Advice Needed

[Casperlady]

Sunday I did my first hunt on my horse. It was eventful to say the least, my horse was generally rude and stupid, he is normally a very laid back horse, but completely changed when he heard the hounds. He reversed out infront of a car when we were waiting to enter a field, then when we came to the first jump he reversed under some hawthorn trees and almost got me off, I had to appologise while he tanked off over the first wall, and he tried to jump the full wall which was about a meter rather than the part where some stones were remoevd, as a result he stumbled and I fell. He then proceeded to gallop down the field and my friend who was following on foot and the other stewards closed the six bar gate to the road and tried to wave him down instead they had to jump out of his way and he went and jumped the gate to the road but was thankfully caught. After that he was a battle the whole way through, if I let him gallop I had a huge struggle to get him back, he never once walked and hated being at the back, he settled slightly towards the end of the hunt but he did begin to lash out at other horses something he never ever does. I was riding him in a dutch gag with rounds on the second rein. How do I put manners on him so he behaves at the next hunt, I am aware that horses do get wound up and excited but the he was completely and utterly rude naughty and stupid where he doesnt even care about his own safety, everywhere else he is a very careful horse but I am at a loss as to what to do, any advice would be grately appreciated I am new to the whole hunting scene.

 

[camilla4]

Casperlady - do you know someone who is an experienced rider and hunter who could take him out a couple of times for you?

 

[jrp204]

I think i would question if its the right activity for him, if you still want to go again, try to go mid week when it is generally quieter and keep away from other people or keep him with his backside against the hedge. It is not just your safety to be concerned about (someone in our hunt had their leg shattered by a horse kicking out) and you won't gain popularity if he continues his behaviour.

 

[larkwood]

Well done for wanting to go again!

It is well known that it takes a minimum of 3 hunts before a horse starts to understand and settle to the task.
If your hunt is anything like ours you will not be the first nor the last to have issues, if anything the more annoying people are the ones who try us out once a season and then vanish for another year.
As for the riding I can only suggest what works for me;
Get the strongest bit you can, a cheltenham has always worked for me, as it stops them getting their head up.
Arrive early, so the horse is not rushed, meet everyone and find a sensible horse, ask if you can buddy up for the meet, most people are really helpful, if you can find 2 or 3 people, then theres a chance one of them will be near you.
The trick with the excitement is to keep him calm and reined in, don't let him have any chance to get his own way. Stay at the back, don't jump until the second leg and keep as calm as you can.
But most of all don't keep apologising it's not your fault and you are doing everything you can to fit in, it usually works out in the end if you keep on him.

 

[jrp204]

I disagree with your 'don't keep apologising its not your fault' statement. You have a responsibility for your safety and of those around you, if your horse is behaving like a total git (and OP has said he dumped her and tanked off) you are not only putting yourself and others in potentially dangerous situations. If you are hurt someone has to stop and deal with you & your horse and worse still if he injures someone else, rider or follower it has to be dealt with by someone.
I agree most horses do settle and there are ways to help them do this but i doubt many hunt staff would tolerate the no apology line and it wouldn't take long for you to be asked to leave.

 

[spacefaer]

It's a pity you didn't get the chance to take your horse out earlier in the season during autumn hunting when it's all a lot slower & quieter and it is designed to get young hounds and horses settled and fit for the full hunting season. He would have learnt that it is not so exciting as all that - got bored standing on point for an hour

Unfortunately, I can't blame your horse for his behaviour - throwing him into a mass of other horses, doing loads of exciting things at speed with the herd.... it's not surprising he lost the plot a little.

It'll be very hard to get him settled now as he will associate the meet with the previous excitement. I would agree with the previous poster - keep him at the back in a bit you can hold him in, when there's a check, keep him moving about quietly which'll help keep him calm. Try and find a friend to go with so that he can "buddy up" with a calm horse.....

Also make sure you work him hard the day before you go - there's nothing worse than hunting a fresh horse!

Best of luck

 

[runaway]

I will no doubt get shot down for this but it is only my opinion and everyone is entitled to it. ( I speak from experience )

I'm assuming that as you went on a Sunday you were with a bloodhound pack? I have to say that I think this is possibly one of the most dangerous forms of "hunting" for novice horses and riders. I have only ever been once and would never go again and that was on a sane horse which I have ridden for years. My experience was basically the field getting to a good bit of going and going like the clappers, pulling up or jumping then setting off again.

I would go with a foxhound pack, speak to the secretary, explain what's happened and ask them to suggest a steady day with a possible small field. Put a red and green ribbon in your horses tail and ensure you keep his rear away from others. Get a good reliable riding companion to go with you. I'd only trot regardless of the pace of the field and only canter when you feel you have control. You're horse has to realise he still has to behave for you even though it's exciting. If you know anyone who is an experienced rider (preferably male as they will stand more chance holding your horse) ask them to take your horse for you but keeping to the back. I personally don't believe that taking a horse up front because it doesn't like being at the back helps resolve the problems.

It may also be an idea to give your horse a calmer for the next few times. If he doesn't show any sign of improvement the next time I would probably consider not taking him again, especially as you say he didn't even care for his own safety. My dad's ridden simlar horses to yours but he's been whipping in and is out by himself so they have the room to prat about and not the hoards of others and he can also keep them more occupied.

Well done for making sure you apologise for your horse, I believe you are correct for doing so and should maintain this. You will find that most people make allowances for new comers/bad behaviour who are polite but this is not neccessarily the case if they do not have manners.

 

[Starbucks]

THB It sounds like your horse just might not be suited to hunting. Some just can’t cope with it, I’m sure he’s not been naughty, it sounds like he just lost the plot! I would take him again – maybe with a stronger bit on a quiet day just to see if he settles but to me, he doesn’t sound like he will I’m afraid.

It’s really not worth risking it IMO, you could have a really serious accident.

 

[spacefaer]

I will no doubt get shot down for this but it is only my opinion and everyone is entitled to it. ( I speak from experience )

I'm assuming that as you went on a Sunday you were with a bloodhound pack? I have to say that I think this is possibly one of the most dangerous forms of "hunting" for novice horses and riders. I have only ever been once and would never go again and that was on a sane horse which I have ridden for years. My experience was basically the field getting to a good bit of going and going like the clappers, pulling up or jumping then setting off again.

I would go with a foxhound pack, speak to the secretary, explain what's happened and ask them to suggest a steady day with a possible small field. Put a red and green ribbon in your horses tail and ensure you keep his rear away from others. Get a good reliable riding companion to go with you. I'd only trot regardless of the pace of the field and only canter when you feel you have control. You're horse has to realise he still has to behave for you even though it's exciting. If you know anyone who is an experienced rider (preferably male as they will stand more chance holding your horse) ask them to take your horse for you but keeping to the back. I personally don't believe that taking a horse up front because it doesn't like being at the back helps resolve the problems.

It may also be an idea to give your horse a calmer for the next few times. If he doesn't show any sign of improvement the next time I would probably consider not taking him again, especially as you say he didn't even care for his own safety. My dad's ridden simlar horses to yours but he's been whipping in and is out by himself so they have the room to prat about and not the hoards of others and he can also keep them more occupied.

Well done for making sure you apologise for your horse, I believe you are correct for doing so and should maintain this. You will find that most people make allowances for new comers/bad behaviour who are polite but this is not neccessarily the case if they do not have manners.

You put it better than me
couldn't agree more

 

[Steeleydan]

Agree with the others Blood hounding will just blow any novice horses' head off, you would of been far better going cub hunting where you do loads of standing around and might not even get out of trot, you do not make a hunter going at break neck speeds with Blood hounds, it would take a season to "make" him quietly with a proper fox hound pack.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Agree with Steeleydan. If you really want to hunt your boy leave it till next season. Take him cubbing and keep him at the back. Take him every Weds/Sat if you can and make it as boring as you can for him. Even if the others do canter off there is no need for you to do so. Our new boy has done 11 days this season and spent most of them learning to stand and walk and trot at the back. We know he can gallop and jump but we want him to be a mannered hunter, one which will hunt wherever we want him to. It means sacrificing a bit of fun to teach him but so be it. The rewards will be worth it........I hope!!

 

[Weezy]

Absolutely - you HAVE to invest time into making a hunter, and you need to take them throught the ranks, go cubbing, at least once a week, pref 2, for however many weeks your hunt cubs for, then progress onto full hunting. Blood hounding is a completely different kettle of fish and I wouldn't take a novice EVER!

I have taken my boy out twice this season and we haven't got near the field as he loses it, so he won't be hunting again, it isn't his bag, and you do have to use your judgement as to whether this horse will be a suitable mount for you or not.

As for bits, stick a Tom Thumb in, very few horses disrespect them.

 

[Clodagh]

Agree with what everyone says about going proper hunting first.
My mare whos not a great hunter but after 3 full seasons has at least stopped rearing is better with nupafeed calmer, I only give it to her in winter she has a bit every day and then more the night before.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

I would never take a horse hunting for the first time out with the bloodhounds or draghounds - complete recipe for disaster!!!

As Weezy says - you have to invest time in making a hunter. Some horses take to it and think its no more exciting than going for a hack whereas some others just can't cope with it AT ALL.

I totally agree with what everyone has said about going cubbing - yes its not hugely exciting and its very early to get up but its so, so worth it in the long run. I had to endure 2 months of pain last season with my TB taking him cubbing but it was the only way I'd get him used to hunting. I then learnt that we would have to walk about constantly at the meet, to be at the back when we first left the meet and that he was a bit wild during the first gallop but then settled. He also needed a red and green ribbon on his tail - mainly to ensure that other people didn't use him as a backstop because he'd kick out and hurt them or their horse. It takes time to find out how a horse will react and its sounds as though your's didn't take well to being dropped in the deep end. Its hugely exciting going out with bloodhounds and draghounds and your horse obviously found it too much.

I would leave off this season and do it properly next. Well done for asking for advice though - hope it works out.

 

[SueEllen]

Hi Casper lady I think you have your answer in Runaways post.

 

[Nancykitt]

As a newcomer to hunting myself this season, I can sympathise with your situation! I have an experienced hunter pony but he can be very strong and very forward. He improves tremendously if he is taken out twice a week, but we just had a break of 3 weeks when I was working abroad, hence he was a real handful last Saturday.

I took him out on most of the pre-season meets, which did help, but I have to say that on several occasions horses (even the more experienced ones) would get over-excited and do daft things, mainly because they'd had a break from it all.

Even now there seems to be the odd day when people have problems with their horses out in the field, but the more they take them the better they get. If you really want to hunt - and this was something I wanted to do more than anything - then there's no need to write things off after a single bad day. However, people have given sensible advice re. bitting, apologising, etc. Although my pony is a good jumper, I am not - and I find that he gets less excited if I keep the jumping to a minimum.
As for hunting with draghounds - I normally hunt with a harrier pack but the nearest drag pack to us runs 'children and beginners' meets.' We went on one of these and had the time of our lives, it was just fantastic. There were lots of understanding hunt staff to look after us and give advice. If you get the chance to go on anything like this, then definitely give it a go! And in the meantime, taking the advice here - and taking your horse out in company as much as possible - should help a lot.

 

[tootsietoo]

Well, what worked for me with my very sharp pony was drugs. The vet gave me some Potassium Bromide (which used to be prescribed to soldiers in the trenches to stop them getting randy apparently!). You feed it daily, and the effect is cumulative and it just takes the edge off. After a season of hunting weekly using the bromide, the following season we were fine.

 

[chestnut cob]

Guildford, Weezy and others are right - you need to take him cubbing as much as possible. I'd leave it for this season, personally, and start again when they start cubbing next year. He needs to learn to stand around, that hunting isn't just him behaving how he likes and never mind you on top (believe me, this is what I went through at the start of the season!!). I also think the advice about not apologising is totally wrong - my boy was a total nightmare the first few times (though once he settled, I was able to look around and see he wasn't the only one!) but hopefully I apologised enough and was seen to be trying to correct the behaviour, as they're still being very welcoming and pleasant!

Also agree about a calmer. I gave mine a tub of NAF Instant Magic last time; someone out that day suggested a tube the night before and anoterh in the morning, so will be doing that this weekend. Get a bit you can hold him in, keep him at the back (in case of kicking, for discipline, and in case he decides his bit is too strong so he can't possibly go forwards, like mine *rolls eyes*). Last time, I kept mine even behind the kids on lead reins, because he has to learn to go where I place him, until I decide he can move up the field a bit.

Oh, and stop going out with Bloodhounds! I did once, never again. Foxhounds all the way, much more civilised!!

 

[Casperlady]

Thanks everyone for your replys. I have been talking to alot of people about it, I am going to hopefully bring him on the new years day hunt, I have a few friends that are coming to we are going to stick to the back, I have a pelham which I am going to use and a flash and a shorter martingale. I also got Oxyshot to give to him before hand. It was foxhounds we were with, I am limited on who I can hunt with as you have to be invited and also I have to rely on my dad to bring me. I want to give him the benfit of the doubt there were a lot of horses that were worse than him. I will try him again if he still doesnt listen, I will find someone experienced to teach him some manners and if there is still no improvement then I know its not for him.

I dont want to right it off after the first go, I havent had a chance to go since cause the weather over here has been dreadful there has only been one hunt since I last posted.
On the advice of going on the autumn hunt, I am planning on going with a group hopefully in the new year to do a weekend on the huntmasters holiday farm when he is exercising the hounds.

 

[Serenity087]

See, if no one minds me stepping in here, I took mine cubbing and she was an utter wench. I had to scuttle off home as soon as I could before she killed someone!! (Namely herself!)

From what I can tell, she's hunted in ireland - and totally had the idea that she knew what to do. If I took her to the back of the field, she'd simply bolt back to the front, perform some airs above the ground to get everyone's attention and try and tank off after hounds. So I took her back to the back, and she'd do it again.

Eventually she won, she bolted off after the hounds and we narrowly escaped injury after I managed to persuade her to turn 180 degress instead of jumping a barbed wire fence into woodland (after the hounds!).

Would it really only take 3 attempts to get her used to english hunting? I've been too ashamed to take her back out since!