Hacking
Hacking is riding out for pleasure or exercise on roads, tracks and open country, away from an arena, the most common way horses are ridden.
At a glance
| Setting | Bridleways, quiet lanes, forestry tracks and open access land rather than a school. |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Fittening, variety and the horse's mental wellbeing, as well as leisure. |
| Safety | High-visibility kit and road-sense are widely advised where hacking meets traffic. |
| Surfaces | Mixed and often hard or stony, which is where hoof protection can matter. |
For most horse owners hacking is the everyday reality of riding: leaving the yard to walk, trot and canter along bridleways and lanes. It builds fitness, keeps a horse mentally fresh and exposes it to traffic, water and varied going in a way arena work cannot.
Because hacking crosses tarmac, flint and stony tracks, the hoof takes more abrasion and concussion than on a prepared surface. Barefoot and transitioning horses are often hacked in hoof boots to protect the sole over hard ground.
Because this discipline works horses over hard or abrasive ground, hoof protection can matter. The HoofBootFit sizing tool matches a fresh-trim length and width to the hoof boots that fit.
Sources: Federation Equestrian International (FEI) ยท British Equestrian