Hunting and manners?

C

cosmo_sam

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Just wondering about people's opinions on how hunting affects a horse's manners/obedience?

(not the for and against debate! just how do you think it affects a horse's training in terms of manners/obedience)
 
well i wouldnt combine hunting/dressage again! it turned Bloss from a politly mannered dressage horse into a sweating shaking nutter everytime i took her out in the lorry
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however her manners at home/schooling etc were the same. Out hacking tho she started going a little crazy, would get excited if she heard a dog bark etc, and still does.
 
Mine have different reactions, the laid back highland becomes a fire breathing monster in company and we have learned that hunting and fun rides are not for her (she goes vertical). As soon as she is at home she is calm again. she is a bit sparkier at all events but this is what gives her presence in the ring, so I don't mind.

the bigger mare was the one you would expect to be really boisterous, but hunts and jumps in a snaffle and it hasn't changed her at all and has made her braver jumping
 
i wouldn't use it for thoses things, IMO it teaching them to real gallop, pick their feet up, aid balence in difficult muddy surroundings, to keep a foot in each corner, jump any wierd object (eg i done things like farm rollers, plastic bags etc...) and most of all to be big and bold with their jumping.
If you get good one it helps their self perservation button and confidence.
In my case i would say it makes my horses more holigan types, but they have to be prefect once at edge of convert, gateway etc.... manners is what i demand in any type of riding for hacking on road to eventing
 
I've not taken Chex hunting, but I've done common rides which I think is a similar environment (tons of horses, galloping etc). He's a completely different horse when he's there (took him twice - never again!) and when he's at home. One thing it maybe reinforced for him is that he is stronger than me (in a "I want to gallop now, so you either get pulled over my head or come along for the ride" sort of way), and he uses that a lot when hacking, but he always I guess. I wouldn't take him again, he was almost dangerous and upset other horses and people with his shaking, spinning and barging into people. But at home he is really chilled still.
 
I totally agree with what you are saying. If your horse goes balistic hunting then don't take him & find another discipline that you can do, enjoy & do safely. If the horse enjoys it & you can control the enthusiasm then great go & enjoy.

It shouldn't at the end of the hunt be time to heave a huge sigh of relief & give thanks for still being alive.
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It shouldn't at the end of the hunt be time to heave a huge sigh of relief & give thanks for still being alive.
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That would be where I have been going wrong then
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It shouldn't at the end of the hunt be time to heave a huge sigh of relief & give thanks for still being alive.
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PML - but this what i do everytime i get home
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Oh I am loving this thread, daughter is taking her horse out on Saturday to her first (and last of the season) meet. Her friend's pony couldn't walk for a month after his first time hunting, he jogged! Also shook in stable for 2 days, with wild staring eyes lol.. She is only 5yrs and never been hunted before so lets just say it will be interesting!
 
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Her friend's pony couldn't walk for a month after his first time hunting, he jogged! Also shook in stable for 2 days, with wild staring eyes lol

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Poor pony.
 
my horse is very strong out hunting-but i wouldnt stop taking him because he can only get more used to it and calmer when hunting, and it makes no effect on his schooling or hacking etc. besides i dont mind him being a bit 'bubbly' -i quite enjoy it!!But i completel;y agree that if you are not enjoying it because of your horse then you shouldnt do it and find something else you enjoy
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My boy loves it too much. he carries on hunting round his field for weeks, and is so forward and "expressive" it is unreal!!
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However I wont do it regularly because it blows his mind, and he gets strong and rude on occasions.

On the other hand, my old pony is so laid back at home, but is amazing out hunting. Seriously bold, and really helped him enjoy life again. Also taught him how to jump!
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A friend who competes at decent dressage level also used to field master, and took he dressage pony once, and had a lesson two days later, she said impulsion and elevation REALLY wasnt a prob
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from personal experience hunting has definitely put manners on my horses but only because they are hunted every week for the whole season. The first few times they were barging maniacs with no brakes- anything thats a hunting no-no ive done it- jumping on top of people in ditches, rearing, barging through gateways, galloping off in front of master -ive had lots of tellings off!but ive persisted with all of them and they are now perfect examples of mannerly hunters they stand when asked, i can go from gallop to stop in nothing but a snaffle, they will turn away from hunt to catch loose horses or to open and close gates- i honestly think hunting gives horses a brilliant education if you perservere with it ive had so many compliments and offers for my main hunting mare because she is the perfect example of how a ladies hunter should behave and i think she has learnt it all from hunting. My lot are also ridiculously brave because of it yet also extremely careful-i honestly think young horses get a fabulous education from hunting but like i said it is something that needs to be perservered with-any horse on his/her first time hunting is going to act abit crazy unless they are used to galloping and jumping in a large group of horses!Plus it also helps if the rider can act calmly and rationally and is used to hunting- a nervous horse plus nervous rider is a lethal combination on the hunting field!
 
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My boy loves it too much. he carries on hunting round his field for weeks, and is so forward and "expressive" it is unreal!!
grin.gif
However I wont do it regularly because it blows his mind, and he gets strong and rude on occasions.

On the other hand, my old pony is so laid back at home, but is amazing out hunting. Seriously bold, and really helped him enjoy life again. Also taught him how to jump!
tongue.gif


A friend who competes at decent dressage level also used to field master, and took he dressage pony once, and had a lesson two days later, she said impulsion and elevation REALLY wasnt a prob
grin.gif


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These would be a great help!! Hoping horse has a great time, comes back feeling full of herself but still sensible!
 
i wouldnt take my mare hunting yet cos she would just gallop off and not listen to me and it would just totally blow her brains!! it would also undo all the hard work me and my instructor have been doing. schooling her and getting her to chill out
 
See that's always been what I've wondered.

With George being so big, I've always been told never to let him learn that he's stronger than me (in hand and ridden etc).

I just wonder if I had ever hunted him and perhaps not wanted to follow the crowd, if he had other ideas, that would be the point at which he learned he IS stronger than me?

It's an interesting subject though, and I think the point above about persevering is probably very valid
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As hunting would never be my love though, I don't think for me that its' worth the risk?
 
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