Getting a small pony used to hounds etc

[gemini87]

My daughter is nearly 3 and has a 10.2hh ShetlandX. I would love to take them to the boxing day meet but I want to make sure the pony is going to be ok before we take him.

I thought about taking him to a local meet before Xmas without daughter and just letting him take it all in, is this the done thing?

 

[L&M]

Our kennels will allow people to take up young/green horses up to 'meet the hounds' prior to hunting - is that an option?

If you contact your hunt sec (contact details usually found on the MFHA website/'find a pack') they can advise you further.

It would be a good idea to take the pony to a quieter meet prior to Boxing Day, not just to show it hounds, but to make sure it can deal with the atmosphere of hunting in general.

Hope it goes well!

 

[tootsietoo]

Hello

I have 4 and 6 yr old children who I have been taking hunting for a few years. I never took them to a boxing day meet because it is just so manic! A bit too stressful for me, and not much for the child to see apart from a lot of boots and stirrups! Of course yours might be in a field, so perhaps a bit more space and a bit easier.

You could definitely turn up to a meet on foot leading a riderless shetland - I am certain no one would mind! Would be best to phone the sec and officially ask and check where the right place is to park and if you can park at the meet to save you walking a long way.

There are often children's meets around christmas time, and they are a lot more fun for the children than boxing day. We have a Father Christmas on a horse handing out sweets, and there are plenty of other parents on foot leading children so you don't get lost and can keep up with what is going on and have a gossip and the children have all their friends around.

 

[Shay]

Ditto the last poster. My daughter is now 13 and has hunted the last 4 seasons. She is experienced and well known (In a good way!). But she is still mounted on a 13.2. This is the first year I am considering - and only considering mind you! - letting her go to the Boxing day meet. The atmosphere is wonderful - but it is really manic. Think adults with - possibly - a bit too much drink or a hang over from the day before and horses that haven't worked in a day or so. Everything is very close and a bit over excited. If you are on something small in that melee you can get a bit squished.

Most hunts do a children's hunt in the run up to Christmas. That would probably be a better place to start. Speak to your hunt secretary and explain what you want. Hunts are usually really good and accomodating about kids - they are the future for us after all!

 

[gemini87]

Thanks so much for your replies. Our boxing day meet is in a huge field and there are always around 10 lead rein ponies that tend to stand together so that's not really a worry for me. Having said that, I don't think I will take them this year - I'm not sure I can face getting organised and the pony ready only to get there and her to say she doesn't want to ride!!

It's good to know that people have taken Shetlands minus a small jockey to meets though, I think I will try and do that to het him used to it all anyway.