How to Prepare a Pony for first season Hunting?

[3Beasties]

My 12hh Mare will hopefully go hunting for the first time next season. She will be ridden by an 11 year old experienced rider who knows her really well.

She is very green but will be doing a lot over the summer; Pony Club Camp, Local Shows, Hunter Trials, Fun rides etc and hopefully will take them all in her stride (she has been doing so far)

So just wondering what I can do to prepare her for hunting so it is not so much of a shock to her when she does go. We will probably try and get her out for at least one day of cubbing but is there anything else I can do with her over the summer? Or is it literally a case of taking them along and hoping for the best ?

 

[Sparkles]

A few people used to ask to go out with them hound exercising or something back where I was and they usually didn't mind.

Also can just take for a wander to a few of the meets to start with and cubbing for a an hour or so quietly and then just increase it each time over the season really depending on how she goes.

Pony club camp and rallies all over the summer will be fab for her too as she'll be ridden mixed with other horses etc and camp no doubt xc twice a day and lots of gallops and jumping if it was like ours lol XD

Hope you have fun with her

 

[Sparkles]

Thought that said with one of my ponies, his first time hunting was on the last hunt of the season with about 100 odd people and the whole thing was flat out from start to finish lmao.

In a snaffle....fabulous LOL

He enjoyed himself anyway :s lol but probably not the best way to go about things haha.

 

[Dizzle]

Get her out doing some fun rides, get her used to being out with lots of other ponies and realising that being overtaken isn't a race.

Agree with getting her to go cubbing.

Some hunts run childrens days where the pace is a bit slower.

 

[joe_carby]

id definatly go cubbing and on hound exersize.

With us hound exersize includes alot of hacking crossing some country and sometimes some jumping. the main thing is that she will stop when there is a large group of horses galloping the most annoying thing from a hunt staffsa point of view is when you shout to hold hard as hounds have lost the scent and some cant stop runs straight over the line or runs over hounds (extreme but does happen) but im sure she will be fine i hope you have fun.

 

[JenHunt]

I would contact local hunts to see if you can help with hound exercising from kennels, then try some cubbing for an hour or so at a time, aiming to be staying out for a couple of hours by the time you get to the opening meet.

expect her to be well behaved the first few times, then excitable for a few times and then settle down into the job. my lad still gets excitable for the first half dozen meets of the season and he'll be 16 this time round!!!

fitness and routine are a good key to helping the pony enjoy hunting too - make sure she's fit enough to cope with it all, and make sure you stick to a routine for her feeding, grooming etc to help her stay calm and maintain condition through the season.

Get her used to accepting electrolytes in water or feed so you can get her rehydrated asap after hunting - this not only helps her feel better if she's tired, and helps to get rid of lactic acid in tired muscles, but also helps keep her tummy functioning and so helps keep the condition on all winter.

(i don't mean to be patronising if you already know all this, but I've seen ponies almost ruined because the owners mistook dehydration for colic and others who mistook racehorse food for fitness, and kids put off riding as a result)

 

[irish_hunter]

something else to possibly consider is to maybe have someone she can definately stick with for her first couple of times out? it often reassures the pony if they're not sure what's going on and is helpful for her rider in case she is a bit of a handful (i'm sure she won't be :grin: ) to have someone to stick with
hope all goes well!