Hunting a 4 year old

[MuffettMischief]

Hi,

I’ve got a lovely 4 year old who did at bit of hunting in Ireland at the end of his 3rd year last season. He’s had a couple of days out this year and is a dream.
How much hunting do you do with your 4 year olds? I am having to sit on my hands (he’s just so wonderful!) and remind myself he’s only 4 and not to over do it but interested to hear others thoughts. We hunt with bloodhounds mainly so not usually really long days for the horses and I can pull out whenever I feel I need to as I have at the first two this season.
Would love to hear your thoughts/experiences.

 

[TGM]

When ours was four he just did a couple of autumn puppy hunts with the bloodhounds and no more as he was still growing and maturing.

 

[Goldenstar]

For me hunting at three is a complete no no and I won’t buy a horse that has that on its CV .
I liked my four year olds if mature enough to do some autumn hunting and then stop at opening meet time .
I might have then do some Mondays ( quiet day ) at the end of season but no more than two hours .
my experience of horses that lasted is that they where seven before they are expected to hunt hard .
Big horses might take longer H was eight before he was ready .
Fatty did autumn hunting at four two years gate shutting and came to us in the February of his eight year old year .

 

[L&M]

A lot of horses over from Ireland have hunted as 3 yr olds - my little cob had.

At 4yrs he did 1 short day a week, usually finishing around 1pm. As a 5 yr old he did longer days, and by 6yrs hunting twice weekly.

This may sound a lot but our country is trappy woodland and hill country, rare to have a long galloping day and not a huge amount of jumping bar high days.

So does depend on the country, and type of horse.......

 

[ycbm]

I have drag hunted a four year old when I was a lot younger and in too much of a hurry. I wouldn't do it now, I don't think many four year olds are mature enough skeletally and strength wise.

.

 

[MuffettMischief]

Thanks. Hunting lightly at three doesn’t bother me and he’s not for sale so it matters not if anyone would buy a horse that had hunted at 3.

I’ll sit on my hands for a bit longer and just hack and do some showing clinics over the winter!

 

[Goldenstar]

Great hack last night really really good

 

[Jellymoon]

I think you could take him out for a little spin 2/3 times a month couldn’t you? If you are careful with him, just do a couple of lines and then pull out maybe? There’s hunting and there’s hunting, isn’t there, iykwim!

 

[Clodagh]

Bloodhounds gallop like mad though when on a line, don't they? Or is that draghounds! I would do as Goldenstar does as a four year old,

 

[MuffettMischief]

Bloodhounds gallop like mad though when on a line, don't they? Or is that draghounds! I would do as Goldenstar does as a four year old,

No not really. I am a bit of a wimp anyway and stick at the back and go slow as much as I can. I took him out last weekend and only 'opened him up' once! He was fab!!
He was looking a bit bored/left out but really has his spark back again now hes been out. Hes feeling very important!

 

[Bernster]

I bought my boy just turned 5 in June that year. I hunted him twice that winter just to get an idea how he would behave but wouldn't do anything regular until 6 personally. Lots to do otherwise in getting them fit, supple, building up muscle and generally getting a bit of life experience. I'm pretty cautious as a rule but I think with younger ones I'd rather do that and hope to preserve them into later life.

 

[Orangehorse]

Hunt him a bit up until Christmas and then end your season. Hunting as a 4 year old, quiet and short days, was the Pony Club recommended training schedule!

Priceless, the eventer, did a full season stag hunting on Exmoor at 4.