Been invited out

[Destario]

Myself and my gelding pony have been invited out hunting in the new year. My friend has offered to pick us up in her lorry and take us to their yard and we can then hack to the meet. I really want to go but I'm a bit nervous! Friend has said we can go for an hour or so and head back, or for longer, they don't mind.

Pony is very good but don't think has ever gone hunting before and I am a very capable rider - can handle pretty much anything without freaking out. But we have been having some control issues in company and with jumps. The company thing has improved lots due to a different bit (John whitaker universal with lozenge) and a grackle for hacking and jumping and taking him out at the back of a racehorse hacking string we have good brakes. I know he used to be jumped in a Cheltenham gag (1 rein) but only found this out last week. I'd rather not go hunting with 2 reins though and I'd not use a Cheltenham on him with just 1. He responds when excited, just more slowly. I don't know if I should just bit up with the Cheltenham or hope for the best with his JWU. Definitely not going in his lozenge snaffle!

I had a bad experience when I went hunting last about 10 years ago and haven't been since. The equine in question took off, overtook everything and had a meltdown. I trust my boy not to do that but it does niggle. I think he is fairly fit, but he has been ridden less over Xmas due to family commitments and he'll be on the walker over new year due to visiting friends so I'm worried about it maybe being too much for him. He's Welsh so will give his all but I don't know how full on it well be. Is it all cantering everywhere? Or is it bits of canter mixed with walk and trot?

Also I only have a tweed as he is a native. I was thinking of doing a running plait as he has too much mane for neat plaits being a native he is kept 'natural' so a longer thicker mane. I don't want to offend by not plaiting! I'd also like him to have back boots and front over reach boots but don't know if this is OK. Can I wear my tweed? It would be with a navy tie and canary breeches with long black boots. And can I pop a BP on top as I'd like to jump but dislike jumping solid fences without one.

I will pop a green ribbon on his tail and can I use his black brushing boots with green straps?

It will be great for him and I hope he will enjoy it. Please, any tips would be great!

 

[Rowreach]

If you are hacking to the meet then that should settle him anyway, and the bonus is that if he doesn't behave you can turn around and hack back - so I would go, enjoy, and you may well find he is great.

 

[Destario]

Thanks. He's an absolute angel in company on a hack in walk - you can have him on the buckle and way behind and he doesn't care. In trot he's a bit more lively and wants to be close to the others and he has a massive trot so containing it can be fun, but in canter he really does want to go fast and be in front. Nothing nasty and I think it's more a confidence thing and because he's only 14hh and doesn't want to be left behind. We left a 17.2hh fit eventer behind in trot a few weeks back!

Its mainly the cantering around in a big group - I'm worried he'll get upset or very strong at which point he becomes unrideable! The head goes into the chest and his shoulders do all the work. Nothing nasty at all and you can stop him, just takes a while! He doesn't kick or bite or buck or rear. He's a dream to ride and jumps like a stag, it's just I'm sure my nerves will pass to him and it might all go very wrong. Silly brain is thinking about all the terrible things that could happen. I do know he can be a bit scared of some dogs, but he doesn't kick or anything just stands and snorts haha.

I hope I'll enjoy it!

 

[Rowreach]

If you know him that well then you know his behaviour isn't nasty, so sit there and enjoy it. He may absolutely love it and be an angel. As to the rest of your post, so long as you are neat and tidy nobody is going to worry what you look like. Have fun and report back x