If you want to buy a hack for the up-coming showing season or beyond, then this guide with tips from a leading professional should help you on your hunt.
“The ideal show hack is of thoroughbred type and should be capable of carrying an average adult. The hack must be a pleasure to ride and have excellent manners. The hack should be in self-carriage and be light and soft to ride, it should also have correct conformation with the emphasis on quality and elegance. The latter stems from a well-set head and neck combined with a good length of shoulder. The movement should be smooth and graceful with a true pointing of the toe. To achieve these qualities the hack must be extremely well schooled.”
Under BSHA rules, hacks are split into two categories – small and large.
Small hacks are horses four-years-old and over, exceeding 148cm but not exceeding 154cm
Large hacks are four-years-old and over, exceeding 154cm but not exceeding 160cm
Many hacks can compete in other showing classes depending on their height and breeding. For example, intermediate and part-bred classes.
The BSHA recommends that judges use the following percentages when judging hacks:
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Ride — 40%
Conformation – 40%
Individual show — 20%
When compared to the hunter or the riding horse, the type and way of going of a hack is more refined, polished and elegant.
“Finding a top hack is like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Jo says. “At the foundation is good conformation, essential to any show horse. A hack must also be elegant, eye catching, have the WOW-factor and should scream ‘glamour’ at me.
“I like a hack to have a particularly pretty head. Movement wise, a hack should offer straight yet floating movement with a good engine at the back end. The walk is a key pace as it’s the first thing you see when a horse walks into the ring.
“The ride is a key element of a hack and I usually know within five seconds of sitting on a horse if it’s going to be something I can work and achieve with. Even when getting on a three or four-year-old, you can usually tell if it’s got the goods to make the grade.
“The ride should be squashy and comfortable; my former star Elusive was the most comfy ride, and I often described his canter as like sitting on a marshmallow.
“Finding a good hack is so hard as they need to have exceptional conformation, trainability and rideability, as well as a great temperament and that extra bit of presence to stand out. That look-at-me ability should make the horse look as if he wants to be there with a smile on his face.”
Should I buy a large or a small hack?
The type of hack you buy will depend on multiple factors, including the ability and size of the rider. Jo emphasizes the need to look at the overall picture.
“A tiny person might look silly on a larger or rangier hack, and a taller person might not look right on a small 15hh hack,” she confirms. “You must also assess if you feel confident and safe on the size of the horse and if you feel you will be able to get the best out of it. It’s all about the overall picture. We take lots of pictures and videos when we go to view a horse so we can look back and see which horse suited the rider best.”
Where should I buy a hack from?
Large and small hacks for sale will be advertised at various times in the season on online platforms, including with Horse & Hound, powered by Whickr.
“It depends on whether you are looking to buy a younger horse, or something that is more established,” says Jo. “If you’re on the hunt for an unbroken youngster, then approach breeders. If you want something that has been there and done it, checking in with producers could be your best bet. I do admit, though, that some of the best horses have found me! You have to be persistent on your search; something in the rough could be an absolute diamond underneath. Ultimately, I recommend just going for a look and going from there.
“Compared to other sections of show horse, the hack is a much more refined type. The thoroughbred influence should also be considered. The more blood in a hack, the more elegant it is likely to be.
“This is why I would also advise anyone looking for a hack to not rule out a pure thoroughbred or an ex-racehorse from the track. They can make the most supreme hacks with class, quality and elegance.”
How much should I pay for a show hack?
The price you pay for a hack will depend on many factors including the market at the time.
“Some horses go for substantial amounts of money, while you might be lucky enough to stumble across a bargain,” Jo confirms. “If a horse has a quirk you could possibly pay less money, but it depends on what you feel you can deal with as a rider. You need to weigh up the pros and cons and assess if a horse is worth spending a certain amount of money on. No matter how much money you spend, though, there is always some amount of risk involved when it comes to horses.”
I’ve agreed to buy a horse, now what?
When you have found the right horse for you, then it’s time to arrange a pre-purchase vetting, something that is strongly recommended.“I would always advise a buyer to have a horse vetted with X-rays done, too,” says Jo. “This also covers you in case you want to sell the horse in the future. It’s all about assessing if you can work with anything that is flagged on a vetting.
“I would also recommend taking someone experienced with you to a viewing, and taking videos and photographs to look back at before you make a final decision,” Jo adds.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
