First Hunt

[express_75]

Well, i did it!
Went on my first ever hunt on my first ever horse!
I was SO, SO nervous but also very excited.
|Took my Welsh D mare (only 4) there was lots of head shaking, which was quite annoying but this i think was due to the lots of hanging about. Had a couple of fast canters on her. The first was through a cropped field and she went off lovely then speeded up and ended up past the huntsman! Oops! I had plenty of support there from some lovely people who gave me loads of great advice; leave the flash off her next time, don't put her in a stronger bit etc - she was strong but stoppable ( in a french link fulmer)...
Im knackered now!
It was great and i had fun but as im quite novicey (riding 3 yrs and no hero lol) maybe i'll hack her out loads and practice my brakes at home before i take her again?

I need brakes without over bitting her..

All in all - WAS GREAT FUN!! :crazy:

 

[sarahrees]

so glad u enjoed
did you go with llandeilo then?
couldnt go, had to work but hopefully we'll meet soon
xxxxx

 

[Chumsmum]

Glad you had a great time and the people you were with sounded nice.

Perhaps try a few fun rides too - these are a good way of testing out your brakes in company - and a lot cheaper than hunting lol.

Can't offer any advice re: bitting - trying to sort this on my own pony too. Just out of interest, what was she doing and what were people's reasons behind the 'leave the flash off her / don't put a stronger bit in' advice?

I'm very much in a similar position re: novice rider on a novice hunting pony (tho mine is 15yo!) so it is very nerve-racking but well done for giving it a go and hope you get to go out again soon

 

[express_75]

Thanks.

Regarding the bitting advice; she was shaking her head up and down and awful lot and one older guy said that the flash is just an irritant and as she's only 4 don't over bit her or otherwise i'll end up having to go stronger and stronger and that i'll never have her back in a kind bit etc. What he said made total sence. He said that if i have something thin and harsh then she's going to fight against it and pull even more, he has taken his hunters out in rubber snaffles and could ride without a pulling match! He also said to keep my hands low and wide so that the bit rests in the correct place (bars of the mouth) and i'll be able to stop her via her lower jaw and not the whole of her head and body should be hands have been higher etc. I've tried the lower hands thing today and she did seem to sofen and listen to me more, we only went for an hour hack with a little canter and her brakes were great. Obviously the hunt gets her excited, whci is to be expected. i think i need more hours in the saddle before i take her again as im no expert on the hunting field and i don't want to teach her bad manners.

 

[express_75]

Yes, went with Llandeilo - it was fun!
Not too much of a crowd there so was fine for a first timer like me!

Yes, will meet sometime!

 

[Chumsmum]

I know what you mean about needing more experience in the saddle before going again...but hunting is so flipping addictive :grin:

The advice makes sense...but so does the advice that one pull on a stronger bit is better than lots of pulls on a softer one so I'm no clearer on what to do next anyway My boy does the same in a flash too though that is what friends suggest to try on him.

Good luck on whatever you decide to do next with her, as I said funrides and hacking in big groups are good ways to get her slightly wound up and so try out new bits etc.

 

[dwi]

Well done you, I went on my first hunt today and really enjoyed it as well