Why hacking a horse will help you feel so much happier

2. Ease any stiffness in a horse’s body

Hacking out and moving around is perfect for keeping any stiffness or filled legs at bay, especially if your horse is in their twilight years. A gentle stroll on a long rein (if safe to do so) will get creaky joints moving and help them to feel better in general.

3. Boost your horse’s confidence

Getting your horse out and about regularly, seeing, passing and coping with new unusual things, is one of the best ways to make them confident and therefore brave. A confident horse enjoying their work is a much nicer ride than a spooky horse who lacks confidence. You’ll find it does wonder for the bond you have with each other too, as your horse realises you are a dependable leader.

. Improves fitness

Hacking a horse is good for fitness levels, helping to keep health issues related to obesity and lack of fitness, such as laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome, under control. The further you go the better, but it’s really the type of work you’re doing out hacking that counts. Vary the terrain and pace you’re hacking a horse at to really make a difference. Interval training, for example, is easily incorporated into trail riding and it’s a lot of fun.

5. Trail riding will cheer a horse up

Finally, a hacking horse is a happy horse! Surely the goal of every horse owner? Let your horse march along with their ears pricked, taking in their surroundings. They will feel so much better for it and, as already mentioned, so will you!

Benefits of hacking a horse for riders

There are plenty of reasons why regular trailing is so good for riders, including:

1. It’s good for your general health

A 2020 study by Rogerson et al, showed that regular exercise within a natural environment did improve wellbeing, especially when done regularly. Here’s a link to that study. Quote it next time you plan to leave work early or miss a family dinner — it’s proof that hacking a horse is really good for you.

There’s also evidence to suggest that being exposed to nature can reduce hypertension, improve mood and boost your ability to focus. Give it a Google and you’ll see what I mean!

2. It’s good for you physically, too

Hacking a horse is good exercise. It’s great for building your core strength, an essential skill for staying balanced in the saddle. It also helps to tone your thighs. Don’t believe me? Try cantering out of the saddle. You’ll soon feel the burn! I remember the first gallop I had on my ex-racehorse King after having my first baby. I had been out of the saddle for more than 12 months and boy did I puff at the end of that field.