Horse running on adrenaline

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okiepokie

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Hi folks

Hope you can reassure me i'm doing the right thing, iv'e recently taken my youngster out autumn hunting and whilst she is ace to compete, hack etc found it all a little too fun and exhilirating.

1st time out wasnt a big deal, but as you would expect the 2nd time (the last time we were out) she rattled my cage a little bit with her unpredictable behaviour.I am determined to get this young mare to hunt and I don't consider myself a nervous rider but having broken my arm once out hunting with a previous horse don't fancy going through the same again and want to know i'm not banging my head against a brick wall.

Last time out she proceeded to do the following: leap into a ditch, canter on the spot in the most amazing grand prix dressage style, cat leapt up a mound into a field, bashed into other horses, had a little lie down in a ditch and whirrled her head around in a snake like fashion whilst cantering ensuring the windmill motion pulled me forward to reduce braking capacity (i could see her shoes shining up at me either side of my stirrups), i hasten to add that with all this athletic display i did NOT fall off!!!

I expected a little bit of youngster naughtinest, ants in the pants restlessness but didn't expect to get back to the trailer after 4 hours of the above to find she had lost a shoe, had a puncture wound to the knee, sore on her cheekbone from her grackle and bitten a 1cm chunck out of her lip!

So i'm taking the little monkey out sat, tues and thurs of next week hoping that several times out in one week will knock it on the head and help hunting become 'the norm'. I aim to stay at the back of the field, and will ensure she only trots canters and gallops when asked too, not when the field move off!! I'm not too bothered about her standing rock still and am happy for her to walk around to settle, as tried to make her stand still the last few times and just think this encourages the wound up behaviour. I have to say she did switch off for 15 mins at one covert!

The question is, do you think the more she goes out the less adrenaline pumped she will be and finally become a hunting pro?
 
I aim to stay at the back of the field, and will ensure she only trots canters and gallops when asked too, not when the field move off!!
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Why not allow her at the front of the field and just to go with the flow?

She's much more likely to settle that way.

And yes, I agree with going as often as possible.
 
Hi Amy

She was up at the front the majority of the time last time, it was quite a quiet day, but kept getting a little hemmed in, hense the bashing into other horses when we came to a stop and were stood in the group. But may be worth another try!
 
Yeah get her out plenty I say – at least that way she might get too tired to me stupid!

IMO if she was that bothered you wouldn’t have a)dare or b)has the energy to keep her out for 4 hours. I’m sure she’ll calm down eventually.
 
Perhaps 4 hours was rather of an overkill for the second time out. I know mine used to get worse when she was mentally tired and she would in fact become stronger and on the forehand, find it impossible to stand still, etc. which was a signal for me to return to the trailer and call it a day! Even in her second season I'd be pushing to do 4 hrs with her, even though fit enough. Youngsters certainly find hunting an incredibly draining experience, far more exciting than shows etc. could ever be. Would it pay to still take her out a lot as planned but stick to shorter days?
 
I'd get her out as much as you can, as you say, to make it normal...
I'd make sure she's well exercised the days before/between as well so she's not too fresh..
I'd also be making her do something (walking round) when she's fidgety rather than stopping her from fidgeting - it's like taking a kid to a party and expecting them to sit still!
I'd also be trying to stay in the middle of the field, but trying to control the transitions (so not halt to gallop! or gallop to screeching halt!) so she doesn't tear away and get too wound up.
I'd probably not stay out for more than a couple of hours at a time until she starts to settle to it a bit more.

but that's just my opinion.
 
Hi Guys

All very interesting comments, agree about not staying out too long, unfortunately last time we were well away from home and i didn't know the country so had to wait to head home otherwise we would have left earlier. The meet this weekend we know a little better and often go back to field we start in several times so will give us plenty of opportunities to leave hopefully. Question is front, middle or back of field i think i may have to play it by ear and go with the flow! I'll let you all know how it goes as the week goes on but any more tips are more than welcome!

Thanks
 
Yes can we have a report??

FWIW, I am no expert but I have to say, we were bloody spectacular for about 5 meets. Seriously out of control. Then suddenly, horse just *got* it and I went from belting past the master every 5 mins to people asking me, was he a hireling?

Have to say though, that my lad never really lost the plot, he just got mega strong and opinionated. For instance, one of the early days when he was particularly obnoxious, I noticed his boot had got low on his leg. Got off to sort it out and the field moved off. He stood like a rock for me to remount. THEN went charging off again. He's a draught x so no blood, big sensible head on him, just a bit too clever and a bit of an "I know best" type.

But do stick with it, don't they say that first time they're ok, second time they anticipate and are a nightmare, third time plus you get the feel of whether they're going to blow their brains irretrievably, or become a hunter?? Everything crossed here today went well!!! xxx
 
Morning All

Well a much better meet I think. Stood well and listened to the master address us all, moved off in trot down the road NOT canter. Got to the first field and held her at the back so that i could ask her to canter on, not run off with the field. Lots of sheep and cattle fields so perfect for walking round and keeping her occupied. Still the occasional canter on the spot and very impressive half passes but nothing unsettling.

Luckily my friend and her very seasoned hunter are ace at gates so we placed ourselves at the very back of the field educating my mare that though everyone moves off we will catch up eventually. After 2 and a half hours we started getting the boiled brain feeling as the windmilling of legs and head began so decided to head home and finish on a good note.

We were stood with a few folks on foot getting our bearings and working out a route home, when my lovely steed decided to scratch her sweaty head on a very thick hedge. Having plunged her head in uncontralable without an ounce of warning she lost her balance and proceeded to climb through where we were faced with a 3ft drop into a ditch and into the field on the other side we were bound! Down onto her knees she went and as my face was a foot from the ground and could see her bottom peaking over my shoulder i bailed out. We both stood for a few mins whilst catching out breath only to look up at my friend and her horse peering over the hedge about 9ft above checking we were okay!

My horse had hardly a scratch on her, and was incredibly lucky as broke through a branch about 10cm in diameter. Alltogether lucky it was a clean clear hedge! As soon as we realised we were all okay, we errupted into laugter along with those following on foot, who said it was an 'amazing' stunt!! Check out the link below for a piccy my friend took from her side, it really doesn't do it true justice but you get the idea!

I am gutted she had this baby moment as would have been a very good experience other than this, we are heading back out on tuesday with the same idea in mind, just a few hours out to settle then back home. The meet on tues is hackable so will be an opportunity to burn the excess energy on route.

I have to say that whilst she wasn't imppeccably behaved we saw a few more glimmers of hope and were moments without her pumped full of adrenaline. I', glad ive been taking her as already seeing a change in her behaviour as has taught her to extend her stride in trot, stand still out on hacks, reduced her spookiness and general irrational fear of change in differn't textures i.e puddles, mud, grass, coloured concrete, and be more patient with other horses while out and about!

Stay tuned for my update on tomo's meet!!

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Fantastic news okiepokie!
Good on you for persevering, can only get better from here. Eventually you'll be waking her up and kicking her on after each hold up....(well OK, slight exaggeration maybe but one can hope)....and it sounds as if you have a sane hacking horse in between times which is more than I've got atm, though mine is getting there. Still too much energy from this autumn grass me thinks. Can't remember grass like this in late Oct in previous years, as bad as spring grazing here.
Do report back after tomorrow for us, and the best of luck for an even more successful day, minus the "hedge incident" of course!!
 
sounds like a definite improvement! keep it up!

lol at the hedge incident, but don't worry - the best of us have those! I had an arguement with my lad about jumping a hedge, vs waiting his turn for the rail. Just as I thought "that's it you little BLEEEEEEP you'll just the Effing hedge" and kicked on... he changed his mind and next thing I know I was sitting in the hedge looking at him. I've never seen him look so puzzled!

Have a good check for thorns, would hate you to lose the rest of the season from one!
 
Oh Gawd, you went through THAT!! Glad you were both unscathed! Good shot though, one for the album with anecdote to look back on.
 
Hi Guys

Me again, just thought i'd let you all know that our morning out yesterday went quite well. We had the usual fidgeting, messing about on the spot, issues standing still along the edge of plough, but no hedge diving or ditch leaping.

Got a little lost in some woods and cut off from rest of field but soon rejoined after a bit of investigating by my mare....this she found very educational as didn't like leaving her buddies to go exploring on her own, proceeded to bronc with me but soon realised the name of the game and got her head round it.

Though we didn'y jump while following the master, we jumped all the fields home, proving that 1) she is as brave as brave can be and will make a fab eventer and 2) that when we are calm enough to jump she will make a fab hunter too!

Out again tommorow, the poor thing is nackered so i'm hoping tomorow will be the final lesson and end to the teenage tantrums as they are wearing a little thin and getting pretty tiresome!

We're not on home soil, and out with a differen't hunt, so wish me luck!
 
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