horse has hunted but i havnt !!

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horseandshoes77

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Hi my horse was hunted in ireland and im in touch with previous owners who have told me she is very good out hunting jumping etc but she is very forward going and likes to be up front, (they said my arms would be pulled out if i try to keep her at back) anyway i have not hunted before so would it be bad manners to try and keep her up front ?

Also i have green checkjacket what colour stock should i wear ?

thanks
 
Sounds like you might not have any choice!

Most hunting in Ireland is a bit of a free-for-all - not many horses are "made" as they are in England, with them expected to stand, wait, queue etc as well as cross country.

If you haven't hunted before, I would ring the secretary and speak to them as a matter of courtesy, ask if you may come out, and explain that your horse may be a bit keen.

I would suggest that you take her out autumn hunting so you get an idea of how everything works and how she's going to behave before Opening Meet and things speed up a bit - see if you can teach her to settle with a buddy

Green checked hacking jacket - coloured stock - doesn't matter what colour as long as it's reasonably subdued

Have fun - keep us posted how you get on :)
 
Spacefaer I am deeply offended by your post. Hunting in Ireland is not a free for all, our horses have manners as we are queuing all the time. Maybe your experience was different but I can tell you that I have hunted with many packs in Ireland and I would not describe it as a free for all.

Horseandshoes, Wear a coloured stock with your checked jacket, it wouldn't be rude to be up the front just don't barge!!!! Also ask your local hunt if you can take your horse out Hound Exercising with them and see how you get on.
 
Hi thanks for replies, my local hunt have cubbing in oct i am going to take her to that.
I was just nervous as dont want to offend anyone first time out:) but dnt fancy spending the day fighting with her either lol, also previous owners hunted in lots of strong bits but found she fought with all of them, i currently hack school in hanging cheek french link but had to change to dutch gag for jumping as she is very strong and keen, will this bit be a good choice for hunting ?
Sorry for lots of questions just very nervous and excited and want to have the best time we poss can.



thanks
 
huntingmad - I never meant to be offensive and I'm sorry if I upset you

I merely spoke as we've found - the hunters we've had from Ireland have not had the best of manners in terms of patience - maybe we've had ones with very gung-ho owners, maybe we've just bought rude horses!

From what I've gathered, I think there's a lot more standing around in England in comparison and the style of hunting over here has changed since the ban.

I meant no criticism - merely a comparison of styles.

OP - use whatever bit you have brakes in :) Start with the Dutch gag and see how you go. If she's quite "horse" minded, you may well find that she'll want to stay with the rest of the horses, and will stop when the rest do. If that's the case, then you won't have to fight her while they're running, merely encourage her to stop with the others.

I'm sure you'll have fun! Make sure that you and she are fit enough and let us know how you get on :)
 
I suppose it depends if the horse you bought came from Harriers or Foxhounds. The harrier packs tend not to hang around but as you know with Foxhounds there is a lot more standing around and the horses would be more mannerly.

In regards to what bit I would stick with the 3 ring but if you think you can manage it try going out with the hanging cheek first time? She might settle better if you start in something less severe.....
 
Hi i think i might try her in hanging cheek for the cubbing which sounds as though it will be much less demanding and see how she goes.

Shes very competitive in anything and likes to be in front but the friends im going with have all been before so hopefully it may make her settle a bit more.

thanks for the advice much appreciated:)
 
HME - i've had experiences of both either side of the ferry, but have found that over here if a horse has "hunted in Ireland" it does tend to be a bit more onward bound and less patient - but as Spacefaer says, maybe that's just the one's we've met.

OP - go out, have fun, don't be upset or worried if your horse is fidgety or excited. Be positive with her and give her something to do (walk a little circle, walk away and come back etc) rather than fighting to stand still! Most importnatly, let us know how you get on!
 
oh i will lol, i cant wait im sure im going to get addicted, well previous owners said the field master of antrim hunt (i think thats correct ) wanted to buy her cos she was so bold etc and jumped anything, but they were late for vetting and he didnt take to kindly to this anyway shes very honest but so so keen so i nw she will be a handful. to be honest if i didnt get told she would be strong and forward i wouldnt be so nervous lol, iv dne lots of research and i nw that i cnt pass field master but the people im going with only take theirs to keep them fit, they dnt jump much because they show and dnt want any injuries marks etc, im just in to enjoying horse local unaf sj and xc etc so they will just stay at back but i really want to jump her and enjoy the day, im sure she will enjoy it too, sorry for essay but really want first time to go as smoothly as poss. Im nt afraid of her being forward and very exitable i just dnt want to upset/offend anyone on my first time out !!

thanks :)
 
Hi. Not much help to you as I am the opposite! I have hunted twice in my life and have a horse who has never hunted. Does someone else want to take her out for the first time for me? Please!!!
 
I don't think you need to worry, at the start of every season there are a lot of newbies all asking the same questions and worrying about the same things! I was one of them last year!!

I brought a horse from Ireland two years ago - oh yeah..he had hunted in Ireland - well I don't think so! he was a nightmare .. but we are getting there slowly - with a pelham, stronger arm muscles and a standing martingale lol!!

I had great advice on here... go on hound exercise (evey week if you want) just phone your local hunt and ask if you can go along, it is really good for breaking a new horse into hunting, then go autumn hunting, it is really nice, a bit slower and it introduces you and your horse slowly into the hunting season. Good luck with those Irish hunting horses! I am hoping to stay on mine for a whole day ... this coming season lol!
 
i must say though this horsewasnt broken until she was 5 yrs so wasnt a hunt at 2yrs so to speak, i do believe she will have been a good hunter as she is very bold, shes just very keen lol, im 5ft 8 and no weakling but i do find her a handful when she sets herself.
shes very stressy also but anyway like you said i wnt be the first newby who is prob worrying over nothing lol imnt so worried about holding onto her i just want to enjoy it but being a newby dnt want to be going up front with everyone experienced and making a fool of myself, but i do know if shes kept behind i will have a fight on my hands, i guess ill just have to try it and see, hopefully oct cubbing mite give me an insight of how she may go on a hunt.

thanks every1 for advice x
 
I'm sure you'll be fine. You're right about not passing the field master, but if you're really struggling to hold her they're likely to understand if you don't!
apart from that...
a green ribbon is a good idea, at least it lets others know that you don't know what to expect of her.
I wouldn't worry about boots on her unless you'd normally put them on for riding, I find they're more hassle than they're worth (they slip or rub or come undone too often!)
take water and electrolytes for her, and a flask of tea for you for when you get back to the box
take a haynet for her and a sarnie for you
I normally wash off at home, but my journeys aren't usually more than half an hour!

i've got a blog thing somewhere about the preparations... I'll dig it out for you
 
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