For those that turn their hunters away..

Maesfen

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For me, it all depends on how much you want to do.

If you want to be there most mornings during cubbing/hound exercise then I'd want them in work within a couple of weeks of now; they definitely need to have done 6 weeks road work walking/slow trotting before going the first time (I'm assuming they've been turned out totally since mid April).

If you only plan on going once it's all in full swing, then I'd want them up and ready to start early August at the latest. There's no reason why you can't ride them from the field although it does make it harder for them to shift any lard that way!

At our livery yard we had owners that only ever came to ride from Opening Meet onwards, so those horses would be back in by 1st September and stabled from then on.
Whenever they came in they would always have only walking for 4 weeks at the very least, more if they were really overweight, introducing short trots from then; they'd start cantering work 3 weeks before OM and canter every other day from then on. Before they started cantering we'd be doing up to 2 hours road work 6 days a week, probably about 15 miles each day. My favourite part of the whole season if I'm honest!
 

redfoxhunter

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My favourite part of the whole season if I'm honest!

It's just building up the excitement for me!

Got two that have been turned away all Summer, going to start them off these evening with a walk round the block. One is getting very bored in his field and causing all sorts of trouble, so decided he needs to start doing some work. He doesn't going cubbing until towards the end so plenty of time to get him up and running.

Was interested to find out other peoples routine, and steal some tips ;)
 

spacefaer

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5 yr old has been in light work since he arrived in April, the guys that hunted last season have been in the field (or at least, not in work) since mid April

Mine will start end July as they go autumn hunting. My OH's don't, so don't have to be ready til Opening Meet -they'll probably start mid/end Aug - depending on how busy I am ;-)
 

Houndman

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Turned out but has at least one good hack a week so as not to get too out of condition. All grassy tracks so he is not shod.
 

snowstormII

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Maesfen I could use your guidance too! I have been doing 2 x 40 min walk hacks for weeks but decided to up it to 1hr walk with 3 short trots 6 days this week. Have I gone to quick? Should I go back to pure walking or keep going putting more trot in?
 

JDH01

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When mine have been turned away from 1st May they are shod 2nd week in August and then ridden every day in walk from the field for initially 10 mins then doubling each day until we are walking 2 hours. Once walking 2 hours (end of week 2) I go down to 1 hour a day and start to introduce trot in very short bursts until the 1 hr hack reduces to 40 mins (about 5 weeks). I do not canter until we go Autumn hunting for the first time. It has always worked for me but I do get them in full time from August bank holiday as we have usually started by then.
 

MILLGREENLADY

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Start of july you need around 4 weeks initial walking if you want to condition them well, the more you want the animal fit in the long fun the more walking you should at the start.
 

PorkChop

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I used to start mine with their 4 weeks walking in the middle of June. This was after being completely turned away and roughed off, hunting having finished at the beginning of April. Mine would be out twice a week from the beginning of cubbing throughout the season, so were doing a decent amount of work.
 

Maesfen

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Maesfen I could use your guidance too! I have been doing 2 x 40 min walk hacks for weeks but decided to up it to 1hr walk with 3 short trots 6 days this week. Have I gone to quick? Should I go back to pure walking or keep going putting more trot in?

Personally, I'd keep to the time and 6 days but I'd walk for a week or two more to allow for the extra time and days; by then you should be ready for the short trots. Don't laugh, I usually trot and count to a hundred and then back to a walk for 15 minutes, trot again for another hundred; do that for a week then the next week the same but ten minutes between trots, gradually make the trots longer; the horses should come back still ready to carry on for a bit longer but you don't want them tired out, that way could lead to injury issues; hope that helps. Don't forget to make sure they march out the whole time too, nothing worse than a walk that doesn't go anywhere for me.

I'm so jealous of you all bringing them up, you won't believe!
 

spacefaer

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You are very welcome if you want an occasional hack to come over - the best 2 will be back in a fortnight or so, then I'll have 5 to get going. I'm probably about 45 mins away :)
 
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