Broncking

[dwi]

Any tips for discouraging broncking while hunting? We went hunting for the second time last saturday, only cubbing and I fell off.

We went with the Readyfield bloodhounds last winter and D loved it but broncked everytime we went into gallop for about the first hour of the hunt. She settled down after that and was fab but it was really scary at first.

On Saturday we went cubbing with the Atherstone and on our third gallop she broncked enough to get me off while galloping at the same time. I am generally reckoned to have a good seat and can sit bucking but this is really full on and on about the fourth bronck I flew through the air losing my whip in the process. If I go hunting enough will the novelty of galloping wear off? Any tips on stopping it? She doesn't tend to do it if I can get her right at the back with the slower horses but thats not always that easy if the hunt turns and you suddenly find yourself in the middle or at the front.

I really want to keep going but falling off is not that much fun.

 

[winterhorse]

My horse did it the first few times, we went out, but i found he was better if we kicked on, because pushing him on forced his head to come up. Also what bit are you using? I switched to a Myler snaffle with independant side movements, rather than the cheltnham gag my OH liked to hunt hounds with him in.

 

[Agent XXX999]

Is hunting the only time you gallop?

 

[Joss]

Yes, dont worry it will improve. I got bucked off some horses on their early days out hunting and they turned into very very good hunters. Try a stronger bit so that you can pull his head up. Head up & kick on pretty much sorts out bucking. Dont worry about it looking a bit ugly. But dont just use a strong bit & trot about at the back, you will get bucked off!!

 

[dwi]

Pretty much the only time we gallop because she's not prone to bursts of speed. I have tried getting her to gallop on her own but she prefers to stay in a nice steady canter. Galloping just seems to blow her mind.

 

[karenpi]

my horse does the same and I would agree with winterhorse, kick on, get their head up and your horse will get used to it and soon realise that they need the energy for galloping rather than bucking.

I always leave my horse out the night before hunting (or at least turn out for a couple of hours beforehand) as I find it makes him less "excitable".