Help with an unruly hunter...

[clair.s]

I have a great hunter... he is mostly well behaved and jumps for england, however we have one problem which isn't getting better with age (and he is now 14!). He tends to charge at his fences, being completely impatient, which has been his problem since young. He is okay if first over. I have managed this as best i can for several years now, but as i'm getting older i'm now more wary.

He has a very soft mouth and gets on well with a rubber pelham, but i find that at the crutial moment, he pulls the reins out of my hands and races to the fence. I try to set myself up, shortening the reins and getting ready for it, but everytime he gets away.

I am concious of his age which means he is probaby set in his ways, but i'm just wondering if there is any hope? I've considered a kimblewick bit in stead as i often ride him with a loose rein anyway as this might give a bit more pull when needed?

 

[Nancykitt]

Always worth trying another bit - I have a 14 year old who does the same and I hate that 'tanking' feeling. I have to say that my lad didn't respond a great deal better to other bits but a friend with a similar problem found that a grackle noseband worked wonders.

Main thing is - he's jumping - I think that the 'dirty stoppers' can be more of a problem!

 

[clair.s]

Thanks, i was thinking about putting a flash on him, although it isnt usually the 'done thing' when using a pelham, but i've got to that time in life where i'm of the opinion...what ever works!

I think i'll try him back with double reins (rather than the D's), but i'm also thinking of possibly a kimblewick. Heard both good and bad reports, but those who like them do swear by them!

 

[weebarney]

i had an incredibly strong mare once and the only thing she went well in and braked in was an american gag.

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

My old pony mare also went best in a jointed Amercian gag, sometimes it had a strap behind as well, I used to use only use when it was needed, ie to Stop, not have a pratice halfway across the field, if you know what I mean!

She was 21 when I started hunting her a lot more, very strong and liked to launch into fences and would leap around if not one of the first few over! I found this and letting her be up front helped the most, she was never very good at waiting (launched me of once so pep really learnt that) I only used a cavesson noseband, as she had COPD has well so wanted her I get as much oxygen as poss.

 

[Luci07]

You could try a happy mouth gag? I suspect it will be trial and error thought but would not be fixed on the Pelham.

 

[L&M]

Or a Kineton noseband?

 

[angelish]

i'm another that found an american gag useful , it improved my brakes but compromised steering so i used it as a double bridle combination with a little sweet iron snaffle and pelham roundings i know thats not conventional but it really worked wonders with one of mine

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

Also do you bridge your reins when you shorted them, as he will then find it harder to get away, can take a while for them to realise this! And also possibly a standing martingale? Depending how he gets away from you?

 

[clair.s]

Thanks everyone. I am a bit limited with bits as he prefers the straight bar as he will try and get his tongue over the bit with anything jointed. Also tried him with a standing martingale and within 30 seconds of getting on him he already had it caught in his mouth! He is very much a fiddler, so i dont think i'll be trying that again!

 

[Hunters]

Take him hunting every day (if this is possible) - the more they Di, Thr more boring it becomes. The more boring it becomes, the more the horse settles

 

[clair.s]

Oh, i wish i could hunt everyday! And i do think that the fact he doesnt get enough of it is part of the problem!

 

[JenHunt]

Ron is unruly at the start of the season... he needs bottoming, and riding in a double bridle to keep him sensible. I also keep him towards the front, especially on days where there's plenty of jumping to be done. He has zero patience in front of a fence, and we have in the past jumped a pony or two after they've stopped in front of us.

not only did the double bridle make a massive difference, but also he gets no cereals - he hunts off fast fibre, linseed and alfa oil. (and pink powder for the vits and mins).... he's 18 now and still keeps up all day, has a whale of a time, and is soooo much more settled and controllable once he's had 8-10 good days in the season. After that I can put him in a snaffle, and have even more fun!