Hound exercise

Charlie007

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I have just bought a 4 tb. I was hoping to do some hound exercise with him but want to keeping all easy and steady for him as he was only 4 in may.I have only had him a week but prior to me having him he was very fit, then took a back seat for 5 weeks whilst his previous owner evented her other horses. I am now hacking him in walk 3 or 4 times a week. His walk on a hack is very forward going. I don't want to rush or push him this year but would like to have a go at hound exercise.

How fit does he need to be?
And is hound exercise slow paced?

Thanks in advace
 

Goldenstar

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Many people love hound exercising and use it all the time as a way of introducing horses to hunting .
I don't like it it does not work for me the horses get too fit too soon and it's more trotting than I like to do at that stage .
I prefer to go autumn hunting as much as I can ,I like the standing around and the fact you can easily go away for half an hour and then come back .
 

Charlie007

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Thanks goldenstar. Do you think I would be better waiting for autumn hunting then? Really was something slow paced, am very conscious of his age and joints!!
 

Goldenstar

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That what I would do go autumn hunting with an suitable nanny horse if at all possible as often as I could.
I would not hunt a four yo though I would take it autumn hunting but not proper hunting until it was five .
But as I said it's how lots of very experienced people do it it just does not work for me .
 

Houndman

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At the moment we are on bicycles when exercising the hounds. Sometimes we take a quad bike out too. Horses at grass.
 

Ditchjumper2

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Agree with Goldesntar best way for us too is autumn hunting. You can then choose how much you do and at what speed.The oldies do not need pounding down the roads, the sharp one I prefer to hunt him fit and the cob would not appreciate endless trotting with her large feet.
 
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