Is young horse ready for hunting?

Hackback

Hackback

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Didn't want to put this in the hunting thread as it's more about development than actual hunting.

Debating whether to take my 5 (6 in March) boy to a newcomers meet on Saturday. I wasn't planning on taking him hunting until next season but this year we've done clinics and a couple of very low level shows and 3 Endurance GB pleasure rides. I was keen for him to do the EGB PR's before hunting so that he got the idea of being independent of all the other horses bezzing about before he learned the joys of galloping in a herd.

He's an excitable and anxious sort and not very brave. I thought hunting might be really good for his confidence and why wait until next year. It's a steady day and I think I would know how to go home if he got overwhelmed or tired. But not sure if it's fair on his baby brain. Also with it being newcomers and children I wouldn't like him to upset anyone if he did get a bit OTT.

Pointless post really, I just have no-one to mull it over with.
 
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Well he won’t learn about it in his stable.
I’ve ‘made’ many a hunter and it’s all about teaching them it’s boring. Hack to the meet if you can, or grovel a parking spot somewhere you can hack from. Stay out the way. Children are a liability so stay at the back as they will pretend they can’t stop so they can overtake everyone. Make sure your horse is good with dogs.
Enjoy.
Get drunk before you go, it’s got to help, right? 😁
 
Thank you. Unfortunately it's quite a drive so getting drunk not really an option 😂 Standing around at he meet will be the worst bit I think. I will make a plan to stay at the back if I go - great tip. Also means he wont kick anyone if he gets over excited ✔️
 
Hackback said:
Thank you. Unfortunately it's quite a drive so getting drunk not really an option 😂 Standing around at he meet will be the worst bit I think. I will make a plan to stay at the back if I go - great tip. Also means he wont kick anyone if he gets over excited ✔️
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Get there at the last possible minute. If they are a punctual pack to pull out don’t get there too soon.
Enjoy.
 
Assuming your pack is Foxhound and is still Autumn hunting, the day won't be exciting at all. Horses out with hounds on day one for them tend to be well behaved as there is so much to see. It will be any further days that the excitement kicks in until they are made into a hunter.

If your pack is Bloodhound your day will be more interesting and on the move a lot more.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Assuming your pack is Foxhound and is still Autumn hunting, the day won't be exciting at all. Horses out with hounds on day one for them tend to be well behaved as there is so much to see. It will be any further days that the excitement kicks in until they are made into a hunter.

If your pack is Bloodhound your day will be more interesting and on the move a lot more.
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It's bloodhounds. Normally meet on a Sunday, this is just an extra newcomers meet. They are hunting on Sunday too - last hounds exercise of the season and my favourite meet of all but old horse is retired and young horse isn't fully hunt fit (it's a really tough one). Hopefully next year ..

I am wondering now if Newcomers isn't the best one to start with.
 
Hackback said:
It's bloodhounds. Normally meet on a Sunday, this is just an extra newcomers meet. They are hunting on Sunday too - last hounds exercise of the season and my favourite meet of all but old horse is retired and young horse isn't fully hunt fit (it's a really tough one). Hopefully next year ..

I am wondering now if Newcomers isn't the best one to start with.
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Our local bloodhound pack is wonderful for looking after newcomers and less experienced riders. Two field masters, one jumping and one none jumping. You will be fine, enjoy !
 
Despite their good intentions, newcomers meets are normally carnage. I’d pick another day where it’s going to be quite slow and quiet, speak to the secretary. Ideally this would be the hound exercise on roads/tracks at a slow pace in the summer.

As tempting as it is to have a go, making a good long term hunter rarely happens by just chucking them in the deep end. At best they cope the first few times and “behave” as they are so overwhelmed but then it often blows their brains. Your horse being anxious, excited is a prime candidate to do this.

If he is well behaved be prepared to take him home before the end of the day. Don’t let him get mentally or physically exhausted so he starts to protest.
 
A newcomers day with bloodhounds should be fine for your youngster. You may get a large field and a proportion of inexperienced/ child riders but that's whom these days are aimed at, giving you the experience of following but in a low key way. You need to keep your wits about you to keep you both safe being at the back isn't always the best place to be. The pack I go out with has had large fields autumn hunting but everyone has enjoyed the day with masters throughout to be field keeping an eye on things. Enjoy x
 
Clodagh said:
I know nothing of bloodhounds but don’t they just gallop from dawn til dusk?

ETA maybe that’s drag.
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Not quite, but without the hindrance of sabs and with pre planned routes (known only to the quarry and Master I think) you are more or less guaranteed to get a gallop on each line. Plenty of rest between the lines though and then you hack to the next one so it's not constant. The pack I go out with hunt around the peak district so fabulous views and lots of livestock fields, rather than sticking to field edges.

Should point out that I'm not a newcomer (just an amateur), but the horse has never hunted. Sorry I should have made that clear. I've never been on a newcomers meet before though. I used to take my older horse out but when I was trying to get him fit last year it became apparent he just isn't up to it any more. I really miss it though.
 
Well I went and had a fab day. The children were all amazing and manners were exemplary. It was lovely to see them all enjoying themselves so much.

AJ (my horse) was horrified to have to cross a stream with muddy banks leading in and out but he did it and he had to do a horse stile with like a plastic tube over the middle bit. He has a fear of things touching his legs so stepping over obstacles is a big deal for him, but by this point in the proceedings he'd decided to man up and he didnt hesitate. Cleared it by about 4' 😂 He also jumped two tiny jumps with a lead (think telegraph pole on the ground) but this is brave for him.

So I think the day might have had the desired effect of making him a bit braver. We also had a couple of gallops which he loved. The only downside was that he really struggled walking slowly in a group, especially when we had to go single file. On the plus side, he stopped pinning his ears back at other horses.

I dont think we'll be going again this season because it's proper hunting from next week, but I'm glad I went and gave him the experience.
 
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Fabulous. I’m so glad it went well.
You just can’t beat it for making a horse more forward thinking.
Sounds like you’ve got a new hunter!
 
Hackback said:
Well I went and had a fab day. The children were all amazing and manners were exemplary. It was lovely to see them all enjoying themselves so much.

AJ (my horse) was horrified to have to cross a stream with muddy banks leading in and out but he did it and he had to do a horse stile with like a plastic tube over the middle bit. He has a fear of things touching his legs so stepping over obstacles is a big deal for him, but by this point in the proceedings he'd decided to man up and he didnt hesitate. Cleared it by about 4' 😂 He also jumped two tiny jumps with a lead (think telegraph pole on the ground) but this is brave for him.

So I think the day might have had the desired effect of making him a bit braver. We also had a couple of gallops which he loved. The only downside was that he really struggled walking slowly in a group, especially when we had to go single file. On the plus side, he stopped pinning his ears back at other horses.

I dont think we'll be going again this season because it's proper hunting from next week, but I'm glad I went and gave him the experience.
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A fabulous educational day for him.
 
Hackback said:
Well I went and had a fab day. The children were all amazing and manners were exemplary. It was lovely to see them all enjoying themselves so much.

AJ (my horse) was horrified to have to cross a stream with muddy banks leading in and out but he did it and he had to do a horse stile with like a plastic tube over the middle bit. He has a fear of things touching his legs so stepping over obstacles is a big deal for him, but by this point in the proceedings he'd decided to man up and he didnt hesitate. Cleared it by about 4' 😂 He also jumped two tiny jumps with a lead (think telegraph pole on the ground) but this is brave for him.

So I think the day might have had the desired effect of making him a bit braver. We also had a couple of gallops which he loved. The only downside was that he really struggled walking slowly in a group, especially when we had to go single file. On the plus side, he stopped pinning his ears back at other horses.

I dont think we'll be going again this season because it's proper hunting from next week, but I'm glad I went and gave him the experience.
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Yay!

I have found sponsored rides also making my cob very brave about obstacles. There was stuff on the South Ox ride which he would have been horrified by if his ex-steeplechaser buddy hadn't been clearing everything nonchalantly! Apparently following a big TB makes a small cob feel invincible.

I'm not sure we're ready for hounds yet. They walk the hounds by me over the summer and I get an impressive display of airs above ground when they come past.
 
The other thing to consider if you are wanting him braver jumping, is team chasing. Some of the novice bogey time courses are straightforward, pick your team mates carefully and it's very educational.
 
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