possibly silly but genuine q about taking small child hunting

[Molly'sMama]

Hi
On the countryside alliance FB page there always seem to be lots of young kids on ponies out hunting- with people holding them on foot. for example https://www.facebook.com/1162836850...283685076903/1029343903770872/?type=3&theater

Serious question; what do they then do when the main lot of horses go off galloping thru the country? surely they can't keep up so -... do they just walk through the countryside? I'm genuinely always puzzled by this.


I've only ever been to a two meets w/a hireling so didn't really get chance to see as just met owner, met horse, got on, found my friend and stuck with her.. please don't laugh too much

 

[Fiona]

I am guessing that the really tiny ones (ie 1-3) just go to the meet and then come home.

Slightly older I'm not sure, some small hunting ponies lead off another horse so they could definitely keep up but might not necessarily jump...

Not a silly question at all, I've a 4yo with a pony so do look at all the cute pics on fb etc too...

Fiona

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

My local hunt has a few little ones, as Fiona says, the tinies just do the meet and possibly a short tootle, we have a couple of fit dads who lead theirs and even manage jumping on lead rein, following well, then a few who are led from horseback

 

[PorkChop]

I have done every stage with my daughters!

On the lead rein with me walking, it is amazing how you can keep up if you know the country, used to stay out for a couple of hours - more of a glorified hack

Next stage was being led from my horse, likewise you keep up best you can, take shortcuts etc, obviously it hugely depends on your hunt

Then off the lead rein on a pony that would follow my horse! Much more fun

 

[utter-nutter]

some just go to the meet and go home, and some leaders know 'shortcuts' around the country and the jumps so just meet up whenever possible, i was once led by someone training for a marathon and we were apparently out for 4 hours and kept up with the field as much as possible!

 

[tootsietoo]

As Prancer and utter-nutter say. It all depends on the fitness of the leader, knowledge of country and of course toughness of the child! There's one father I know who took his small child out on a lead rein with him on foot, with an adjacent hunt to us, and they would stay out all day. Father would get child off pony for a fence, jump over himself and pop the pony over on a long rein, child would scramble over and get back on and off they would go again! Mostly though those on the lead rein will just potter to the first draw and then go home. I take my two small ones, who are just off lead rein, out regularly and mostly we can keep up. Obviously if they set off at speed on a 7 mile straight line we are a bit stuffed, but usually we're all right.