Hunting, with a relatively unfit horse....

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MizElz

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I *might* possibly have the chance to go cubbing tomorrow. Totally out of the blue - I havent hunted for three years, and am normally far too busy to even think of being able to go out. However, a friend of mine is possibly taking her mare out, and would like some company! The problem is, Ellie is not very fit - I've laid her off a bit since we decided to move house, as what with packing and uni work, I havent had much time to ride. I've managed to take her out only once in the last week, although last week, before I went back to Uni, I rode almost every day. But she isnt at peak fitness by any means - we've spent a peaceful summer plodding around the lanes!

I'm thinking I should say no - if I could make my own way there, I'd be able to decide when to finish; if Elz tired after an hour, I could just come home. But if I went tomorrow, I'd have to get a lift with my friend - which would mean staying out as long as she wanted to. Also, Ellie has only ever hunted once, and she loved it to bits, but she is the kind of horse who when she is really geed up and excited, she gives you the feeling she'd go all day - I would hate for her adrenalin to mask her unfitness
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There is no way on earth I would ever want to put Ellie under unnecessary strain, and so on that account I think my mind is pretty well made up....unless you guys think I'm wrapping her in cotton wool
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Thoughts?
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Well I wouldn't risk it - what if she pulled a tendon due to not being fit?

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Exactly - these are my thoughts entirely. And it's one of those things where if I could go with my own trailer, I'd be able to tag along at the back at a speed I felt happy with, and then take her home when I feel she's done enough. But you cant really do that when you're sharing a lift, can you?
 
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darrrrrrrr no brainer.................. keep the cotton wool tightly around your gg

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As I thought then!
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Cubbing is usually a steady affair to introduce new hounds.
However i would say go with your gut feeling. You know your horse better than anyone and all too often people let adrenalin take over, when common sense says its time to stop.
Could you not arrange to go out with your friend at a later date?
 
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Could you not arrange to go out with your friend at a later date?

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Possibly, although her horse is for sale so there is a chance that there wont be any more opportunities - plus we're moving, so I wouldnt be able to share a lift anymore and would have no transport in the week! It's a bugger really - if I'd known a couple of weeks ago, I'd have made sure she was a bit fitter by now!
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Can you ask your friend what her intentions are for the day?
You never know, she might just fancy going for a couple of hours herself.
 
If she only wanted to stay for an hour or so, and only wanted to potter (some hopes) it would be OK, but if she wants to have a good long morning, then it would probably be best not to risk it.

If she was fit before the last week's layoff, ie. going for long rides and doing lots of cantering and galloping she would be OK. Once fit horses don't loose fitness qucikly, not like humans.

But if it was me I wouldn't risk it.
 
Who are you hunting with G?
I took my mare on Mon, there was a lot of trotting and a couple of good fast canters but alot of standing about. After every trot or canter we stood for about 20mins or so, so lots of time to catch breath etc. We did go out for 4 hours though.
 
The last time I went hunting I went with a friend, and he usually hunts till they finish but when I said Bear had had enough he was happy for us to finish. we did 4 1/2 hours though!
 
i go hunting all the time and i use cubbing to get my pointer fit you know your horse and when they have had enough you'll know.
 
I would go. Ellie was pretty fit through the summer so won't have lost much fitness and you'll probably spend most of the time stood on a headland looking at maize anyway
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Most of the horses out probably won't be any fitter than yours anyway - lots of people use cubbing to get their horses fit
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This would be a no no for me.... the risk of strain and injury for a horse not fit for the job it is doing is too greater risk imo...
 
Thanks for all your replies, everyone
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I'm not going to risk it; she means too much to me to take her out on a whim like that. She really hasnt done much for the last month, and is hopelessly shaggy - I dont know that it would do her any favours to go out and get sweated up.

Irishcobs - I believe it's the Beaufort, meeting at Berwick Bassett (I say believe as the details were all incredibly sketchy when I was asked, via text, earlier!) As it is, I dont even think my friend is now going, so it looks like a no brainer all round. D'oh! But they are meeting again next week, just up the road.....
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I agree with Weezy - cubbing is pretty chilled out. I've been out 8 times in the last 3 weeks and we've done nothing more than you'd do on a normal ride. Do bear in mind that cubbing isn't about "chasing" things. Its teaching young hounds what to do in coverts etc so the general intention is to keep hounds in coverts which is why you stand round the edge to make sure nothing pops out if that makes sense.
 
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