Post-hunting regime question - from newbie

[irishcob]

Hi there

I am new to hunting, having always been way too terrified to contemplate it. However, I have recently taken up with the Southern Shires Bloodhounds, and having survived a hound exercise ride, have done 2 afternoon's hunting with them. And loved it

My question is, what to do with my horse afterwards? The weather so far has been kind enough to wash him off as soon as I get off, pop a fleece rug on and put him in the trailer whilst I have a cup of tea and then set off for home.

However, once it is much colder, is it fair to wash him all over with cold water (he gets VERY sweaty), or is it best to wait till I get home? It's around 1 -1 1/2 hour journey home. I feel like a right numpty asking , but was wondering what everybody else does?

Many thanks!

 

[JenHunt]

it depends on the horse... and whether you can take any hot water with you. I know a few people who fill their water container with hot water, wrap a fleece rug around it and voila warm water for washing when you get back.

personally, I like to just get Ron home, and wash off at home so I can take my time and do a thorough job. I do however offer him a drink of electrolytes when i get back to the box, untack and put a fleece on him.

 

[AmyMay]

I've always waited till I got home - never washed a horse off prior to loading it on to the box.

Saddle often left on, and nice wicking rug (thermatex or similar) popped on for the journey home.

Once home, depending on the state the horse is in it's usually hosed off (on the legs only), and then given a good going over with a cactus cloth prior to putting to bed.

 

[TGM]

I'm glad we are not the only ones to wait til we get home! Most people in our hunt seem to wash off straight away, so I always feel a bit guilty putting ours straight on the box. But I find it much easier to sort them out at home, plus I find they wind down much better if not fussed over too much immediately after hunting.

 

[AmyMay]

I'm glad we are not the only ones to wait til we get home! Most people in our hunt seem to wash off straight away, so I always feel a bit guilty putting ours straight on the box. But I find it much easier to sort them out at home, plus I find they wind down much better if not fussed over too much immediately after hunting.

Cold, wet, hungry, dark - perfect conditions to wash the horse down in

Wouldn't dream of doing it the minute I got off - for my sake or the horses.

In fact, I don't know anyone who does.

 

[PorkChop]

I sort mine out once I have got home, tbh unless your horse is a live wire, by the time you have hacked back to the trailer they have dried off a fair bit.

I untack, put on one or two wicking rugs, maybe have a towel to rub their ears if particularly cold. Then they can tuck in to their haynet on the way home. Also once they are loaded, it is usually quite toasty in the trailer, especially if there are two horses. If its bitter, close the top doors as well.

 

[Swirlymurphy]

I've always waited till I got home - never washed a horse off prior to loading it on to the box.

Saddle often left on, and nice wicking rug (thermatex or similar) popped on for the journey home.

Once home, depending on the state the horse is in it's usually hosed off (on the legs only), and then given a good going over with a cactus cloth prior to putting to bed.

^^^^
This, Plus the horses get turned out for the night regardless of the weather as I would rather they move around in the field than stiffen up in the stable.

Although, can I just ask what a cactus cloth is AmyMay?

 

[AmyMay]

Although, can I just ask what a cactus cloth is AmyMay?

Cactus cloth is a square piece of rough hessian which is brilliant for removing sweat and med etc. The more it's used the better it gets.

Best bit of kit in anyone's grooming box.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ca...hN4i5hAfc64DQCg&ved=0CDQQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=933

 

[Lea1985]

Cactus cloth is a square piece of rough hessian which is brilliant for removing sweat and med etc. The more it's used the better it gets.

Best bit of kit in anyone's grooming box.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ca...hN4i5hAfc64DQCg&ved=0CDQQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=933

Im getting one of those on my christmas list!

 

[TGM]

^^^^
This, Plus the horses get turned out for the night regardless of the weather as I would rather they move around in the field than stiffen up in the stable.

Same here. They go in the stable first of all when we get back to get cleaned up, checked and fed, but then rugs on and out into the field for the night. We find both the horses eat up much better the following day if they are out rather than in. (The pony eats up well regardless!)

 

[Swirlymurphy]

Cactus cloth is a square piece of rough hessian which is brilliant for removing sweat and med etc. The more it's used the better it gets.

Best bit of kit in anyone's grooming box.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ca...hN4i5hAfc64DQCg&ved=0CDQQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=933

Thank you, I'm off to get one

 

[Maesfen]

Cactus cloths are brilliant although you can do exactly the same with some crunched up hay and if you have a soft skinned horse, hay is sometimes softer for them; shame haylage is useless at that job!

The one thing I hate about after hunting now is when everyone loads up and then goes for tea leaving a tired horse on the trailer. Get your poor horse home and comfy first before you go enjoying yourself, it's the least they deserve on a cold or damp evening.

 

[Baggybreeches]

The one thing I hate about after hunting now is when everyone loads up and then goes for tea leaving a tired horse on the trailer. Get your poor horse home and comfy first before you go enjoying yourself, it's the least they deserve on a cold or damp evening.

That is one of my pet hates too. I am sure people think I am terribly antisocial but I just hate the thought of them stood around waiting for me to finish chatting.
Cactus cloth can also be substituted for nylon carrot nets (which is even softer then hay) and is fab for very ticklish TBs.

 

[Swirlymurphy]

Cactus cloth can also be substituted for nylon carrot nets (which is even softer then hay) and is fab for very ticklish TBs.

Great advice thank you

I'm another one who cannot abide the idea of leaving the horse standing on the trailer whilst I have tea - that just goes against everything I've ever believed in - the horse must always come first! I've drummed it into my daughter too and we just stuff our faces in the car on our way back home.

 

[JenHunt]

Depends how long you have tea for I guess - we take a flask of tea with us, and OH and I have a quick slurp of that as we untack/give them a drink/once horses are in the trailer, often driving off as we're finishing the last mouthful. we certainly don't hang around - we can be less than 10minutes between arriving at the box still mounted and leaving with horses and us watered and sorted out!

Re: stabling that night - Ron will Not go out. I take his head collar off on the yard, and he turns round and puts himself to bed, or hangs over the stble door if I haven't opened it (if OH is still mucking out Ron leans on the barrow until it moves enough for him to squeeze past!). when I've tried putting him out you have to bully him into walking to the field, and then he stands at the gate looking miserable until you bring him back in! All he wants to do is stuff himself with hay for an hour, drink plenty of water and have a snooze before his dinner! Once he's fed he goes back to sleep for the night and wakes up perky as a very perky thing the next morning!
Tom would rather live out but won't go out without Ron, or not without a fuss, so he tolerates being in - but if he's being a stresshead I'll throw him out for a roll while I wash Ron off.

 

[Littlelegs]

I had a wkend/holiday job in my early teens for a couple in their 60's who'd hunted from birth practically. There's always came straight home, lansdown nz popped on & straight in the field for an hour. Then back in for a good brush & rub down, & any washing done next day. They very rarely bothered with bandages either. So I've always tried to do the same, never had any problems.

 

[tls]

I wash off once i've dismounted, put cooler on then straight home. Then rug up and turnout for an hour, then they get a good check over when i fetch them back in. Electrolytes for tea.

 

[LizzieJ]

I nearly always hack from home to meets but I've not noticed people hanging round for tea after loading, maybe it's because we don't have many places where we can all park in the same place!

When I do box it wouldn't even occur to me to wash the hors off before I got her home tbh, why put her in the box wet? My hunter lives out anyway so I wash off with warm water, thermatex then if she's chilled enough to dry off I leave her to dry, if not I just chuck her big Fal on and turn her out. She hates being in so will often end up breaking out again if I leave her in the stable. If its a nice day and we're home earlyish I will let her go out rugless for a bit before I wash her off so she can have a decent roll

 

[posie_honey]

i get off, wash off, thermatex up, offer water, travel home (without travel boots to keep legs cool)
once home i wash off legs again in cold water and check over, groom, rug up , feed and throw out with plenty of hay (she lives out anyway)
by the time i get home (i have to travel quite far to nearest hunt) she's usually warm and dry.
i will often stop half way home to check her temperature and sometimes offer water again if its a long journey.
i dont know anyone enough at the hunt to stay and be sociable - and if i chat on way round to anyone at end i say good night and that i'm rushing off so that i dont have to be sociable any more and can concentrate on my pride and joy (HRH)

back in the day i was a hirling groom we just used to take bridle off, thermatex, throw in lorry and sort when we got back to yard.

 

[meesha]

As he is clipped he isnt very sweaty when we get back to the box so its ... water offered, tack off, rug and boots on - loaded straight up so he can have his net in the dry an warm and off home - by the time we get home he is lovely and dry and warm (hours drive) - when home I put really good thick rug with neck on and turnout or if he looks really snug then outdoor rug with neck over the top of travel rug which keeps the warm in.

 

[VoR]

Ah well, Post-Hunting regime eh, well, my man meets me and takes the old neddy off to do whatever he does whilst I enjoy a few large whiskies y'see what!!!!

Well, that's what 'they' think!

Tack off, rugs on, get them home and wash down then with warm water, leave to dry in a nice big sweat rug, before getting nice warm rugs on and turning out for a stretch and a roll if weather permits!!

 

[bounce]

Firstly OP, welcome to the SSB, glad to hear someone else getting hooked on going out with a nice friendly bunch. I'll be heading to the opening meet so will hopefully get a chance to say hi if you are going.

I always wash off before loading. This is because I travel between 1h30 and 2 hours to the meets and it is too late and dark to start washing off when I get home. My pony gets washed off with cold water, mainly stomach, legs and neck but not over his back. I take a flask of hot water to add if I know it is going to be an exceptionally cold day. He then gets a couple of wicking rugs put on and stands on the lorry to eat his haynet and have a rest before the journey home whilst I get a bite to eat and a natter over the hunt tea. I then make sure he is not too hot and perhaps take one wicking rug off for the journey home and I can guarantee I have a nice clean and warm pony when I get home. I've never had a problem yet from this routine and it means when he gets home he doesn't get disturbed whilst he is tucking into his supper.

Its also good to check for any cuts on legs at the same time and can wash and treat then and there rather than finding the mud has been hiding any cuts when you get home.

But each to their own. My way suits me and my pony just fine.

 

[meesha]

VoR - how is the new hunter ? Are you out Sat so we can have a gawp !

 

[LizzieJ]

Ah well, Post-Hunting regime eh, well, my man meets me and takes the old neddy off to do whatever he does whilst I enjoy a few large whiskies y'see what!!!!

Well, that's what 'they' think!

Tack off, rugs on, get them home and wash down then with warm water, leave to dry in a nice big sweat rug, before getting nice warm rugs on and turning out for a stretch and a roll if weather permits!!

I was wondering where you had got to!

Perhaps I should amend my regime for boxing... Untack at trailer, thermatex/cooler on. Spend 10 minutes getting the mare to think about loading, find someone with a nice horse to give us a lead in (so far this is without fail VoR!) From there I either put ramp up and go straight home orrrrr well tack goes back on, I get back on and we have a long ride home during which I realise how cold/knackered I am and wish I'd put a bit more port in the flask and the mare spends it telling me how fit she is and that really we could trot the entire two hours home

Luckily whenever we have gone visiting the mare loads fine!

 

[meesha]

LizzieJ - I feel your pain - have had to ride 10 miles home before due to loading issues (hasten to add not after hunting as that would be a bit far to home)!!! must remember the tip about the port if it happens again although we seem to be ok at the moment - I do love chiffneys!

 

[irishcob]

Thank you all for really helpful replies - I have ordered my cactus mitt already from the tack shop!

Firstly OP, welcome to the SSB, glad to hear someone else getting hooked on going out with a nice friendly bunch. I'll be heading to the opening meet so will hopefully get a chance to say hi if you are going..

Hi Bounce - yes we are aiming for the Opening Meet. I'll be the one on the bay cob with 4 white socks, looking for a way around all the jumps! The SSB have been immensely welcoming and friendly - I fear this hunting lark will become another expensive hobby!!

 

[LizzieJ]

LizzieJ - I feel your pain - have had to ride 10 miles home before due to loading issues (hasten to add not after hunting as that would be a bit far to home)!!! must remember the tip about the port if it happens again although we seem to be ok at the moment - I do love chiffneys!

Chifney wouldn't make any difference with mine, she just plants herself and nothing will make her move. Thankfully now I have my own transport again this seems to be sorting itself out, she was never any trouble until I borrowed a trailer last year...

OP, sounds like you will have a great season and you will find a routine that works for you and your horse in no time

 

[olderthanshelooks]

if horse is still wet and muddy when i get back to trailer i wash off, put fleece rug on then when i get home horse is unloaded, dry ready to put turnout rug on and go out in the field. If mud has dried I leave til next morning and give a good brush off then.

My girls live out, literally only have a field and no electric so washing off in the dark would be a mission impossible.

 

[Orangehorse]

I used to put in the trailer without washing off, offer a haynet and a small bucket of water. I always used to turn my horse out for a bit when I got home if not too dark and weather OK to let him roll and have a drink and some grass, sometimes without a rug if it wasn't cold or raining (not clipped out!). That would give me time to get his stable ready and his feed then catch, give a good brush over, night rug and hay, and then feed later at the regular time.

 

[[42010]]

Gosh, I'm finding this a really interesting thread, especially the relevance given the veterinary article in Horse & Hound this week.

To date (only one season) I have washed my mare down when I get back to the trailer. I take 3 thermos' of hot water (and add cold to them) and I also have a Mobiwash which I fill with warm water. My reasoning for doing it at the meet is that then, by the time I have driven home, my mare is dry (I use a ComfortZone lapel rug while travelling) and I can rug her up straight away and turn her out (she lives out 24/7). Also, if there is a nick or cut, I can deal with it immediately (I also travel with a first aid kit in the car) although I appreciate the light is not always as good as it is at home.

My 'fear' of leaving it all till I get home is (and it is probably all wrong and irrational but..) a) the mud and sweat will have all crusted in and stuck and be harder to get off b) I have to wait for her to dry before rugging c) the warmth of my car on the journey home and the exertion of the day starts to make me sleepy and might make me less disciplined to do all the necessary when I get home.

Having said all this, I would adore to do her when I get home just because, as everyone has said, it's easier, especially as she is standing on concrete rather than a mushy field in the middle of nowhere where all the water kicks-back when you wash her!!

Would really be interested in others thoughts as to whether my fears of leaving her till getting home are irrational and it really might be the best way to go. Or whether doing her at the meet, despite the hassle of travelling with all the paraphernlia, is actually sensible.

Thanks in advance!