An equestrian activity involving rides in the countryside ouside an arena or school. The ride is typically of short duration - generally between 30 min and 2 hours and can involve an individual or a group of riders. This activity is an important componenet of recreational riding, but also forms an important part of training and exercising sport horses as a valuable alterative to schooling work. When hacking, horses are exposed to many environmental stimuli such as changing ground surfaces and changing surroundings. In built-up areas, hacking can involve road-riding and encountering traffic.  In rural areas, bridleways provide off-road paths for equestrian use. It is important to note that in many areas, horses are not allowed to access footpaths.