autumn7
Well-Known Member
Did some pondering whilst on ten mile hack today - mainly power walking on roads with two mile total trot/canter on off road sections.
Should have been autumn hunting today but after mare's second time out this season last Tues she's been so uncharacteristically keyed up that have left her in field the last two days of high winds as felt she's not been 100% safe to hack out. (No school available, we hack.)
Calmer weather today so in lieu of hunting, trailered her out to quiet spot and had good purposeful no-nonsense hack for 2 1/2 hours. Glad I did as although started out unsettled, on high alert and ready for action she had noticeably destressed by the end, still extremely forward going, but listening and responding well, your "push button" ride. Hunting would have been a no-no with her today in the frame that she started. We can go on Saturday when hopefully she's more herself.
Now, I'd value your thoughts on these things I mulled over as I rode:
Assuming one starts the season with a pretty fit horse ie. forward going 16hh MW 8 yr old cob who does tend to find hunting particularly "exhiliarating", in your opinion is it best to:
1) exercise her fairly hard between hunting days (we manage approx 3 - 4 days per month) to give an outlet for her energy & to keep her super fit, or
2) exercise fairly lightly between hunting days so that she doesn't become TOO fit & explosive to hunt.
3) attend several meets in quick succession so that it's not quite so thrilling, or
4) Intersperse hunting days with other outings (we do all sorts - fun rides, SJ, dressage, XC schooling, etc) so her trips out aren't all "galloping with the herd" so to speak.
This is the start of her third season out, first season only totalled eight days and last season twenty three days total and although extra keen throughout she didn't exhibit quite such stressy behaviour between hunting days that she's shown this time round.
I do wonder if she's actually a little too fit for starters, if that's possible? She's had a busy summer with an event of some sort virtually every weekend which she's taken in her stride. It's only hunting that has keyed her up this year which has surprised me a little. I thought she'd be older and wiser another year on as she's got a lot more life experiences under her belt (girth!), but it's as if I've pushed her outside her comfort zone.
Just to add, she lives out, grass by day, bare paddock at night with high fibre haylage and Lo Cal balancer. She thrived purely on this (plus Kwik-beet) all last winter - an incredibly good doer.
Should have been autumn hunting today but after mare's second time out this season last Tues she's been so uncharacteristically keyed up that have left her in field the last two days of high winds as felt she's not been 100% safe to hack out. (No school available, we hack.)
Calmer weather today so in lieu of hunting, trailered her out to quiet spot and had good purposeful no-nonsense hack for 2 1/2 hours. Glad I did as although started out unsettled, on high alert and ready for action she had noticeably destressed by the end, still extremely forward going, but listening and responding well, your "push button" ride. Hunting would have been a no-no with her today in the frame that she started. We can go on Saturday when hopefully she's more herself.
Now, I'd value your thoughts on these things I mulled over as I rode:
Assuming one starts the season with a pretty fit horse ie. forward going 16hh MW 8 yr old cob who does tend to find hunting particularly "exhiliarating", in your opinion is it best to:
1) exercise her fairly hard between hunting days (we manage approx 3 - 4 days per month) to give an outlet for her energy & to keep her super fit, or
2) exercise fairly lightly between hunting days so that she doesn't become TOO fit & explosive to hunt.
3) attend several meets in quick succession so that it's not quite so thrilling, or
4) Intersperse hunting days with other outings (we do all sorts - fun rides, SJ, dressage, XC schooling, etc) so her trips out aren't all "galloping with the herd" so to speak.
This is the start of her third season out, first season only totalled eight days and last season twenty three days total and although extra keen throughout she didn't exhibit quite such stressy behaviour between hunting days that she's shown this time round.
I do wonder if she's actually a little too fit for starters, if that's possible? She's had a busy summer with an event of some sort virtually every weekend which she's taken in her stride. It's only hunting that has keyed her up this year which has surprised me a little. I thought she'd be older and wiser another year on as she's got a lot more life experiences under her belt (girth!), but it's as if I've pushed her outside her comfort zone.
Just to add, she lives out, grass by day, bare paddock at night with high fibre haylage and Lo Cal balancer. She thrived purely on this (plus Kwik-beet) all last winter - an incredibly good doer.