potential 1st timer horse & rider?

noblesteed

noblesteed

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Hello all
I've been offered the chance to go hunting next Saturday on the moors. It's a friendly meet and my friend will be going along as well as another lady we know who has a youngster first timer. I have never been hunting before and neither has my horse, but I have always wanted to give it a go. The lady with the youngster will not want to be out all day and so my friend and I can stick with her and come back early if needed.
The only worry I have is that my horse gets very strong, and can stick his head down and motorbike if every one else takes off at a gallop. I am worried about brakes and the fact he always wants to go in front, NOT the ideal behaviour out hunting obviously! He is very excitable and gets really hyped up in a large group. He IS very good with dogs and doesn't kick or anything like that, it would just be that he would prance about a lot and want to be at the front, though given his fitness he will probably tire himself out after an hour! We do ride in a french link loose ring snaffle so maybe I could stick him in a dutch gag or a hanging snaffle?
Should I give it a go or not bother? It's just a bit of an unknown with him.
 
I think you should give it a go! you mention the moors.... do you know who will you be hunting with?

don't worry about him bombing off with you - most of them will stop when everyone else does, so you can let him run until you need him to stop (then you're not hanging onto his mouth either). A 3 or 4 ring dutch gag might be a good idea if you're concerned... you can always put it on the "snaffle" ring and move it down if necessary.
 
Definitely a vote for a decent bit! Hunting is not at all fun if you are being carted, and the most polite horse can turn extremely strong galloping in company! My own horse is usually ridden in a loose ring snaffle, but we have a pelham and a martingale to hunt!

Being out of control is not fun for you or the others around you!

Uprate the brakes and go and have a fab day!
 
hi jenhunt, i think it's goathland or over that way anyway. whereabouts do u go? cos ur thirsk i assume you're more inland than coastal?

I'm going to c if I can get a dutch gag for horse-face in time for saturday. If not I'll wait til next time I think. no point having my arms yanked out of their sockets!
 
Ditto the others, give it a go. Mine has always had dodgy brakes, they were much worse when I first went out. Yes I got tanked but so do loads of other first timers who do not expect it! I have seen people get totally freaked out by it whereas I just thought "oh no, here we *********g go again" ;) go and have fun, see what horse is like and report back!! :)
 
OK so we didn't go on saturday as I wanted to get a dutch gag first. ANyway I got one with a french link so not too different for horsey aside from the extra poll pressure. There is a meet about a mile away from home on saturday so we're gonna give it a go, weather permitting. Eeeekk!!! I will just have to do my best to keep him calm/polite... he can't be any worse than he gets on the beach and I can handle that (I tell myself!!!)
Anyone have any tips for me? I am going to plait him up in a running plait as I do for dressage (he is iberian) and I am going to wear my posh dressage gear. Plus as many undergarments as I can physically manage!!!
Do I need a white saddlecloth or will my regular red one do? ANd does he need a green ribbon in his tail?
 
a black or brown numnah would be better (you don't want a nice white one stained with mud now do you! ;)) but I'm sure the hunt won't mind if you're smart otherwise.

a green ribbon is a good idea, but don't think that it means you can let him push people about (sure you wouldn't but some people seem to think it does - rant over).

BP over or under the jacket is fine, you might find you can get more layers on and be more mobile if it's over the top!
 
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