How to Stop?!

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lcharles

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Going hunting tomorrow with my very excitable horse!! Sort of bricking it already tbh lol!!

Yesterday me and my friend thought we'd go for a blast around the fields to see how Billy would be!! He's only 6, but more like a 4/5 year old as he's been brought on slowly and has had loads of time off with his previous owner (she was scared of him :o/ ) He is known for rodeo bucking when 'excited'!!! He was fine until my friend jumped a jump next to him which was clearly too exciting and he did a few 'normal-ish' bucks then carried on cantering fine!

Then.....we get around the corner to his usual cantering strip and OMG i felt like i was strapped to the back of a freight train which was not going to stop and we were running out of track!!! Slight panic and not wanted to rip his mouth out and no option of turning a circle i think its only because i asked my friend behind not to overtake me that we managed to stop and not ended up over a hedge!! Took lots of talking to him and a few harsher half halts but i was quite relieved to have stopped!!! lol never been so fast in my life!!! x

Cantered up the hill and around 3 more fields at a fairly nice canter, slight arm ache but he listened within reason and i slowed him down and sped him up to keep him listening!! No more bucking either!! :O)

However.....once the freight train moment was over and he was good i did enjoy it........BUT i was only cantering with one other horse which i could ask her to slow down or ask her not to overtake if need be!! Now, how will he cope with 70 other horses at a hunt?!! I THINK he will settle and i was planning on sticking to the back so i could jump and not be in the middle of everyone else but is there any tips on stopping!? Hes in a full cheek waterford at the moment! Dont really fancy changing his bit either cuz i know this one works to a degree!!!

Red masking tape at the ready as he bucks from excitement!! Just need some slowing down and stopping tips please!!!

Thanks

Very nervous 'wannabe' hunter!! x
 
If he goes ok in a waterford, you could always use a variation, either a hanging or a three ring version.
However, on other things that can work, staying at the back is a good place to start!
 
I think your going to have a very interesting day!
Not sure your quite ready, might have been better to take your boy autumn hunting to get a feel for how he behaves on a quiet day.
Have to say, you will probably need a different bit for hunting, many horses have a 'hunting' bit.
I field master occasionally, and it's not uncommon to see horses fly past me with riders totally out of control. (It's the ones who are in control who get in front of me that really rile me!) If it happens, turn AWAY from the field. Dont cut anyone up or you'll really p$ss people off.
Get talking to people and see if anyone might allow you to use thier horses bottom as a brake wall. You MUST have permission from the rider, don't assume you can run up any horses backside!
If your horse does misbehave, you must keep to the back.
However I generally find once a horse has had a couple of good gallops they setle well. Depends on your country too. We hunt over lots of arable and stone walls, so it's fast and soon gets the tickle out of a horses toes. If it's twisty hilly country and you don't get the opportunity for a good burn then your horse might feel quite different.
See if you can't dump some fuel before you get to the meet.
Hope you have a great day, and hope your boy settles into it quickly :)
 
Aww thanks that really helpful! X

I was considering doing a few laps of our fields before going to the meet!! Its only around the corner from the stables so if he is a total muppet i can hack him back at any point. It might be that i just go to the meet and take him back if hes not too settled! x

I think it'll be good for him!! x He was fine team chasing but again that was only with 3 horses and no long canter stretches!! x I think im nervous of 'not knowing' what he'll be like! x

We should have a good few canters as the land is good i just would like to have a good few canters before jumping him! x Might take him around the xc course before actually! x

I think the huntmaster is quite a nice guy (hope so anyway!!) and im sure people do zoom past but definately good advice about turning away from people which is what i think i'd do anyway!!

My horse was bred to hunt and event so i think its about time he went!! lol x

Is it worth giving him a calmer too do you think? x
 
The only calmer that really works is acp!
Up to you, I think it will calm your nerves more than his and it won't do any harm.
If he's been team chasing and you've got some good open country i reckon there's a good chance you'll have a good day.
Breast plate essential, grab it when in doubt :)
Who are you hunting with?
 
I would also bit up for hunting, my cob is in a losenge loose ring snaffle normally with a very soft mouth, but for hunting he has a waterford hanging cheek (which is now his hacking bit as well as hunting has really woken him up!). Think a few laps of the field before you go may be a good idea but could also put him on his toes as well!
 
Global herbs supercalm instant!
It does not make them wobbly,but it does take the edge off!
And of course whatever YOU need to keep yourself calm. He will pick up your nerves/excitement!;)

This is probably a granny/eggs post,but I'll do it anyway for less experienced peeps reading this.
I have taken a few NH racers on their 1st hunt in the past and I wish I had known more about control back then!

Keep your seat in the saddle and your weight back. This makes the horse take more weight behind and is harder work for them.

The higher you have your hands,the more 'up' through the withers the horse is. Again,hard work for them.

Most horses cannot gallop flat out,or buck very high if they have a good bend. An exaggerated neck bend can keep control better than a tug of war contact.

Start off at the back and think of it as a suppling schooling session using left/right bends,shoulder in. This might help keep some of his attention on you and it might tire and settle him sooner so you can relax and enjoy the day.:)

Let us know how it goes!
 
OMG I am soooo nervous!! lol x just want the first few fields over with!!! lol x

I dont think i'll be able to get another type of waterford before tomorrow so i think im stuck with the full cheek waterford!! I do need to full cheek part for turning anyway so could lose steering if i take that away!! lol x

Im sure i could swap him with my friends horse without her noticing!! she can have him then!!

I have a 5 point breastplate already! x

We are hacking to the meet but i may bypass some fields no the way or take him for a blast first thing and then get him looking smart after! x Cant lunge him either cuz he doesnt lunge!!! x

Remind me why i bought a 'challenging' horse!! x

Surely everyone bricks themselves before hunting a new horse! x I considered hiring a horse but i wouldnt know the horse so would probably be more nervous!! x i'm thinking worse case......i can hack home! x Just have to survive that long!! x

Maybe i should have a calmer too!! x I used one when i showjumped him last and he seemed better than usual but again showjumping doesnt involve 70 horses all galloing at the same time!! x

I know im super nervous but i must have some 'inner confidence' somewhere to decide its a good idea!!! x
 
Thanks Abitodd, thats sort of what i was doing yesterday, he had a very 'uphill' canter when we were controlled and i was using each rein individually to keep him listening and doing shoulder in x Good to hear that that is the 'done' thing!x

I have told him that his daddy was a hunter and that he cant let him down!! lol x

This year i decided its time he got his act together and showed his value, little sod!! x Taken 5 months to get a bond and he is starting to trust me now i think........!!! x

I have no idea how i'd keep myself calm!!! x A bottle of vodka usually works but then i dont think i'd be much use for even clambering on!! x
 
Some good advice here, as a kid I always used to use the crossing the hands over the neck technique as a last resort.

As an addition though, ime of hunting (very little) there is generally at least one person who gets tanked off with, so it won't be the first time its happened ;) :eek:
 
lcharles, how about half a bottle of vodka? Still some semblance of control but too pi$$ed to care! lol :D sorry - bad joke
My mare is incredibly strong in fast work, I ride her in a Western reining bit with long shanks so that I don't have to haul on her. I have found though, that by bridging my thumb and fingers over her withers, and taking short, sharp pulls I can usually stop (usually! haha :D ) much better than just hauling on both.
Hopefully, as someone else said, after the mad rush at the beginning, he will settle and tuck in behind the others.
Best of luck and hope you have a wonderful day out xx
 
I feel your nerves:eek: I am like this before every hunt.

My cob, I thought was a real plod until I introduced him to hunting where he turn into a snorting freight train raring to go! I'm sure I stopped breathing everytime we galloped, he kept up with the best of them wanting to be up front even though we started behind.

After a few mad gallops he settled down and I began to enjoy the day, you'll find this too, stay in your seat and sit slightly back as a previous posted suggested... it helps. Don't bother with a calmer he'll calm down naturally after a few canter/gallops.

Good luck, let us know how you get on :)
 
Stencilface said:
Some good advice here, as a kid I always used to use the crossing the hands over the neck technique as a last resort.

As an addition though, ime of hunting (very little) there is generally at least one person who gets tanked off with, so it won't be the first time its happened ;) :eek:
Click to expand...


Lol this is very true....but i didnt want to be that person!! lmao x

I am not sure i've made a good decision here!! I will write a report tomorrow if i survive and have use of hands!! x

I wsh i had a reliable little pony to do this stuff with!! x When i was 8, my parents would send me off with my 12.2hh pony and leave me all day with the adult hunt and i didnt mind! x think i've turned into a wimp....plus horse is a physco!! x
 
Where abouts in the country are you? Obviously you're not snowbound, lucky you - no hunts are active round here.

I'd be careful of galloping your horse pre-hunting if you want him to stand reasonably at the meet which can be an exciting experience in it's own right, although you know your horse best in this respect.

Have a great time!

(And a little aside, does your keyboard possess a fullstop key? If so, then why the x's?
Maybe I'm the only one to find this mildly irritating!)
 
Nothing wrong with a few kisses!! lol x but yes full stop does work! ......

I dont know how he will react at the meet initially tbh, he'll either stand there good as gold or be all over the place! I think if one horse starts messing about he'll join in! x

I'm in Gloucestershire so no snow for us! Had some on Saturday but its all gone now, ground is a bit stodgy and wet in patches but i think it will go ahead if it stays like this!
 
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