Help! Hunt Schooling Question

[ellietaylor10]

I took my mare cubbing last weekend. She was awful! She was much worse than I expected her to be and didn't seem to settle at all. Part of the problem was that she seemed to be totally shocked by hounds. Is there anywhere that you knowledgeable people know of, that will take horses to settle into hunting, a kind of hunt schooling ?

 

[doodleberry]

the only thing to do is persist !! make sure her feed is low and try not to feed any sugar or mollasses type feed for the time being !! pink powder may help her as it can get rid of any acid in hind gut which can make them fidgety and uncomfortable!! some horses just dont hunt end of, but if you have persisted then you will know weather it was just first day excitement !! try and go with a chum who has a horse which is quiet and sensible and try and do a bloody good exercise the day before to knock the stuffing out ! dont worry about the horse being tired once you have got to the bottom of them then you can build up fitness!! this time of year the hunting is a little more busy then when they start so if you give up this year try and start early next year when they dont really do anything! as long as your horse isnt dangerous and doesnt kick hounds or horses then just keep going!! good luck

 

[ellietaylor10]

the only thing to do is persist !! make sure her feed is low and try not to feed any sugar or mollasses type feed for the time being !! pink powder may help her as it can get rid of any acid in hind gut which can make them fidgety and uncomfortable!! some horses just dont hunt end of, but if you have persisted then you will know weather it was just first day excitement !! try and go with a chum who has a horse which is quiet and sensible and try and do a bloody good exercise the day before to knock the stuffing out ! dont worry about the horse being tired once you have got to the bottom of them then you can build up fitness!! this time of year the hunting is a little more busy then when they start so if you give up this year try and start early next year when they dont really do anything! as long as your horse isnt dangerous and doesnt kick hounds or horses then just keep going!! good luck

She doesn't have any hard feed, lives out, I worked her like mad the day before, etc. I hope your right, I have a glimmer of hope now you've said persist! Thank you !

 

[Suziq77]

I agree with the persisting - did you try to make her stand or did you ask her to keep walking? The first time I take a baby out I don't ask them to stand at all: they circle quietly once I have got on and before we move off, they circle quietly while everyone else lines out, they circle quietly if there is a queue for a gate or jump, if we line out in a wood I keep a space and walk them slowly up and down and each time they instigate standing still e.g. to stand neaxt to a quiet horse or to watch hounds working then I give them a big pat and a polo. Usually they feel they have to move again fairly soon so we recommence circling (changing direction regularly). I ask them to stay soft in their mouth and neck and to keep moving off my leg forwards and to the side whilst on their circles.

Don't keep them out too long the first few times and end on a good quiet note at a point when it is a short hack back to the box, ideally with company.

Second time out there is generally an enthusiasm to stand still

 

[JenHunt]

remember - you'd never ask a kid to stand still at a party, so why ask a young/novice horse?

Keep her busy, walking, turning, listening to you. Praise her for standing, even if it's only 2 seconds.

Persevere. She'll get eh idea pretty quick.

 

[VOM]

I know of somewhere but over here in Ireland. Hopefully the more she see's of them the more she will calm down.

 

[HuntingB]

First time they're normally shell shocked at it all.
Second time it's like they realise that it's fun.
Third time they've know that it's fun and that they're learning what to do.

We try to get the first few times out the way in quick succession.
Suziq77 and JenHunt have good advice!

 

[ellietaylor10]

Thanks all- good advice. I did try to keep her busy, but I will heed the wise words and crack on with it! Ellie