Your Horse

Perfect partner

A WELL-BEHAVED, safe horse is a joy to hack and makes a summer of being in the great outdoors something to look forward to. But let’s face it, not all horses are at ease away from the yard. So what makes a horse good to hack, and what steps can you take to help yours relax, not react?

Qualities of a safe hack

“A horse who is good to hack is forward-thinking and sensible enough to accept the different environments he’ll face, ” says UK-based Australian horse trainer Jason Webb. “Even if he’s worried about something, with the correct cues from you, he should be confident enough to carry on.”

For Rebecca Hill, owner of Cissley Equestrian Centre in West Sussex, a good temperament is first on her wish-list.

“He should have a sensible outlook and be able to deal with anything without reacting. If he quivers at the slightest movement in a blade of grass, panics at the sight of an extendable lead or won’t go within 10 metres of a dustbin then he’s far from perfect.”

She rates highly a ‘seen it, done it’ type who’s looking for a quieter

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