Sparkles
Well-Known Member
We attended the newcomers meet at a neighbouring farm this morning, found out yesterday it was in our village and newcomers, so last minute decision to take the youngster for his first experience of hounds.
Bit of a trust decision, as he's had a month off till a week ago whilst I was on holiday, but it seemed too good of an experience to pass up being right on our doorstep [and more so on our hacking route, so thought would much rather tie it in on purpose, than risk meeting them out mid morning!
So, cue last night enquiring politely if it would be ok to attend for our first time.
Well, we missed the meet due to other factors, so had a pootle on our own to join them, as they were only in the next field along anyway. So joined in at the rear and pootled along them with them for twenty minutes.
All a very boring update, I'm afraid as it consisted of us trotting through the meet field to catch up, then walking along the hedgeline and chilling out waiting round a lot over 2 fields! We purposefully didn't stay out long enough for anything more exciting than that, as he's young fat hairy entire and unfit. Having a fun longer day out was not on our agenda, but just to remain calm, happy with the rest of the field and see hounds for the first time.
Overall, he was generally, a good boy and I can't complain. All 4 feet remained on the ground nor ever threatened to leave said ground, he let me get on and off shutting 2 gates I volunteered to do for good practice, he remained mannerly with the rest of the horses horses [not that he ever isn't] and for the most, treated it no different to a large group hack at work. However, due to missing the meet, meant he did not get introduced to the hounds, we heard them the entire time but finally 'saw' them at the end of our 15 minute stint of being very good. The hounds, were very exciting ultimatlely. Again, did not misbehave as such, but just naturally a bit excited and on his toes. He's not scared of dogs generally luckily and certainly wasn't 'scared' of the hounds, but more just very excited about that whole occasion. Just a bit of snorting, fidgety and tail up etc. We watched them for a little while anyway, just doing a few small circles when needed and then the hunt went off out the village over the flatter fields, so we just peeled off on our own then and went back home. Which again, no problem leaving them at all. So all in all, I think a nice 20 minute new experience for him, albeit just walking and standing around a lot!
My plan is, if the horses at work go out to a meet, I'm popping him along in the trailer to just see the meet till they're about to set off, then go back home again. Road trip so to speak! And just do this as when I can do, so hounds and the horn and the masters etc become a very 'normal' sight in the end really.
Everyone was very welcoming and helpful also, and it was nice to know, they had no objection to an entire being on the field. I wasn't sure if was socially acceptable or not to bring a stallion out hunting, let alone our current choice of tack [bareback pad, eep!] but they were all more than welcoming which is lovely to know for the future. So thankyou, very much
Irony would have it, can you guess what we saw run out in front of us on our way back? Yep, a fox. Lol.
Didn't have much to take photos of, so my friend who came out also, just snapped a couple for the album!
Sorry for the rather sedate diary compared to most of them, but just a very proud milestone with my pony really! I don't know how we'll be in the future when we actually go hunting properly, but, I have ridden far worse than what we experienced today, and we survived, so hopefully he may turn out suitable in the future to dabble at it.
Bit of a trust decision, as he's had a month off till a week ago whilst I was on holiday, but it seemed too good of an experience to pass up being right on our doorstep [and more so on our hacking route, so thought would much rather tie it in on purpose, than risk meeting them out mid morning!
So, cue last night enquiring politely if it would be ok to attend for our first time.
Well, we missed the meet due to other factors, so had a pootle on our own to join them, as they were only in the next field along anyway. So joined in at the rear and pootled along them with them for twenty minutes.
All a very boring update, I'm afraid as it consisted of us trotting through the meet field to catch up, then walking along the hedgeline and chilling out waiting round a lot over 2 fields! We purposefully didn't stay out long enough for anything more exciting than that, as he's young fat hairy entire and unfit. Having a fun longer day out was not on our agenda, but just to remain calm, happy with the rest of the field and see hounds for the first time.
Overall, he was generally, a good boy and I can't complain. All 4 feet remained on the ground nor ever threatened to leave said ground, he let me get on and off shutting 2 gates I volunteered to do for good practice, he remained mannerly with the rest of the horses horses [not that he ever isn't] and for the most, treated it no different to a large group hack at work. However, due to missing the meet, meant he did not get introduced to the hounds, we heard them the entire time but finally 'saw' them at the end of our 15 minute stint of being very good. The hounds, were very exciting ultimatlely. Again, did not misbehave as such, but just naturally a bit excited and on his toes. He's not scared of dogs generally luckily and certainly wasn't 'scared' of the hounds, but more just very excited about that whole occasion. Just a bit of snorting, fidgety and tail up etc. We watched them for a little while anyway, just doing a few small circles when needed and then the hunt went off out the village over the flatter fields, so we just peeled off on our own then and went back home. Which again, no problem leaving them at all. So all in all, I think a nice 20 minute new experience for him, albeit just walking and standing around a lot!
My plan is, if the horses at work go out to a meet, I'm popping him along in the trailer to just see the meet till they're about to set off, then go back home again. Road trip so to speak! And just do this as when I can do, so hounds and the horn and the masters etc become a very 'normal' sight in the end really.
Everyone was very welcoming and helpful also, and it was nice to know, they had no objection to an entire being on the field. I wasn't sure if was socially acceptable or not to bring a stallion out hunting, let alone our current choice of tack [bareback pad, eep!] but they were all more than welcoming which is lovely to know for the future. So thankyou, very much
Irony would have it, can you guess what we saw run out in front of us on our way back? Yep, a fox. Lol.
Didn't have much to take photos of, so my friend who came out also, just snapped a couple for the album!
Sorry for the rather sedate diary compared to most of them, but just a very proud milestone with my pony really! I don't know how we'll be in the future when we actually go hunting properly, but, I have ridden far worse than what we experienced today, and we survived, so hopefully he may turn out suitable in the future to dabble at it.
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