Hunting does it cause these issues?

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jsr

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3 weeks ago I went hunting (not sure it's connected but it maybe) and since then he's been a nightmare!!

He's refusing to be caught by anyone but me, previously him and 2 field mates were bought in by the YO'er around 1 everyday to spend the afternoon in their stables having hay and feeds (terrible grazing at my yard). But now the YO either has to leave him out or try to catch him where as before he'd come running down the field and walk himself to his stable!

So beside this he's started being very bargy with me when being led, yesterday I was taking into the indoor to free school and he got away from me twice, 2nd time in a chiffney!!:eek: Eventually I rounded him into the outdoor and schooled him there, once on his knees I managed to lead him into the indoor and free jumped him but he was on his toes!

Ridden he's being quiet opinionated and is sharper than previously but it's nothing I can't cope with. He's always been spooky and nappy so I'm not hugely concerned..infact quiet liking the extra 'spark' of his ridden work.

BUT never thought I'd see the day but my cob has become extreamly fussy over his food!! He was diagnosed 2 years ago as sugar intolerant so I had to create a feeding schedule to suit this. Now he's refusing all the normal feeds, so I've moved him slowing over from Allen & Page to a low sugar mix which for the first 2 days he ate and liked but now again he's started leaving some.

SO questions are : Does hunting cause this reaction sometimes? Irish trainer on our yard laughingly said to me yesterday 'you do realise you boy has hunted before..that wasn't his first time cos this reaction is a horse that remembers and wants more'!!! :eek: (Which isn't so bad cos I am taking him again in 2 weeks...well kill or cure I thought!!) Would you take him hunting again or forget the whole idea???

What can I do to tempt him to eat? Is there something I can add to his feed that is no sugar but will encourage him?

Rolo's to those who got to the end without dropping off!! :D
 
It's gotta be a cob thing..the one I used to hunt for my friend was convinced that it was what he was put on this earth for, and he became totally pre-occupied in the winter...changing from the lazy plod that he was in the summer.
He was especially sharp in the stable and a bit interesting to tack up and clip, and I had to make sure I was on board at the meet before the hounds arrived :).
Didn't have too much trouble getting him to eat tho...have you tried the old fashioned bran mash in the evening, with a bit of salt to make it tasty? Make sure he's quiet and cosy in the evening...helps if the yard is quiet too, altho I know this can be difficult.
Handling wise, you will probably have to be a bit tough with him, and make sure he respects you and is well mannered.
As you say,the extra bit of spark is quite good fun, but you just have to keep on top of him.
 
He should settle a bit after the first few times out, they can all get fresh at the start of the season just keep him in check, by the sounds of it he's started himself on a new fitness regime ;-) Diet and exercise !

It does get in their blood, my Mare used to jump out the field to follow if the hunt came by home and I had taken one of the others - and don't get me started on that text message alert that sounds like a huntsmans horn !!!
 
amymay said:
Sounds like he's been totally unsettled by the whole event.

Do you plan to take him again?
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I had planned to go on the 6th Nov. Good idea or bad? I really want to go and I know he enjoyed the whole day, he loves gallopping and while very strong he was good mannered and behaved surprisingly well considering. I suspect if I go again he'll be stronger but he is a heavy weight so doesn't have the ability to too fast for too long so I know he'll slow down quickly.

I've hacked out across open fields since hunting with other horses and he was okay, on his toes but he always is in fields and beaches..mainly cos I usually let him go cos I'm a speed freak too!!;)
 
My sister's horse is exactly the same after hunting two weeks ago! I'm sure he'd hunted in his youth, but is an old man now, this is his first time in 5 years or so and he is usually very lazy!
 
When I took my boy out for the first time he loved it! Since then (2 years ago due to lack of transport!) he has been very whizzy out on hacks/sponsored rides and still has to be taken in a pelham. In the stable he was a little it more bargy just after the hunt and a little strong to lead but no real problems. And he has always loved his food so no problems getting him to eat! Ground wise he settle fairly quickly.
 
amymay said:
Defately good, I'd say. But try and go as regularly as you can - that way the horse will settle to it, and not be such a handful after each ocassion.
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:D Great cos I loved it and hope to go as much as can afford. He was bought from Ireland at 3 years old so I'm pretty sure he was hunted as a youngster, I was told he was by the dealer so no reason so suspect he wasn't. Obviously it just reignated something in him. I'm sure we'll cope and aside from the fussy eating I'm not hugely bothered by his behaviour, we've coped with worse. Just don't want him to drop anymore weight. :rolleyes:
 
sounds like he is just feeling WELL! He obviously loved his hunting and thinks he's the bees knees now. I'd definatly take him again, and again and aian! As much as you can really! Also the change in weather we've had recently can make horses on their toes - the summer heat zapps the energy a little (and usually people are feeding less hard feed as there is so much grass in the summer) so when this cooler air arrives (and the feed is upped) horses get their spring in their step back.
 
Yep, I reckon it's the hunting bug that's got him. Beanie is the same. We have now decided to not take her anymore as she gets in such a state it just isn't worth the aggro afterwards. When out hunting she will rear, dive from one side to another, cannot stand still etc. The last time out I took her in a double bridle as she is so strong. She pulled like a locco and made her mouth bleed. When home she won't eat, settle or behave in her normal way for weeks. She will drop weigh overnight and seems quite unhappy TBH. When we hack put it only takes a voice in the distance;i.e a footie match and she is off on one again. In all fairness I don't think she can handle it and certainly doesn't afterwards. This is the reason we won't be going again.
 
Our best hunting horse is a nightmare to handle or ride at home in the winter, but the second she comes in on a saturday morning and gets on that lorry she turns into an angel, she loves hunting and is just impatient at home cos it's so boring for her. Might be the same with your boy, just trying to get back to the hunt! Only thing to do is to try again :)
 
As someone has said...maybe it's a cob thing! :)

My friend took her cob to the new comers week last year....he hasn't calmed down ever since!
 
Aside from the eating issue I would say it's definately hunting. I posted a few days ago about advice on a kineton noseband for my cob mare to try & give me some control whilst hunting, but my mares behaviour also changes on the yard & in hand too during the hunting season. She gets way too big for her boots, and if she hears any dogs barking or people shouting she gets very stirred up.

I would like to say yours will calm down in time, especially if taken more & more, but as I said in my previous post I have hunted my mare weekly for 4 seasons now and she is not getting any calmer at all. Sorry :D
 
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