Advice Please :)

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cheeseandhorses:)

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this year i was thinking of going hunting again on my little arab :) he goes like a tank and is brill but my only problem is that i can't stop :D can't get a walk either :) so far i have tried a gag but had no brakes on the bottom ring and i have tried a pelham but again no brakes :) i was thinking as i used a straight bar pelham i could try a waterford pelham but im not sure so if anyone has any other ideas it would be much appreciated :)
 
In my (probably very limited) experience, the bit you put in your horses mouth for hunting will have limited effect. Once the adrenaline gets pumping, the horses dont seem to respect whatever is in their mouth.....

I have seen a fair few horses 'over bitted' for hunting with cuts and bloody mouths, where they havent been able to feel anything until it is too late.

Something like a waterford could do untold damage.....
 
Many people over bit for hunting. Once the herd starts to run horse instinct is to follow. They love it - but if for some reason you don't want to go they way everyone else did then steering can be an issue.

But you only have to look at the numerous photos of those who hunted last year without a bridle (It was some sort of charity fundrasier - they had headcollars) as proof that you do not need a strong bit - you need good schooling.

Try teaching your Arab to respect light hands and gentle control even when excited. Easier said than done I accept but good schooling is the basis for anything more. Once you are able to pull up easily from a full gallop with others without yanking his back teeth out try a newcomers hunt which has more controlled galloping sections. (Beach rides can be good to practice this if you're near one.)

You may still need a slightly stronger bit to hunt - but it should only be slightly. There should never be damage done to a horse's mouth and I have to say in more decades hunting than I can to admit to I have actually not seen any bloody mouths as Maisy has. I would hope the feild master would send anyone mistreating thier horse home. Although I do accept that thay to see it first!
 
ahhh no he is well schooled on normal hacks with my friend he will pull up so quickly from the full gallop :) and he in the school he knows thats stop means stop - i ride in a french link snaffle :) but this all vanishes out hunting :( i didn't want to take him out in it as i knew i would just sit there pulling so i wanted a strong one so i could ask nicely without having to yank if this makes sense :) i do in the pelham and gag ride double so i have the mild setting and the stronger one :) i have taken him on group rides but he's normally silly if he doesnt know the other horses - i think this may be my issue as he is fine with friends horses:)
 
Chelts are fairly cheap :) Our tack shop sells them for about £11 usually or have various ones on the sale table for £4 or so :) Might be worth having a browse through the second hand bit if you have a tack shop locally that has that and maybe just grabbing a handful of cheapies and trying them? :)
 
I know this is harsh, but I too have a horse who loses his head out hunting. For my safety and the safety of the rest of the field I don't hunt this horse. If he can't handle it and wont stop, then it isn't fair on him, or the other field members to take him out. Horses out of control can cause accidents, and get the hunt into trouble if they have to circle in crop to try and stop.

Harsh but true I'm afraid. Sorry x
 
What noseband are you using?

Will the horse stop when the rest do, or will you go hurtling past the Master/Hunt servants? If he stops with the rest, then go for fun. If he goes past absolutely everything, then don't go. Bear in mind that you may have to pull up if another rider/horse gets into trouble, even if the 'herd' has gone on ahead.
 
i have a similar probelm with my conemarra a straight bar rubber pelham with curb chain jus aout works for me, at a last resort you could try a hackamore
 
MrsMozart said:
What noseband are you using?

Will the horse stop when the rest do, or will you go hurtling past the Master/Hunt servants? If he stops with the rest, then go for fun. If he goes past absolutely everything, then don't go. Bear in mind that you may have to pull up if another rider/horse gets into trouble, even if the 'herd' has gone on ahead.
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i use a flash but not on tight only use it because he came with it but school and hack without just beacuse can never be bothered to put it on :)

and he will stop with everyone else first stop a bit prancy but then he settles and i normally hack 2 miles to the hunt to warm him up but maybe if i hacked a bit futher also hes not been out a huge deal maybe 5-9 times so maybe he still needs to get used to it :) not to sure as he is my first pony / horse ive taken hunting so will it be a case of going out a lot of times in a row to make it 'boring' and normal :) also im going to take him out on hound exercise as you can do this with our hunt then the early morning cubbing as not many people go so again not as many to get excited with :)
 
if you've not been out with him a huge amount I would suggest that its just excitement! give him plenty of time to get settled, and give him plenty of hacking there (sounds like you do)! When you go out stay out for as long as you can without risking an injury so that he learns that its not just a party!

If he stops when the rest do then I'd go with a bit that helps you feel confident. I hunt in a double bridle so that I can be nice when he is, and have the bottom rein when he's not!
 
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