Autumn Hunting with recently broken 4 year old!

R2R

R2R

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I was wondering if anyone could give me advice please? I have a recently broken (8 weeks) 4 year old tbx...he is SO laid back, he is almost horizontal. He walks, trots, canters, jumps. Very wobbly and not very forward thinking, at all!

Do you think cubbing will blow his brains? I have only been on horses who have been before, or my 2 ex racers who had a good deal more work before they went....

Please can I have advice? What to do, where to place him in the field, to go alone/in company etc.

Help please!!!
 
Green ribbon, a grab strap and tuck in at the back until you feel confident - most hunts are so friendly and will look after you.
 

How fit is he?
Has he had much exposure to dogs?

I'd have a word with hunt sec & see if you can go along for a couple of hours to introduce him. Is there a friend you can go with, with a horse he knows? (in case you decide you do want to leave early)
Keep him near the back if you can/put a green ribbon in his tail.
 
He is fit ish, ridden every day for about an hour, either schooling or hacking but being a baby he gets tired and the workload is not what I would do with a fit competition horse. I try not to put too much pressure on him. I think he will be fine for about 2 hours cubbing though?
He is used to dogs - not sure what he is going to be like with the hounds (that is what I am worried about) but he is ok with them at the yard and things. Fine too with horses coming up behind him. He is actually pretty solid.

How do I prepare him for hounds etc?
 

In that case I would just take him.

If it was hunting proper you could take him to a meet & then not go out if he was fretting (so he got used to the hounds being around) but autumn hunting tends to be prompt (you show up then leave as soon as hounds arrive) so the only way to know is to take him & keep him quietly at the back & see how he goes, really.

Good luck - let us know how you get on.
 
Personally I would say he is too young to be doing the galloping and jumping that hunting involves. I think taking him to a meet to see the hounds and get used to the environment but I think a 8week broken 4yo should not be doing any more than light schooling and quiet hacking.
 
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Personally I would say he is too young to be doing the galloping and jumping that hunting involves. I think taking him to a meet to see the hounds and get used to the environment but I think a 8week broken 4yo should not be doing any more than light schooling and quiet hacking.

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Sorry but why is this?
 
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Personally I would say he is too young to be doing the galloping and jumping that hunting involves. I think taking him to a meet to see the hounds and get used to the environment but I think a 8week broken 4yo should not be doing any more than light schooling and quiet hacking.

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It would be cubbing for a couple of hours. If anything like our hunting country that means a few runs & a fair bit of standing about.

As another poster said - it is very common in ireland to hunt the youngsters - doesn't seem to do them much harm.
 
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[ QUOTE ]
Personally I would say he is too young to be doing the galloping and jumping that hunting involves. I think taking him to a meet to see the hounds and get used to the environment but I think a 8week broken 4yo should not be doing any more than light schooling and quiet hacking.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry but why is this?

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because a fair few people think, wrongly IMO, that horses and ponies are made of icing sugar and should be wrapped in cotton wool.

take him, it will do him the world of good
 
JM07 thats what I think - he is in work, I am not silly with him but I want to take him to educate him, hopefully find his third gear (he hasnt quite got there yet in the forward thinking way of things) and in all honesty, do something different that is not a competition (as he is not ready yet, but I still want to get him out)

So I think I will take him!

Is it really bad if I carry a whip...not huntng whip, one I can give him a crack with if I need too? I have my hunting whip for proper days, but I might need something to back my leg up if it all goes wrong or something.

Also I never boot my others when I hunt, but as it is his first time, should I?
 
No, definitely take him - but choose a quiet Tuesday or something now the kids are back at school, and make sure he's got a reliable pal with him. A jumping whip is a good idea - altho you're only likely to use it if he does something out of character like kicking out at another horse or a hound. (A friend of mine went out on his 4yo and she kicked out at a hound - he was mortified, particularly as the huntsman saw it and gave the mare a crack with his own whip!!) And no more than a couple of hourse - even if he still feels fresh, he will be mentally tired. If possible choose a moment to go home when he's been a really good boy - like after a little run.
I would be inclined to use some front boots, but make sure they're something like a woof boot or a well worn in pair of leather ones, to avoid any rubs if they get wet or muddy.
 
i've always taken a schooling whip in the past..that way you can back up the leg without removing your hands from reins/neckstrap!! LOL


stay out the back, put a green ribbon on his tail and inform hunt staff of your precence...and most of all, ENJOY
grin.gif
 
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