Hunting a 5yo. And woop, Autumn season not far off now !

[Bernster]

Hello again peeps, I have returned to the hunting page in anticipation of the Autumn season

Let me start with a noddy question that I probably kind of know the answer to already (or the answer is 'how long is a piece of string'). How much hunting would you recommend for a 5yo?

I'm planning a few Autumn hunts to see how he goes. If he goes well, then I'd like to take a subs. for 7 outings in the full season, so that's once every 3-4 weeks, with other work mixed in. I rarely go out for the full day so max would be 3 hrs and a hack home but I think I'll plan for 2hrs max certainly in the early stages. Does that sound reasonable? Hoping he'll be an all rounder, so I don't need to 'make' him as a hunter, iykwim. I know there are many 5yos who hunt regularly all season so maybe I'm being too cautious?

Background - horse is worked 5/6 days a week, mainly hacking with schooling and a bit of light jumping. Turned 5 at the end of June, going like a dream and am v excited to get him out hunting. He's full ID from Ireland so I'm assuming but not 100% sure he's seen a hunt field at some point but am expecting him to be pretty green. Now working on upping his fitness, and starting to do some baby xc, sp rides and a mini hunter trial in Sept.

Cheers all and happy hunting !

Ooh and here's a not-needed-at-all pic. I reckon he needs a hunter noseband and we lose the bling before we head out on the hunt field.

 

[Goldenstar]

I take them autumn hunting as often as I can I aim for three mornings a week and sometimes do four .
I hunt them for education only at that age I don't expect them to do a big day , it's all about learning to stand go where your told and pop a small fence when it's the right one and they are in the right frame of mind .
I would in all likelihood stop in December and over January when I am busy and never take them out over the Christmas holidays anyway but I might do a few days at the end of the season .
I don't expect them to do a job until they are seven . H did a few proper days at the end of last season ( he was six ) he field mastered a few times as well but had quiet days in between .

 

[Bernster]

I take them autumn hunting as often as I can I aim for three mornings a week and sometimes do four .
I hunt them for education only at that age I don't expect them to do a big day , it's all about learning to stand go where your told and pop a small fence when it's the right one and they are in the right frame of mind .
I would in all likelihood stop in December and over January when I am busy and never take them out over the Christmas holidays anyway but I might do a few days at the end of the season .
I don't expect them to do a job until they are seven . H did a few proper days at the end of last season ( he was six ) he field mastered a few times as well but had quiet days in between .

Hiya GS. In comparison to one that's aimed at being an out and out hunter, then he would be doing a lot less, but that's to be expected. I'm maybe being a bit too molly-coddling in only planning a few outings but I am a bit worried about road pounding on a youngster.

I def agree that this season is about showing him the ropes, seeing how (or if) he takes to it, and teaching him how to behave. He's pretty good at standing still, that's his second favourite thing to food (possibly a close third to trying to chew anything he can get his gob around). I won't jump at the beginning either, to keep things as low key as possible. I've hunted a bit the last few seasons so hopefully know enough to try and keep us both out of trouble ;-)

 

[PorkChop]

I would also get him out as much as possible - you have to make it as boring as possible. Go with a nanny horse if possible. Its all about standing around and watching so it doesn't matter if you are out all day as there is no need to be whizzing about. Honestly if you do this for the first two seasons you will reep the benefit when he is older.

He looks like he will make a super hunter, have fun

 

[Goldenstar]

On how long to stay out I always aim to leave with a settled horse so try to time it right as some times they settle after two hours or so to get unsettled again as they physically get tired if this happens I will walk them until they are settled even it means hacking back round the houses to the truck .
I don't like ever to bottom a five yo I prefer to bore them into settling .

 

[Bernster]

I would also get him out as much as possible - you have to make it as boring as possible. Go with a nanny horse if possible. Its all about standing around and watching so it doesn't matter if you are out all day as there is no need to be whizzing about. Honestly if you do this for the first two seasons you will reep the benefit when he is older.

He looks like he will make a super hunter, have fun

Interesting, sounds like I should be doing more, certainly in the Autumn, than I was planning. I can only go out at the weekends and I want to keep it varied so, as usual, never enough time to do everything I want horse wise ! Nice dilemma to have I suppose. Nanny horses all arranged :-] And I do think he'll look rather dishy when he's tarted up.

On how long to stay out I always aim to leave with a settled horse so try to time it right as some times they settle after two hours or so to get unsettled again as they physically get tired if this happens I will walk them until they are settled even it means hacking back round the houses to the truck .
I don't like ever to bottom a five yo I prefer to bore them into settling .

Thanks GS, over to me to gauge when's the right time to call it a day. He tends to get mentally tired quicker than he gets physically tired but hopefully the standing around will help us both keep a cool head.