Experienced Hunters please help.

[Potato!]

I have a 14.1 haffie mare who I would love to take hunting regularly, She is a fantastic pony who is forward going and great in company however when I have taken her out hunting she is out of her depth (as am I) and as she is insecure she clings to the other horse I was with and after about half hour to an hour it all just get to too much and she puts in a few rears.

I have been told to keep taking her out and she will get better (she’s only been out probably 2x per season for the last few years, and a max of 4 or 5 times in her life) but the problem is that I scares me to death and I’m on edge from before we get to the meet which doesn’t help her at all.


Would anybody have any ideas on what to do or would anybody like a pony to hunt with for a season to build her confidence without having a nervous wreck on her back.

 

[maxie]

If she's getting excited about the propsect of galloping in a big crowd, then maybe start her with a few fun rides/hunt canters. Start small- maybe call it quits after an hour, or even half an hour and go home. Gradually increase the length of time.
Maybe even go to just the meet for a day or two, get used to all the hustle and bustle without blowing her brain. She should settle down after a while. As for sticking to her buddy, I would work on that at home-make her go away from others horses, even out of sight, get her used to doing her own thing by herself. It will make her more independent and less clingy.
Good luck

 

[Potato!]

Thanks you for your reply, It’s not the galloping with others that blows her brain. It’s just the whole experience of not being able to stand still and waiting for others to go through obstacles, At the meet she is ok unless there are horses moving about. We usually have 1 rear at the meet and then nothing for half an hour but when I leave she is still getting herself more and more would up. For example we had to ride back through town and had to stop at the traffic lights and she just couldnt stand still and I was worried that she would go up on the road. This was about 45mins after leaving the field

The trouble is that she is ok when leaving others and working on her own at home that’s not an issue at all. Its only when hunting.

 

[bounce]

Whereabouts are you? Or which is your local hunt.

 

[Potato!]

Im in Devon and the local hunts to me are the Mid Devon or the Eggesford

 

[bounce]

Ah, bit far south.

I would suggest asking your hunt if you can tag along for mounted hound exercise, then once settled to the idea of trotting along and then going home, get out to the autumn meets and as someone else suggested, just go for an hour and go home before she gets wound up. Keep at it and hopefully she may settle. The trouble is, the more agitated you are the more agitated she will get. Try some Kalms or rescue remedy or if not driving, drink a bit more port before setting off!

I found with my nutter that I had to continually walk a circle whilst waiting as she wouldn't settle. If you keep your horse bending then they can't rear. They need to be straight for that.

 

[RunToEarth]

I would agree with Bounce, hound exercise, fun rides, anything with a group and fast work, and then cub as much as you can. There are a lot of good hunters that get better the more they go out, my coloured needs bottoming with a good stint of cubbing and then taking regularly otherwise he is a nightmare too. It will take time but once she settles into she should be a good little hunter.

 

[sonjafoers]

I agree with the advice above - start with hound exercise which means there will be no hanging around initially and it won't be as exciting for her. You can then move onto autumn hunting which when it first starts can finish after an hour or so. That way you can go for half an hour initially and work up to an hour etc. It's not normally as fast as hunting and the field is often much smaller - just be prepared for early starts!

One of mine has hunted weekly for about 5 seasons and she still gets into a complete state when she knows she's going. She sweats up in the box, shakes and shivers and absolutely will not stand still at the meet, she just wants to get going. When I bring her home she takes a couple of hours to settle and actually eat so I normally turn her out straight away and come back for her later. It may be that yours will be the same and take a while to calm down after so don't worry that she wouldn't stand still at the traffic lights - it all just adds to the fun!!

I'm in Devon but not near you unfortunately (Spooners) otherwise you could venture out with us for a few quiet meets. If you can get transport and think it would be worthwhile then I'd be happy to accompany you and leave early a few times.

 

[JenHunt]

I haven't read all the replies, so apologise if I'm repeating anything already said...

take her out little and often - she'll start to settle once she realises that you're going to take her away when it gets too much for her.

also, when you are out, don't be tempted to argue with her about standing still. MAKE her do something - walk 10m circles, leg yield along a path a few metres and back again. Occupy her brain so she's concentrating on you and not how exciting it all is. Every now and again ask her to stand for a moment, praise her for standing, and as soon as she starts to fidget push her to do something else. She'll soon learn that its easier to stand still!

don't give up, she will get there, and the more you persevere the better she'll get!