There are so many benefits to hacking out a horse, one of which is fitness. It doesnt matter whether hacking is your thing and you enjoy taking part in other disciplines as well. They all require a fit, healthy horse.This is why taking them out and about by regularly going hacking is so beneficial when it comes to your horses level of fitness1. Different surfacesThere are so many places to hack from grassy bridleways, all-weather tracks, the beach, in fields, and on roads. Such variety helps to strengthen your horses legs.However, doing too much hard work on the wrong surface can result in injury, so keep this in mind when planning where to ride.2. Hill work and inclinesIncorporating routes that take you up and downhill regularly is a really good idea for purposeful hacking. This sort of hill work is fantastic for improving fitness as it helps to strengthen muscles and improve cardiovascular fitness without having to work the horse at the same high intensity you would on the flat.Its a lot harder for a horse to stay balanced and move their body up or down a hill, compared to moving on level terrain.3. Natural obstaclesOut and about on new routes you will have no idea what you might come across. If it is safe to do so, ask your horse to step over fallen logs, wade through streams, or paddle in the sea, all of which will challenge them. It will keep the ride interesting for you both too.4. Interval trainingWhile you can do this in an arena, interval training is much more easily tackled in a wide open space, such as a field or lengthy bridleway.Whilst its often associated with racehorses or eventers, any breed of horse can benefit from interval training.5. Mental wellbeingPhysical health is important, but so is mental health for you and your horse. Hacking lets your horse seeing new things, hear unfamiliar sounds and experience new smells. Theyll learn to enjoy exploring new routes and paths many horses are nosey! Hacking adds variety to their workload and will help to keep them interested in their work and life in general, all of which will make all the difference when it comes to getting them fit.Tracking fitnessIt is important to monitor your horses progress when youre getting them fit, and there are simple but effective ways you can do this out hacking.Pick a mile section of a hack with safe going and work out how quickly you can ride it, firstly in walk and then in trot once your horse is fit enough, says endurance coach and rider Rachael Claridge.This will help you to establish your horses natural speed in each pace. You can then refer back to this as the weeks pass to see if you are both getting faster and fitter. This will also give you a gauge as to when its time to start increasing the distance.For this test, choose an area with good ground. Dont trot flat out on unsuitable surfaces that could cause injury.If you usually ride a route in an hour, but are starting to get back to the yard in 45-50 minutes, it is time to increase the distance so that your outing lasts an hour.Essentially you are riding a longer distance in the same amount of time. This is a really easy way to see how much your own and your horses fitness have improved.Rachael Claridge is an endurance rider and UKCC Level 3 coach who has represented GreatBritain in European and World Championships. She isbased in Gloucestershire, and now coaches riders from Pony Club and Riding Club to Mongolian Derby competitors and international athletes. Visit rachaelclaridge.com.Related contentEquine fitness plan from our expertsInterval training with a horseWhat monitoring a horses heart rate tells youHow much trotting on the road is safe? Dr David Marlin explainsThe post This is why hacking is so good for a horses fitness, plus tips for tracking progress appeared first on Your Horse.