How long for a horse to 'settle' into hunting? Or am I doomed?

[Angelbones]

Bought a horse last year - a good allrounder, 11 yr old mare. She'd never hunted but was just the right type with a big heart and gives anything a try. I hunted last season and she loved it - perhaps a tad too much tho! She is not a kicker but doesn't like being crowded around her back end - possibly a hangover from her broodmare days? Anyway, she's good at all the standing around stuff, jumps whatever I ask her to, is happy to stay at the back as long as there is another horse's bum in front of her. She can get very excited if I ask her to queue for a jump and sometimes leaps up and lurches forward doing what I think is a fly leap and I hate it. Don't know if she'll settle into it or what do do about it really? Any suggestions? Also, she can sometimes get excited if we move off across a field and let off a wey-hey small bouncy buck which could of course catch another horse. I stick on all the red tape to her bum and tell others to watch her should I find myself up in the pack for some reason rather than at the back. I'm wondering if horses settle into it after a period of time and this sort of behaviour stops or whether she is just going to be labelled as a kicker or a 'beware of her' horse and that we are doomed? What experiences have other people had? Thanks.

 

[AmyMay]

She sounds like a great hunter to me. Not quite 'perfect' but very keen.

I wonder if she would be better if you hunted her up the front, rather than insisting she stays at the back????

 

[Asimmons]

AmyMay is right...get her up the front. She will chill out a little more, over time, I am sure..but by being at the front you can take a lot of pressure off yourself and her! Have fun!

 

[icklemadame]

My mare was excatley the same in her first season hunting - funny about everyone closing in on her, leaping around at jumps and I really struggled to stop her once she got going - really hard work - but I kept hunting her and this last season she's now an angel in comparison, she no longer worries about being crowded, despite the fact she's a very moody mare normally, she waits at jumps, she doesn't tend to bugger off (well.... within reason) - basically she's a lot lot easier!! So just give her time and she will settle once she gets used to it

 

[Starbucks]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, she'd be unlikely to kick some one from a "wey-hey small bouncy buck" but your probably best keeping your ribbon in, then at least people know. As the others have said - don't feel like you have to hang around at the back, thats probably winding her up more.

Some horses settle and some carry on doing their little naughty things, but as long as you can cope then you don't need to worry. If you go regularly (once or twice a week) then she should chill out a bit.

 

[Angelbones]

Thanks everyone, I'm going to stick at it - and my 9 year old daughter has started going and loves it. I'd love to stay at the back with her on Saturdays but am worried about kicking out at a child if they use my mare as a battering ram. This red ribbon stuff is difficult - I know that if I have the ribbons on that I am warning people but also that I have to ride responsibly and take care not to put anyone else in danger. I don't want people getting cross with me for 'not knowing my place' and not staying back, but at the same time surely some of the responsibility is on them to avoid me. I have actually turned round on several occasions and said to people close to mind her, and they've said ok but continued to ride within one metre of her back end... I think my mare would be fab further up the field, and in fact think she'd be a good bloodhound horse if allowed to get on with it. She's certainly given me the confidence to get back into jumping etc (I've been the lead rein mum for 3 kids so haven't done much for 15 years or so) and there's nothing like riding at something and knowing that your horse will just take you, but I would be crushed if I hurt someone or their horse....ho hum...

 

[Starbucks]

Don't worry about "not knowing your place", if people are that snobby and arrogant to think that you aren't "in your place" then thats their stupid fault! We have a couple of older ladies like that with our hunt and they are like it with everyone *sigh*, they are nice really, just a bit old school. I just ignore them - you don't here them complaining if you have to give them a lead!

As for the kicking thing, I kinda know what you mean - my horse has never actually kicked out (with his hind legs) but he gets the evils for certain horses - well normally ponies - he punched my friends, daughters pony in the face once! At the end of the day someone gets kicked, they get kicked, it's just one of the many dangers of hunting I'm afraid. As long as you warn people as much as you can and if the worst happens you reprimand your horse, then theres not much else you can do. Theres nothing worse than if someones horse kicks out and they just sit there, it really annoys me!!! So id she does make sure she gets told off and apologise a lot!

Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[AmyMay]

She's not kicking out though - just gettting a little excited.

And quite frankly, if people ram your horse up the arse - then they are asking to be kicked.

Just go out next season and enjoy. Leave the ribbons off and let your mare have fun.

I bet she's hunted before, and is just say - come on mum, let's go!!

 

[Chumsmum]

Good post.

I think my pony would be far happier up front, he is not too bad just excited and okay to stand etc but he too puts the occasional buck in and I'm worried that he'll kick someone.

But seeing these replies it looks like I'm going to have to go up front to even have half a chance of getting him used to it.

I may be looking for volunteers in September lol.

 

[Eagle_day]

"Don't worry about "not knowing your place"'

Absolutely godamned right. Mums on tour. Go for it.

 

[LindaW]

On her first hunt, my youngster was trapped when they field turned round. We were standing quietly at the back, out of the way just letting her take it all in. When I saw them coming I tried to get her out of the way, but some of the horses round us - the ones with all of the red ribbons wouldn't let us through - despite me calling to them to let me through with a baby. There was no where to go, no space and I couldn't get to space past the horses with ribbons.

The hounds came past me, she panicked trying to get away from the hounds and field hurtling down on us, tried to get past another horse, and fly bucked as the hounds went through. She didn't actually touch a hound, but I got dogs abuse for bringing my ill mannered horse out and told by one lady the I should put the thing back on the box and take her home. This lady was with the people who were so rude not allowing us to get to safety.

I had a rotten day out with the hunt, I know they were visitors from another hunt and I won't go out with them again or the hunt they normally ride with.

I stick with the bloodhounds now, nicer people, a better day out and better value too. Both of mine are well schooled and well mannered horses, but apparently I didn't know my place either - at home!

 

[Angelbones]

OH DEAR! Poor you LindaW. I know the problem with staying at the back, heading down some narrow lane, and the field turns and comes back towards you and horror of horrors your horse is at the front! I dread it. People can be so rude and unaccommodating, its as if they've never been unsure, novice, on a beginner etc in their lives.

The first time my horses ever hunted my best friend (braver than me!) took her out. She rode responsibly, word a green ribbon, and kept at the back. At one point she found herself reaching the back of the field who were in woodland. She pulled up on the left, leaving plenty of room for others to pass her (many did so) and with plenty of room for any late comers to fill in the gap ahead of her, leaving herself to be once again at the back. She stood there for quite some time, the mare had fallen asleep in the shade and suddenly a woman came roaring down the track and hurtled past her, within a metre of my mare's bum. The mare suddenly woke up, startled, and let fly a back leg. My friend said she didn't catch anyone but the woman grabbed her leg, saying she had been kicked on the knee and screamed at my pal to 'keep that bloody mare aware from her kids, she could kill them, and take pack up and go home now!'. Well, the woman's breeches were still clean and white, my mare has feet the size of dinner plates and surely would have fractured her knee if she'd made contact, and surely it is up to the woman to make sure her kids ride safely around any other horses. My mate headed home with tears in her eyes and hasn't wanted to go out again. True friends higher up in the hunting hierarchy have said that only the Master or hunt staff can send you home. But it ruined what was otherwise a successful first attempt at going hunting on a new horse especially when my pal was taking all due care of others. I saw the woman the next day and she was walking ok around Tescos. Hence why I now wear the tonnes of red ribbon and feel the need to stay at the back but I can't help feel it wasn't our fault.

I have an older lady friend in the hunt who collects the caps etc, and she doesn't jump but stays at the back with the kids, novices etc and shows them the slower routes round. Even her good old faithful neddy bucked out at a kid one day and it's never happened before in many years hunting so it shows that it can happen to anybody when least expecting it. Perhaps more people should remember that?!

 

[JenHunt]

I think that unfortunately people get a bit silly when a horse kick out, and in many cases it's justifiable. but what really gets me is the people who just carry on doing what they are doing and act all put out when a horse reacts to their stupidity.

If a horse came screaming up my horse's backside then he probably would react like that too - and he's most definately not a kicker, in fact there are a few people who use us as brakes when we go downhill.

Try putting your mare at the front, with no ribbons on and kick on! Have fun with her and if she bucks and someone comments just point out that she's not trying to get anybody it's just high spirits! Any horse person worth their salt will understand.

ETS - *climbs off soapbox* :grin:

 

[BankEndRescue]

one of my boys was the same, I thought as I was new to the hunt i should stay back but this boy was a nightmare at the back, once I gave in and let him front he chilled out and was a dream

 

[Hunters]

For what it is worth, I think that you should maintain your red ribbon, as it will encourage others to keep clear. Certainly don't give up. Perhaps even have a quite word with the master on the day.

The horse that I currently hunt took two seasons to finally settle.

With regards to Linda W experience - how terrible and sadly sometimes typical of a so called 'regular' hunt lady. Hunts need less of her type and more newcomers keen to enjoy the sport.

Don't give up -most regular hunters have had tricky horses or horses with foibles at some stage or other.

Good Luck

 

[hunterjo]

I have now hunted the same horse 10 seasons, since she was 4, she will still leap and lurch on occasions when made to wait to jump. When she was young she bucked and fly bucked from excitement when the field set off, I used to put a ribbon on but once I worked out that 'kicking on' was the best course of action she has stopped all together. Just keep going, use appropriate tack which gives you breaks and steering and enjoy youself.