Danger in hacking alone?

Janet B · Yearling

Danger in hacking alone?

kschmittendorf · Well Schooled

I always bring a cell phone, fully charged. I also bring a lead rope and duct tape (good for covering an injured hoof) and water. I keep my cell phone on my body in place that hopefully won't get it smashed up if something happens. Never attach it to your horse in case you are dumped and they take off. And I always wear a helmet. I like hacking out alone but I try not to do brand new trails alone the first time. I am have not been riding for very long so don't feel experienced enough to do so. I will go out alone once I have done a trail with a group or another rider that knows the trail, that way both of us (horse and rider) are familiar with the path and any obstacles. If your phone has a built in GPS that is also good in case you get lost. A small flashlight is good to take too just in case you are caught out after dark or even if you are seperated from your mount during the day, this can serve as a signal flash to anyone looking for you.

Fullex Freeman · Foal

Hi Janet,
I hack out alone a lot. This is not from choice, but simply because I rarely have anyone to go with. I take a cell phone with me (turned on for the entire ride) and I let the owner of the barn where we board know where I'm going and for approximately how long.
I wear an orange vest - like construction workers wear, so no one can mistake us for a deer and shoot us and, near and during hunting season, I have a bear bell attched to the saddle.
The vest is essential year round if you do any road riding as it makes you more visible to drivers.
Maybe its because of where I live, but I rarely see or meet anyone - on foot, bicycle or atv. But I also avoid the trails on weekends because I figure that's when I'd be most likely to run into other non-equine users.
The one good thing about riding alone is that my horse seems to love it because he has my undivided attention and I usually get the best out of him on those occassions.

Ann Crago · Foal

I agree with all of the answers that have been given. I also carry a small cassette recorder with me with all my favorite music on it ( it has an external speaker ) I carry it in my fanny back...turned around to the front of course..with my hoof pick, phone ,treats for Ziggy and small water)....I love the company and it helps my horse have something to listen too also....really seems to keep his ears flipping back at me..and so also his atttention !!! It also lets any deer , turkeys, other riders...etc...know that you are there....

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Great advice everybody! I don't hacking out alone is more dangerous than riding alone in general, sometimes you have no option but to hack out alone (I did it often when staying on ranches with my horse when I was younger, one went one way to check fencing, and the other the other way and we wouldn't see each other for hours). Sometimes it is preferable to hack out alone, very peaceful and a good way to bond with your horse. To echo everybody's advice, bring a cell phone and let somebody know where you will be with an idea of how long you are gone. If I'm doing an hour loop of trail and I'm gone for two hours, come searching aww

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whill · Yearling

I take a long lead rope, a small first aid kit and a multi-use tool. I also take my dogs. They wear bells so that bears will leave the area when they hear us approach. In 20 years of trail riding and hiking I have never met a bear, but many of the other riders in the area have. I started taking my Rotti with me for my own protection, but when she was too old to go I started taking my Goldens with me. They may not be a lot of protection but they are noisy in the bush especially when they tree squirrels. One of my dogs got badly caught (not badly injured as he was quiet) in some old barbed wire. I needed a pair of scissors and the mult-use tool to get him free. I was lucky that some hikers also came along and helped me free him as I wasn't strong enough to cut the wire myself. I no longer ride by myself, but have an extra horse to loan out to friends to ride with me.

merrymary · Yearling

I ride alone a lot! All of the above advice is great. I would add a whistle to the list of things to carry on your person. And braid a ribbon in your horse's mane with contact information.

shaiarabs · Well Schooled

I am planning to ride in areas that are quite remote.. there will be no mobile reception as I live out in the country.. my plan of action... is a personal eperb...

Barbara F · Grand Prix

I regularly went hacking alone with my last horse, but I had him for so many years and we knew each other so well, I felt confident.

I've just gotten a new horse and so far I am taking him out on VERY short walks away from the barn before I take him alone in the woods. I think before that, I'll go out a number of times with experienced horses, as I have no idea what his reaction would be if we saw a deer or if a dog ran up to us (which happens a lot).

prospect · Advanced

I hack alone alot - always have a multi tool with a knife on it - I have safety kwikout stirrups on my saddle and wear a vest/helmet. I let people know where I am going and when I should be back.

Haven't done much hacking lately as my big guy is off and the 3 yr old is only doing on property hacks right now.

Janet B · Yearling

These are great ideas. I think the cell phone and the whistle would make a lot of sense for the places I hack. They are wide paths in the forest, so I wouldn't get lost, but I would definitely want someone to be able to find me, in case I had a problem.

jessiereasmussen · Yearling

There is some awesome advice here! I recommend having duct tape, a rope halter and lead rope, and extra set of reins, water, and a hoof pick! you never know what will happen!

Horse-hearted · Advanced

These are excellent steps to take if ever riding alone. I still think that riding with a buddy is best, but I understand that can be difficult. Always telling someone at home that you are out might be a good idea, though, and how long you plan to be. Having a plan is a good idea!

SoftTouchTraining · Well Schooled

always tell someone where you are going and how long you expect to be out. It's good advice to take your cell phone with you because you never know. If you are at a park you should put emergency contact information on your dash so that someone can read it through the window if need be.

Horse-hearted · Advanced

And Keep your cell on YOU not your horse! Made that mistake before...

justice · Grand Prix

I ride alone, almost always preferred. I let someone know where I am going and how long I expect to be (rarely much more than an hour or so), then don the helmet and vest and just go. No phone, no radio, no body. Nice : )

Laura F · Well Schooled

I also think it's important the first several times you go out with a new horse that you go with a buddy, no matter how quiet the horse may seem at home.

Hoti47 · Well Schooled

I made sure to bring my guys on trails with buddies before attempting them alone. I just started venturing further solo and realized that my horse is only as brave as I can be. I have fairly green horses, so I have used a slow and consistent method of venturing further each time, and sticking to familiar trails.

Cell Phone & Helmet are my only company. My guys relax more on the trail if I sing while riding... that masks funny forest noises, and I have always sang or hummed while grooming, so it is somewhat soothing for them - even though I am far from a rockstar!

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Has anyone ever encountered someone on the trail that made you uncomfortable? It happened to me once. I was alone on my horse and these two guys were walking in the forest. It was just them and me and for some reason I got a very uncomfortable vibe. It could have just been my imagination.

What I did was say a cheery hello and comment on the lovely day and go trotting off.

Would you have done the same thing?

justice · Grand Prix

I won't linger long with strangers out there. Wierd people hang in the woods, and the deeper you go, the weirder they get. I was 2 hours out by horse, saw a well dressed executive type OFF the path by 30 yards, business suit, breifcase by his side, waiting for the bus.... Don't know how or why he got there, didn't need to know. We moved on. Quickly.

Say "Hi" and fly.

Robyn · Foal

There is some great advice here! Might I add to the cell phone thing, keep it ON but on silent. Waiting for it to boot up can seem like an eternity if you fall off and hurt yourself.

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Dear Lord, Justice, what a strange encounter! I have had nothing like that, although I HAVE encountered people with multiple dogs off leash running all over the place. Usually, if one of their dogs runs near my horse I just tell them I can't promise my horse won't kick and kill the dog. That usually gets their attention!

justice · Grand Prix

Strangest part is there is NO bus-stop out there, natch. What was he thinkin'?? How did he get there in the first place? Didn't hang around to find out, didn't need to know. Good thing my little Arab understood the difference between moving at will and moving to survive.

More than once I have come across lovers, too. Quite awkward, to say the least : )

Barbara F · Grand Prix

justice wrote:

More than once I have come across lovers, too. Quite awkward, to say the least : )

Hey, where do YOU go hacking?? I havent't come across anything like that... so far!

-- Edited by Barbara F on Saturday 27th of November 2010 05:55:13 PM

Kairen Jamieson · Yearling

On top of everyone elses great tips...I use my arm band from eventing and have my information on it....the arm band is large enough to fit over the top of my winter coats as well..I have all my emergency information right on me incase I get knocked out or something

justice · Grand Prix

Smart idea, Kairen J (welcome! : ), I like it. Makes a whole lotta sense! As long as someone will look for you : )

Barbara, years ago when I was boarding my Arab, the farm abutted state forest and watershed lands. Trails for miles into nowhere. Fire roads galore. Wierdness lives in the woods, yes.