fit for Bloodhounds?

[mitchellk]

How fit long do you think it would take to get a horse fit to go out with the blood hounds, for about three hours max, about three/four runs?
My horse is ridden 4/5 times a week long walking hacks of about an hour at the moment.

 

[icemaiden113]

Should only take you a 3/4 weeks as your horse isn't starting from scratch! But it also depends which blood hounds your going with.

 

[RunToEarth]

What relief are you on, can you not do any trotting on your hacks, I usually do the big hills at a steady trot 3times a week for hunting, little more if I fancy a day out with the RFBH.

 

[Jemayni]

Depends which bloodhound hunt you are talking about. I have 3 local BH groups, one I take out horse that have only been backed 8 weeks and they cope fine, one I would say needs to be slightlly less fit than "normal" hunting. The other, use "normal" hunting to get it fit first!

 

[mitchellk]

East Anglian Bloodhounds. I live in fairly flat area with very few hills, have been walking to tighten muscles and start getting eventing fit after a short holiday. He is quite fresh so I am thinking it might be a good idea for him not to be too fit to retain some sanity. Am hoping to take part in the Boxing day meet which is in the area that I hack out so we can go home if it all gets too much!
So if I start introducing some trot work now and then short canters in say two weeks do you think we will survive!!

 

[icemaiden113]

I think if you keep to your plan of start trotting and introduce short canter work in a couple of weeks you will be fine!
You don't want too fit if you haven't been for a while! Sounds like a good day and much more civilized than the blood hounds i used to go with (Ready Field!)
Have fun!

 

[KatB]

Lol!! The readyfield have calmed down!!..... honestly! :crazy:

Lots of trot work for leg health, and a few bursts of canter for wind and you should be fine. Have fun!!

 

[icemaiden113]

Lol!! The readyfield have calmed down!!..... honestly! :crazy:

Really!! Well what a shame!!! lol Used to love em before!

 

[Jemayni]

So if I start introducing some trot work now and then short canters in say two weeks do you think we will survive!!

Yea defo , make sure your horse is happy doing quite a decent trot then cantering for 5 minutes or so and you'll be fine!

Boxing day meets are usually quite quite anyway, everyone is to busy drinking to hunt!