Hunting young horses

Yes, its good education. Would only do a half day with a 3yo and probably a 4/5yo. Also would take the easy options with a 3yo and try to avoid too much plough.
 
Yes, all my 4 yr olds go out, although I try and stick to doing half days. They do the odd full day but are very fit and will only do so if they are a bit fresh at home nearer the end of the season! As a general rule I only do full days on something thats got at least half a season under its belt, as don't want to sour them.
 
Interesting you have hunted 3yr olds. Personally I think it is too young but do not take that as a criticism, just a different opinion. I just do not think they are formed enough at that age. Four year olds get light years , fivers more sixers proper stuff with serious fitness beforehand.
 
In Ireland it would be quite normal for a 3 year old to have done a few days hunting, and a 4 year old some more.

I personally don't see a reason for a 3 year old to hunt; although it can either make them or break them I suppose.

4 year olds yes, I could see hunting, for experience and certainly if they are going to event :)
 
My horse hunted as a 3 year old but it was twice in the latter half of one season then went out for the summer and hunted a couple of more times in the first half then gradually he was brought out once a week.

Quite normal in Ireland, the 3 year old I am breaking at the moment will go out for a couple of hours after christmas he has already been schooled over ditches.
 
Both mine were bought from Ireland and I was told they both hunted at 3. They are both strong and very confident hunters and certainly benefitted from the experiences they've had.
 
I am against horses even being worked at 3 tbh, never mind hunting. It's not so much the hunting itself, but the work to get them fit! I know that a lot of irish horses are hunted at 3 with no ill effects, but there iwll also be quite a lot that break down earlier as a result. 4/5yr olds I have no problem with hunting within reason, so a couple of short days as a 4yr old, and maybe slightly longer days as a 5yr old!
 
Personally I don't like 3 year olds to have done much of anything, let alone hunting. A lot of Irish 3 year olds are hammered on the hunting field :( They may well be brave (sometimes too brave) and may be great hunters at the age of 5, but they often have no mouth, no schooling, and present with joint problems before they are 10. I like mine to hunt short days (or easy days) when they are 4. And I like them to still be hunting when they are in their 20s!:)
 
I personally would not hunt a 3yr old but a four year old yes i would but only for a few hours and kept off the plough etc....

Al depends on strength of horse mind you, some four year olds aren't strong enough to even be broken let alone hunted.

I think you have to take each and every horse indivdually.
 
I'm taking my 5yr old at the back end of this season just for a couple hours, it will be his fist time out, a moment I've been patiently waiting for.

From a personal point of view with my own horse, I wouldn't dream of taking him as a 4 year old, apart from the fact that he wouldn't of been mentally up to it, physically he just wouldnt of stood up to it neither I don't think, certainly wouldn't of risked a few hours either however where as if he would of been up to job then it would of done him the world of good sometimes it's what a young horse needs, so I think it's horses for courses on this debate and also the pack and ground conditions you are with.
 
in response to hunting 3 year olds there are many views you can take, recent veterinary reports show that working young horses as young as 2 years old, in moderation is good for them phyically and more importantly mentally. if you care for them correctly and like everything with horses take it slowly and always building confidence without physical damage then i see no reason why a 3 year old can't go for a wee jolly
 
the data on working young horses though is for low intensity work- which i don't think hunting falls under!

would never take a 3yro hunting.

may take a 4yro for a few 1/2 days depending on size (my 4yro is 18hh and far too big and immature to be hammering around the roads).

5yro, i would still take quite carefully but would do more days.

for me, it isn't so much the cantering and jumping but more the amount and intensity of roadwork you tend to have to do out hunting.
 
A SENSIBLE 3 yo will come to no harm by being hacked to the meet - and maybe hacked to the first covert - and then home. Anymore MIGHT fry his brain - and is certainly too much strain on young joints IMHO. I SHUDDER when a new schooling livery is booked in - usually a 4 year old - with the words "He hunted in Ireland last season." In the vast majority of cases they are silly in the mouth - and everywhere else - and know bu**er all! They are always FAR harder to 'turn around' than a youngster that has been backed and hacked, or backed and turned away.
 
All of my horses we have bought from Ireland as 4/5 year olds, usually all they have done in Ireland is hunt since 3 year olds.

I really think hunting at a young age is good for them because they are all so honest and bold; things horses pick up on a hunting field, and they are usually very sane minded due to hunting from a young age. :)
 
Personally, I wouldn't hunt a 3 year old......have had a couple of Irish horses which whilst absolutely fab paid the price in later life with problems which probably resulted from being worked hard too soon before they were physically mature enough and without proper conditioning......in other words hunting as a 3 year old. :(

A 4 year old I would take cubbing/autumn hunting......any more than that would depend on the breed/maturity/mental outlook......and also the hunt involved as some are much quieter than others. I would probably avoid Saturdays in any case, regardless.
 
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