Hunting a different horse for the first time...

[spotty_pony2]

I'm taking a mare who I ride for her owner out Hunting in just over a week and am starting to feel a bit apprehensive about it to say the least! The mare hunts regularly with her owner, but her owner doesn't really jump much with her (mostly just ditches). I have been volunteered to 'gate shut' by her owner and she is letting me take her.

Now, I have never Hunted another horse except for my boy who is a complete star. He is not an easy ride but I have owned him for a long time and am very used to him. It will feel very odd and a bit unnerving to not be on my boy. :/

I have taken the mare Autumn Hunting but it was a day with no jumping and she was very forward and strong so I'm going to use a different bit this time, just wish I had had the chance to pop a fence or two as it is going to be hard to 'take it easy' if I am expected to keep up at the front to help with the gate shutting.

I have popped over a few low jumps out hacking and she was a good girl but lacks a bit of confidence (see my other post further down on the Hunting Forum page) and also we have jumped a few small cross poles in the school, but she tries to rush which I know is most likely down to confidence issues. Unfortunately, since I wrote that post I haven't had the chance to jump her again since but am hopefully taking her up to a local school tomorrow to pop a few small fences in preparation for next week.

I don't know why I feel so uneasy about it all, I am usually a confident rider and love my Hunting so am really not sure why I feel like this. :\ Half thought about pulling out of going, but the other half of me wants to give her a chance and have a go as she could be fine and it might turn out that we have a really good day. *sigh* What to do?!

Any advice anyone?

 

[The wife]

I would go, worst that will happen is that you have little to no brakes and will have to go home early and pass on your gate duty if she doesn't settle after an hour or 2. Saying this if you are up front you may well find that she settles better as shouldn't have too much of the herd mentality in front of her - plus also you will likely have a lead from experienced horses and may just be the confidence boost that she needs with plenty of room for her to look at what is in front of her but with a good lead as well. Although chances are that you may not have to jump much anyway looking after the gates.

Best piece of advice I can give you is to take a decent hip-flask, keep your legs forward and a neckstrap. In my experience jumping a horse at home is nothing like jumping one in the school or even riding cross-country so IMHO the lack of jumping on her wouldn't be an issue to me, so sit tight, keep your leg on into a fence, a good decent hold on the neckstrap and try to enjoy it. You'll be no doubt grinning from ear to ear by lunchtime.

For what it is worth I get really nervous before hunting anything! Even my hunt schoolmaster who I loan who I know is 110% safe (albeit exceptionally strong) and the night before I still try and think of every excuse under the sun not to go - until I am plaiting up then I can't wait!

 

[spacefaer]

Just to add, that if you are gate shutting, you won't be up at the front, you should be at the back, shutting the gates after everyone else has been through!

The only time you'll be up front, is if you are needed to leap off and manhandle a gate open for the field to pass through.

Don't forget your penknife and baler twine - remember that you should be wearing ratcatcher, so you are easily identified!!

 

[The wife]

Just to add, that if you are gate shutting, you won't be up at the front, you should be at the back, shutting the gates after everyone else has been through!

The only time you'll be up front, is if you are needed to leap off and manhandle a gate open for the field to pass through.

Don't forget your penknife and baler twine - remember that you should be wearing ratcatcher, so you are easily identified!!

There used to be 2 of us on gates, one at the front to open, one at the back to close ... Assumed as the OP stated she was expected to be up front that this hunt would be running a similar operation. Did forget about the Ratcatcher though - it's years of hunting as a groom, the thought never crosses my mind of what to wear! I only treated myself to a beautiful wool hunt coat last year and only wore it twice last season so still very much in 'groom' mindset

 

[spotty_pony2]

Thanks both of you! There are three of us down for gate shutting that day and we usually do somebody opens and someone else closes the gates so that's probably what will happen. Does gate shutting not require that much jumping then? I haven't done an awful lot of it, but on the times I have helped, we have also jumped a lot too. Thanks specefaer for answering my other question - was wondering whether I would have to wear my Tweed!

 

[smja]

As long as you remember to go through the gate before shutting it, there's no need to jump

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Don't make the mistake I made last Tues when I was gate shutting in the torrential rain of wearing a tweed coat!! If its p*ssing with rain, wear something waterproof. Nothing more miserable than having to gateshut when you are soaking wet believe me!!!

 

[Crosshill Pacers]

Borrowed a horse last Boxing Day as was down visiting my parents in Wales for Christmas (and wasn't dragging Big Ears 330 miles for one day's hunting!). I'd never ridden her before but knew her from my days hunting before I moved and also knew that several other people had borrowed her for the odd day when they'd been back from uni/short of a horse so went with the mindset that the horse knew its job and if she was difficult in any way then so many people wouldn't have borrowed her so many times.

Must admit, I was apprehensive on the morning but kept telling myself she knew the job. Biggest challenge was getting used to riding a 15hh cob with mild brake issues compared to my 15.3hh Standardbred with a mouth like butter. It was quite nice being able to bowl along at a strong canter though, and her walk to canter transitions were beautiful. I kept saying how plucky she was and she had as much energy going home as she did arriving.

My advice is bite the bullet, you'll probably really enjoy it, and if things aren't going to plan call it a day early.