Ideas/Exercises of what to do while hacking your horse?
Lately I’ve been at a loss as to what types of exercises and “activities” I can do while hacking the horses I ride. I am not in a lesson (aka no jumping) and I always just go in the ring and walk, trot, canter, reverse, take my feet out of the irons, walk, trot, canter the other way with no stirrups, and then blank and walk around some more until I don’t have anything else to do.
I’m not trying to be lazy and I really WANT to be exercising and working and sweating and thinking while I do flatwork, but does anyone have some ideas of inspirational and interesting exercises of what to do while hacking your horse that will be beneficial to both my horse’s and my own muscle build-up and learning (rather than just having a pointless ride of going around in circles)?
Do your horses know how to side pass? Leg yield? Counter bend on a circle? Break at the pole at the walk, trot, and canter? Set up a barrel course and do “equitation barrels” (I’ve ridden them English and they’re just as fun). Work on a hand gallop. Practice 2-point. Work on haunch turns and forehand turns. Try working towards riding bridleless. Get your horses to bend like dressage pros on circles. Teach them not to fall in on their shoulders when they do it, too! 
. Take them outside and have a good gallop up a hill. Set up a 6 inch crossrail and hop over it a few times. Groom your horse to the nines and then take some pictures. Work on the beginnings of collection. Do your entire hack without stirrups. Free lunge. Set up a pole bending course and switch diagonals between every pole. Join your local saddle club. Set up a costume contest for the people around your barn. Drop your reins COMPLETELY and try to trot in circles. Close your eyes (please do all this safely xD) and try to steer your horse with just your legs and no hands. Learn Western. Go visit a XC course and hop over some low logs. Study dressage technique and practice it. There’s LOADS you can do, just have fun with it. Make stuff up! Ride over tarps! Push big balls around on horseback! Teach your horse to carry flags! There’s so much you can do! Every pole you see, jump standard, halter, think of making it some kind of obstacle! Play hide and go seek on horseback with halters! Hope this gives you LOADS of inspiration
Advanced Equestrian Jumping Exercises : Horse Jumping Exercise: Six Strides 2
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