Boxing day madness

I'm introducing a hunting newbee, sheltered, pampered, diva-ish, dressage beast to hunting via the Boxing Day Meet because:

1) It should be a quiet one due to large numbers, poor ground and the hunt is known for it's roadwork compared to others in the area.

2) I'm lucky that someone has a spare space on the box and this will be my last winter season on this horse so I've been spontanious and gone for it! :D

Although not a baby, baby he is pretty immature and a little bit prone to throwing 5year old style tantrums (even though he is 12!!)

I have just made sure that I will be able to take him back to the box if it all gets a little much and chosen to go with some very reliable nanny horses to minimise risk on tantrums! Also wearing my racesafe and poping some green ribbon in his tail, just incase ;)
 
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NO WAY!

I'm going, but I'm taking my old mare who has done 8 seasons with me, plus a leadrope on my saddle.

It isn't a day for babies or newbies to hunting IMO, although hundreds seem to choose it!

My 4 year old had her first day on Wednesday (plan had been to cub most of the summer, but she spent it in the vets). I picked a very quiet, mid week meet, that was pretty close to home.
 
I thought about it and then it would be madness lol, Im not that brave! Think i will wait for a nice quiet one to start with.
People do say though that its not the first hunt but the second or third one the newbies go silly at so you might be lucky with the behaviour!
 
I did it but I was the newbie....pony was a VERY experienced (if strong....but she was always strong) hunter and I was with a very experienced friend. Not a chance I'd do it on a young horse.
 
Walrus said:
Why would you? Surely that's what cubbing / autumn hunting is for?
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Timing......did not have the horse then. Little choice now - and Boxing Day is a holiday, quiet times are not. This horse needs to learn to go forwards, Boxing Day might be that day......arghhhhh!!
 
Far too much madness on boxing day round here.Last year some woman thought it was quite acceptable to wear a pair of six foot span fluorescent wings.Fine at the meet but thats where they should have been left. Galloped up behind my horse with wings flapping like the angel of death.nearly causing me a nasty fall. When I asked if she thought she was behaving sensibly she said "well you stayed on".The thing that really got me was she went to do it again later,fortunately I saw her and she was informed in no uncertain terms that if she came near again I would drag her off her horse. I have no intention of ever going to a Boxingday meet ever again.Too many stupid people.
 
Mike007 said:
Far too much madness on boxing day round here.Last year some woman thought it was quite acceptable to wear a pair of six foot span fluorescent wings.Fine at the meet but thats where they should have been left. Galloped up behind my horse with wings flapping like the angel of death.nearly causing me a nasty fall. When I asked if she thought she was behaving sensibly she said "well you stayed on".The thing that really got me was she went to do it again later,fortunately I saw her and she was informed in no uncertain terms that if she came near again I would drag her off her horse. I have no intention of ever going to a Boxingday meet ever again.Too many stupid people.
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Feck - please dont have me pegged as a mad woman. I will just take out my chexstnut youngster, and if he is loopy take him home again pronto - I do not think he will be, and sort of feel that the madness and mayhem of Boxing Day could bring him on a treat (but not wings........) Have a lovely Christmas one and all xxxxxxx
 
I've been hunting once on my younger pony. She was 4. It was the first time I did anything on her away from home. It was a newcomers hunt and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't take her on Boxing Day though without doing cunning and some other meets. This year I'm going in my older pony (19). He has been hunting before quite a bit I think. But I haven't been on him. I have owned him for about 7 years and know him well enough to just go for it. Also I've been to see the meet set off, and they are a really friendly bunch.
 
I wouldn't take much out this year, with the state of the ground. A few round us have been cancelled. I would have thought lots would be washed out this year.
 
I'm taking my 5yo but he's been to about 4meets now and has improved every time out and is far more sensible than many of the experienced hunters.
 
Rudolph_bum said:
Taking your horse for their first time hunting on boxing day is damn right silly if you ask me!
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This 100%. Not only could it be dangerous to yourself riding a young newbie on such a big meet, there is the danger to others. The amount of times I had someone run up the back of Benson because he was a big safe horse was uncountable, all because the rider couldnt stop her young flighty new to hunting horse.
 
tbh im taking my 8yo tb hunting new yrs day hes neber been but for the past few months iv been going on fast hacks with groups of 5 or more and hes been a gent even when we had to catch a riderless horse although he was fast and pulling and i only had on stirrup he pulled up fine. i think if ur prepared and going with ur eyes wide open its perfectly aceptable to go to a busy hunt with a new horse x
 
I was going to take my 4yo but decided against it,,, i really cant have his mind blown yet just before a big showing season :-) be careful if you do and have fun x
 
OEH said:
I think it's mad, dangerous and selfish. Just the sort of thing that causes accidents.
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Exactly. We get so many people on foot on Boxing Day, many are children and non horsey people out enjoying a country tradition so may not necessarily know what a green ribbon etc means. Its the people on foot I would worry about more.
 
if ur horse issfe in company what tue danger exactly?!? i understand ifnppl go not noing rules or what to do or expect thats just stupid and dangerous. but if ur going with regular hunters and on a safe horse green or not to hunting and you know what to expect and what ribbons mean ect then its not tht different to talimg a seasoned hunyer especially if u k ow ur horse well enoigh and have spemt the time to see how they are galloping in groups?!?
 
marley and danni said:
if ur horse issfe in company what tue danger exactly?!? i understand ifnppl go not noing rules or what to do or expect thats just stupid and dangerous. but if ur going with regular hunters and on a safe horse green or not to hunting and you know what to expect and what ribbons mean ect then its not tht different to talimg a seasoned hunyer especially if u k ow ur horse well enoigh and have spemt the time to see how they are galloping in groups?!?
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But how many of your hacks include foot followers in their hundreds, hounds, a horn, quad bikes and landies following, standing around then speed then standing around, other people on horses who aren't coping and/or don't know what's going etc etc

There's no way you can compare a normal off road hack with 4 other people to a Boxing Day meet.
 
well i for one know my horse would cope with all that as we meet quad bikes hounds and people on foot regularly and weaso purposely stand about chating them randomly set off in a gallop and hes raved to and hes fine the perfect gent ! hes great at back middle he dnt like the front but he not fast enough to be up front and jumos like a dream and lives dogs he also hears horn allbe it car horns but he hears them regulary.... im sorry but im well prepare and if anyone else includimg OP is full prepared them there nothing wrong with it and the hunt masters dmt mind newbes there nothing wrong with it....
 
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