Comp Riders - taking your Eventer Hunting

AandK

AandK

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Morning all!

After a not so great last BE run of the season at Larkhill (retired XC as he just wasn't up for it..) I am keen for Andy to have some fun this weekend. Last year we did a team chase and he loved it but I couldn't get a team together to make the trip back up to the Grafton TC this weekend, plus it's been postponed..

For the last month or so I've been toying with the idea of going Drag Hunting and after going through Saturdays XC in my head, I thought this could be a bit of fun for him.

I know many people take their Eventers Hunting but just wanted to hear peoples thoughts/experiences?

He has done this XC twice before in the past, sometimes if I do too much with him in the run up to an event he just switches off. If it was a physical reason we wouldn't of made it round the SJ..

So this Sun I am thinking of heading out for my first time with the SC & RMAS.. Anyone in CR hunt with them?

Thanks in advance.

K :)
 
Hi,
I haven't been out with them myself (both of mine too loopy to hunt..would be overtaking the scent person... LOL) but a number of people I know do hunt with them and love it. They always have a second master out for the first timers/novice so the "first" master line is always a good one. And it really helped a friend's horse who had gone a bit "sticky" xc....he certainly got his mojo back afterwards.....good luck
 
Go for it! My horse hunted the winter before he started eventing and I'm sure thats why he took to x country so well. He events all summer now, has about 6 weeks off then hunts all winter. I love bold x country courses now with massive hedges because he just pops them all day long. I think it is a fun confidence builder for both horse and rider, it teaches you not to interfere and take fences out of your stride, your horse will love it.
 
I'll be out with them on Sunday. I have subscribed with them for the last 3yrs. Ashridge is a good meet with at least one nice hedge and some good XC type jumps as well as the normal hunt jumps, plus a run round a grass gallop. There is nothing better than hunting for getting a horse thinking forwards again. If you read my T/down report you'll know I took Monty hunting on Wednesday after feeling he was lacking a bit of enthusiasm for the XC at Pulborough last week. Well it worked as we certainly weren't lacking enthusiasm on yesterday's XC! (Shame about what it did to our dressage!!) If you want to PM me your details I can look out for you at the meet. I will then plant myself up the front behind the master as I dont like carnage and the best way to avoid it is at the front or the back. Dont get stuck in the middle!
 
Took my 'eventer' hunting and he loved it. Haven't actually managed to go eventing since but he has been a lot more forward and very happy to jump anything that gets in the way since.

Unfortunately I only made it out twice before the season ended but plan on going out lots next year if I can!
 
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I always hunted my eventers - made them so much more confident and they thought for themselves a lot more

I had one little horse who was mega careful - too careful XC as he backed himself off and could easily have frightened himself as the fences got bigger.

He was broken as a 5 yr old and hunted the winters of his 5/6yr old year and his 6/7 yr old - he was Intermediate by the end of the following season and tbh, I didn't dare take him out again in case I broke him! He went Advanced and jumped clear round Blenheim :) then when he stopped wanting to event anymore, he went hunting again and ended his days with the Heythrop.

No drag hunting around us, so he was "proper" hunting (pre ban days)
 
Thanks for your responses guys :D

I'm definitely gonna go for it!! I think it will be just what we need after last weekend.
He is a very polite horse to ride, he isn't at all strong and doesn't pull so I don't think it will be too much for him. He is so laid back, he's pretty much horizontal! :cool:

If Sun goes to plan I'll be doing a hunter trial over the 3' course at Larkhill early Nov and then try to get out hunting once more before he has his winter break. Then hopefully a few times before the start of the season next year..

Wish me luck.. Kick on!!! :)
 
Star - thanks for the info! Will drop you a PM. I think I will stay at the back for my first one, as I've no idea how Andy will react. Apparently they have a second field master which is good as I don't have a clue!!
Have got some tips from a friend of mine who hunts so hopefully I won't disgrace myself too much ;) :)
 
the 2nd field master will take the non jumping group though - unless you dont want to jump I'd stick with the main group, just pop yourself at the back and work out what goes on. It's fun!
 
Tried to persuade Mini TX to take her eventer out. Not very successful. Probably something to do with the fact that madame is far too clever by half, knows where to put her feet at all times, has a 5th leg most times and is a proper little thinker. Jumps like a stag xc, and is worth a fair old bit of money as well and we dont want her to 'break'. I personally think she will love it, but our YO, who bred her, took her mother hunting and got dumped by her every time out. She is therefore going to get her winter xc fix on my cob. I did try .......
 
I took my old eventer out hunting last winter. My aim was to give him a job as he had jacked it in eventing wise. He absolutely loved it & it gave us both back our xc mojo.....so much so we completed the Milton Keynes 3 day in the spring :-D

The only problem is he loves hunting so much everytime we hear a hunting horn I have to sit tight because we are off :-D but after the years I had trying to make him event when he didn't want to it makes me overjoyed to see him so happy again!
 
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