Bloodhounding exercise

[Debsflo1]

Thinking of taking my mare to hound exercise with bloodhounds as they are still doing quieter hound exercise in the week.

Atm only walk trot
My mare loves hacking and is generally good walk trotcanter with others but worried hounds may tip her over the edge however I need to go this week really before it gets fast.
Any tips or feedback those of you that go
We have done 2 pleasure rises when younger Inc Burghley which she found too busy but will only be a smallish group


quieter

 

[Michen]

I personally don’t much like drag or bloodhound hound exercise for young/inexperienced horses unless doing it alongside trail hunting. Main reason being the former tends to be a lot of pounding along roads which doesn’t really teach them to switch off and stand quietly. So with my youngster I did do both but he was out twice a week for around a month to get him settled and learning.

I have a horse whose had an injury and he won’t ever be allowed to go with the drag etc again as it’s just too full on. So quiet autumn trail hunting only for him.

 

[palo1]

I think bloodhounding varies in it's speed and intensity but drag hunting is almost without exception fairly intense, fast and with lots of jumping; even in the early part of the season. I think that is just how draghunting is tbh! The 'lines' are often designed so that people can gallop and jump over prepared fences and it can all be fairly adrenalised as experienced drag hunting horses know what to expect. Trail hunting is very different and whilst it can be fast, there is generally less intensity and much more stop-start sort of activity. Personally, I have one horse that can't cope with drag-hunting as the anticipation of galloping with others is a bit much for his brains. After the first line he just can't switch off as he knows he will be gallopging again in a minute. He copes brilliantly with trail hunting as he has clearly worked out that he has to concentrate more as sometimes it will be slower, sometimes faster and sometimes he will be standing around. The atmosphere amongst the riders is a bit different too in my experience with drag hunters being much more likely to be speed demons lol. We have another horse that is very laid back and he can cope with drag-hunting so it's always worth giving it a go to see what you both enjoy the most.

 

[Debsflo1]

Should have clarified.
Wouldn't be with the Sunday meet which is busier and faster.
Atm they are doing walk trot which I believe is mainly off road for fewer people to introduce young or inexperienced horses.
It was also the hounds I'm worried about and just being in a group of horses.
Def don't think I'm up to the faster lines

 

[Debsflo1]

Should have clarified.
Wouldn't be with the Sunday meet which is busier and faster.
Atm they are doing walk trot which I believe is mainly off road for fewer people to introduce young or inexperienced horses.
It was also the hounds I'm worried about and just being in a group of horses.
Def don't think I'm up to the faster lines

And weekday with about 15 horses