Introducing a Young Horse to Hunting

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LuckyRed

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Hi guys

I have a 4yr old on loan at the moment - Corky is a 16.2hh Irish Draft and his owner and I have been introducing him to new things, hacking out, popping over little logs out and about, through puddles etc. Last Saturday I took him down to our hunt kennels (Southern Shires Bloodhounds) and rode out with the whipper-in on hound exercise. Corky had his eyes out on stalks for the first half on the ride and jig-jogged for a lot of the time.

I'm plannning on taking him down on hound exercise a couple more times to get him totally used to the hounds but I'm concerned about the first time I take him 'hunting' and want to do everything I can to make sure he's 'ready for it - do any of you wise and wonderful experienced hunters have any suggestions on what I can do make sure he really enjoys his first hunting experience?
 
Have you tried posting this in the Hunting part of this forum, You may get a better response?
Otherwise, I think you're being very sensible in doing as many hound rides as you can before the start of the season. Try and take him to the opening meet onwards, and don't join in the middle of the season as the horses as usually fully fit by then and things go up a gear!
I'm definately not the most experienced on these things, But i'm sure there are others on here who can advise...
Good luck!
 
I took rose to a couple of small meets last season and what I did was put a green ribbon in her tail always turned her head towards the hounds and tried to stay at the back until she was settled then I grinned took a deep breath and enjoyed every minute of it
 
Miss-rose said:
I took rose to a couple of small meets last season and what I did was put a green ribbon in her tail always turned her head towards the hounds and tried to stay at the back until she was settled then I grinned took a deep breath and enjoyed every minute of it
Click to expand...

:D
I made it to one hound ride before my horse went lame (and still is)
and i'm ITCHING to go again...
 
Most hunts have now also commenced Autumn hunting - normally a more sedate version of full hunting, so you could progress this way once you are confident on hound excercise.
I would definitely agree with the above answer re the green ribbon, keeping hind legs away from hounds and hunt horses etc, and trying to keep the horse at the back. It would also be worth mentioning to the Sec it is a young horse, and making sure others around you are also aware, as somone may volunteer to 'nanny' you with a more experienced horse.
Have fun!
 
I like the idea of a sensible horse as 'baby sitter' - we're quite a small hunt so we rarely have huge fields (last year there was one meet where I was the only person in the field other than the Field Master!). Coloured tape goes without saying - I might paint his whole back end green just to make it really obvious!

He is showing a little bit of a tendancy to buck when we speed up in canter and I'm trying to work out whether it is just excitement or whether it is worry about being left behind - I'm hoping we manage to get through that before we're half way across a hunting field going hell for leather!
 
you'll probably find he won't buck if you can bare to let him go forwards a bit before you try to control the speed too much. It's very tempting to try to stop them from getting too fast too quickly, but if you can let him have a few strides and then say "now come back to me a bit" he's got the bucking stage gone before he thinks you're holding him up!
 
thanks Jen! LOL - When I'm lying in my hospital bed, i'll get on my iphone and add a post to this thread! I'm hoping I can find a more confident can capable rider to push him through the speed/buck barrier and give me some advice on how to deal with it! I refuse to walk/hobble into the doctors/physio again and say that I've injured myself again by falling off a horse!
 
It also helps to keep your horse active and with something to do - young horses can work on the basis 'the devil finds work for idle hands' or in this case feet, especially if they're a bit pop-eyed anyway. So things like not arriving at the meet too early, keeping him on the move and listening to you are a good idea. That's the only think I have against cubbing (autumn hunting), there can be a bit too much standing around

And Jenhunt is right - the back isn't always the best place to be. You may feel safe, but what your boy will see is all his new equine friends getting away from him, and that could make him even more excitable. I used to try with new horses to be at the back of the front third of the field, if you see what I mean. The two main advantages are that you will not be caught in crushes in gateways so much, which will often cause an inexperienced horse who feels crowded to kick out; and also, you will/should be among the horses who are free jumpers. The worst example for a young horse is to be among the refusing set.

Finally, don't be upset if it doesn't all come right first time. As has been said, make yourself known to the hunt staff etc. Hunting people overall ARE kind, and can be very supportive. I had a pony in my teens who reared really badly, and consistently, and filled in the spaces with buckjumps, for his first three outings. On my fourth the whipper-in took pity on me as he passed, and said "Follow me!" I did, wherupon he popped his lovely wise horse over a big hedge, with my hooligan in pursuit. Said hooligan suddenly saw the light, settled into a great raking gallop that I didn't know he possessed, and proved to be the best hunter I ever had - and I was a real wimp too.

I hope you and your young lad have many wonderful hunts together.
 
Thanks Rose Folly! Being at the back of the front sounds like a good plan - less chance of being left behind and panic bucking! Interesting about not arriving too early - I usually aim to arrive early and then walk around so there is a gradual build up of activity rather than arrive just before the Meet and go straight into a hive of activity which used to wind my old boy up far more - I guess we'll have to experiment and see.

He went to a jump competition at Addington for some acclimatisation the other day and was calm and well behaved as he was being ridden around - so fingers crossed he'll be calm atthe first time out hunting Meet (second time will be a different game cos he'll know what to expect!) :D
 
I took my 5yr TB cubbing last weekend for the first time. I went with a friend who also had never been before. There where about 20 horses there, we got split up half way through as her horse was way excited. My girl was perfectly behaved - we did have a buck and got excited but rather than hold her back i kept in the middle and kept up. The standing around was a bit tedious as once she had a gallop she didn't want to stop! She didnt do anything horrible though, alot better than expected. Planning on taking her cubbing again and then braving it out hunting at the first meet :D it could be the start of something beautiful :D
 
Miss-rose said:
I took rose to a couple of small meets last season and what I did was put a green ribbon in her tail always turned her head towards the hounds and tried to stay at the back until she was settled then I grinned took a deep breath and enjoyed every minute of it
Click to expand...

this is spot on. Always keep new ones at the back and then they 'learn' not to rush. Green ribbon just a courtesy to others to let them know she is new to it all. You and horse will love it hopefully, all the best.
 
Not sure if its much help as i dont hunt but i do go on large rides with a local ride and drive grup which tend to be fast paced!
My mare comes under the 'oh **** my friends are leaving me' category, she panics takes hold of the bit and tries to chase after them :D she`ll canter side ways, buck like a bronco and be a right pain in the bum, unless i let her go for a few strides and then ask her to come back to me, she`s then happy as larry and doesnt pee about! I make sure I have enough space from other riders and just let her go! This is for a mare who has serious separation anxiety and can buck for Wales :)
I`d keep yours towards the back but not the very back, a youngster thinking they`re going to be left on their own can be hard work, if you cans ense when he`s going to chuck in a buck just be prepared for it, sit deep hold his head up and drive him on, it works for me and I manage to stay on :D I was known as faller of the week at my old RS, guarantee every wk my electric bum would set of my trekking pony and they`d buck:p;)
I`m sure you`ll be both have lots and lots of fun x
 
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