on Casper's schooling.

At the moment, he is schooled 3/4 times a week for about 40 minutes doing lots of trot and some canter. I try to vary it with poles, jumps, figure of 8, serpantines, teardrops etc. In addition, I try and lunge once a week to work specifically on C's canter but I also add some jumps and trotting poles.

I think we are both getting a bit stale in the school - we can turn it on when RI is there but the last few sessions have been a bit flat.:(:confused: I'm thinking it's because for the last couple of months, due to weather, all we've done is school - we've only hacked twice. C is only 5/6 and has the attention span of a fly!:rolleyes:

I figure now is a good time with the clocks changing to cut down the schooling and increase the hacking - even if it is just a wee 10 minute toddle up the road - at least it's more interesting for him.

So now I'm planning 2 schooling sessions per week, one lunge, as many hacks as I can fit in (new approach will be if weather is ok we hack!) and possibly some ground work/inhand work.

Y/O just told me that the new outdoor arena will be finished in May so we'll actually be able to do some proper schooling (indoor is only 30 x 15 and as an unbalanced cob, C finds it quite hard sometimes).

So tomorrow morning, we're going for a nice relaxing hack.

Now - where I do need help is finding exercises we can do when hacking on the road?

Unfortunately, the fields/woods are too wet just now although I'm hoping to start taking him to the all weather tracks about 20 minutes away)

One of the roads we have to hack on is very busy so all I can do is keep him going forward but the other is quite quiet so - any tips for what schooling exercises we can do to ensure all the work we've put in doesn't go to waste?

Thanks

K

p.s - sorry for the long post!:eek:
 
will he collect and extend? would give him something to think about

i used to get J flexing left right, shoulder in past scary things

not many ideas i'm afraid but if i were you I really wouldn't worry too much - just enjoy it! :)
 
Thanks for the ideas - I was considering getting that book and think I'll definately get it now!:)

He will extend and collect so I will try that.

Was also thinking of practicing leg yielding.

I've not done any shoulder in before - I'm not sure I remember the correct aids - can you advise?
 
have done extending and collecting on a hack.
leg yield, shoulder in, turn on the forehand is very useful when doing gates:p
also do plenty of transitions if the ponies get bored.

i got taught to do should in by doing a 10m circle (maybe smaller) and carry on the bend after you've finish the circle. if that makes sense :eek:
 
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BabyBear said:
I've not done any shoulder in before - I'm not sure I remember the correct aids - can you advise?
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erm!! :eek:

i'll leave it to someone who is better at explaining than me! i ask for the bend (usually away from the scary thing!) then use inside leg but without asking him to 'turn' like on a circle... that makes no sense! i must do something else too cause it works :eek::eek: someone will know!
 
Roofio said:
erm!! :eek:

i'll leave it to someone who is better at explaining than me! i ask for the bend (usually away from the scary thing!) then use inside leg but without asking him to 'turn' like on a circle... that makes no sense! i must do something else too cause it works :eek::eek: someone will know!
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Thats similar to how my old RI described it - flex rein in direction you want horse to look, inside leg on but keep a hold on outide rein to stop him turning??? Thoroughly confused me!:D
 
You can practice riding using your seat - keep a steady, light rein contact & see if you can get your horse to slow down & make downward transitions just using your seat, without any rein aids. You can also practice riding your horse in a long, low outline - my mare does this nicely on hacks, I think it's because she is relaxed, although she sometimes catches me out & starts to graze :eek: Cheeky moo!
 
Am I the only one who really doesn't do that much schooling stuff out on hacks? I have a 5 year old cob and I always take the view that hacking is chill out time for both of us- the rest of the time he does pretty serious schooling 2 or 3 times a week and a lunge or long reining or whatever session once a week so when i am hacking i like him to relax etc and enjoy himself.
So we just practice all paces and a bit of extension in some of them and obviously i make sure he will stop and go when i want him to but other than that i really don't practise much else as we have traffic and whatever else to deal with that i always think that is enough for him really!
 
I agree that it's chill time, but you can make it useful schooling-wise without frazzling your horse's brain! I spend 90% of my hacks riding on the buckle end, but there's no harm in picking up the reins & doing some exercises along the way. If you've got a spooky horse it can be a really good way to provide a bit of leadership & settle them down. I wouldn't want to ride a whole hack as a series of schooling manoeuvres though, it would be pointless - might as well stay in the school!
 
Iron Maiden said:
If you've got a spooky horse it can be a really good way to provide a bit of leadership & settle them down.
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Most of our hacking will just be relaxed but as Casper has the attention span of a fruit fly, I want do do some exercises to ask him to concentrate - if I let him doddle for tool long he gets lazy and stops lifting his feet properly and then trips!:rolleyes:
 
I don't know how advanced some of these may be :p but as par tof his training you can include turns on the forehand, leg yield across a track, lots of transitions both between the gaits and inside of them (i.e. extendign and collecting), inside and outside flexion (just imagine the road is the 'outside track' and the verge the arena fence), you can pop odd obstacles too if there are any (not on the road of course) when you get the chance ... halt - trot etc.

Make room for some fun time too though lol!

:)
 
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