Rearing Hunter

[lucy2006robin]

I dont know what to do so i was hoping someone could give me advise and pick me up over this.
I took my boy cubbing in 2008 and because he was just amazing after a couple of meets i done the whole season with him and was so pleased he was so well behaved.

Anyway i didnt do the 2009/2010 season has had no transport. I went to the opening meet of 2010 and he was quiet at the meet (but he always was) but when the horn was blown and everyone set off thats when he reared, he was fine when we trotted off but when we had the first canter it was like a bucking, rearing, leaping rodeo horse and i fell off, and the day didnt get any better, everytime we stopped then started again he would rear then leap forward and it just got more scary as the day went on.

I took him to another meet couple weeks later to see what happened, and there he was my amazing hunter. Then couple weeks later he was fine again and couple weeks again it started all over again...rearing.
He started halfway through the day and once he had me off he was fine for the rest of the day???

His back, teeth, tack, saddle everything has been checked over and over again.

Has anyone had a similier experience?

 

[JenHunt]

I know that a lot of horses can find it all too much after a break (mine is a fool at the start of every season!). The trick is to give him something to do when you stop - make him walk a circle, up and down a track, ask him to stop momentarily then push him on again and rewarding him for stopping. He'll soon get the message that it's easier to stand still.

I was told to think of it this way.... you wouldn't take a kid to a party and expect them to sit still the whole time, a young or inexperienced horse is no different.

 

[L&M]

Could you ease him into this season by joining in on hound excercise prior to cubbing (sorry autumn hunting!!), as it should be quieter.

Does he rear on any other occasion?

 

[Judgemental]

I know I am a little old fashioned about my horse management but if the horse was mine.

He/she would have their feed cut right down to the bare minimum.

Exercise twice a day about an hour and a half in the morning at about 8:00 am and then for about half and hour in the afternoon at 14:00 hrs.

If you can comfortably hack onto the meet from your stables, that would be ideal because you will then have to hack home.

In the alternative park up as far from the meet at practical.

As Jenhunt says try and keep the horse on the move out with hounds, what all this sounds like is lack of work. He is therefore showing his impatience when either waiting for hounds to draw and or at this time of the year moving slowly.

In my experience if a horse is properly worked in a regular routine and becomes fit to what I call 'hard fit' (personally I like my horses when they are really fit to be just slightly 'run up'), it is remarkable how sensible and co-operative they become.

Lots of work and minimum feed at the outset - routine and then build the feed again with the work load and compliance of the horse.

 

[Happy Hunter]

I used to have a Mare like this - She knew the job and was impatient to show everyone!!!

Keep moving!!!
Ask for grand prix dressage lateral work whilst walking around if needs be, Great oppertunity to talk to everyone in the field!
Down the feed and up the work, is good advice, however some horses get even worse when very tired, almost go too far,, so be mindful to how the changing levels are affecting things.

Try and remember there is a kind gentle great hunter in there somewhere!
Perhaps consider asking a friend or paying a trusted groom to take him out for a couple of days to 'get it out of his system' - this way, you dont need to loose any confidence in him, and if the problem really does persist, someone else's riding styles might be able to give some tips.

We did have problems with one horse who would 'flick the switch' whenever a new bit went in. (he did need some brakes! but thats another story!) One thing I did try was putting on all the hunting gear, special bridle and martingale and loose plaits - then go hacking - againg and again all august, then they learnt it didnt always mean something 'special'

Let us know how it goes.

 

[lucy2006robin]

Thanks you everone for your advise.

He hunts in a double due to being very strong, i dont let him stand still (i learn't that after the first fall )
No one else rides him apart from me just because there is no one else to and if i am to solve this with him it will be me riding him, if that makes sence.

 

[Echo Bravo]

I think you will do well, as someone said try the full hunting gear out hacking, if plaiting him up gets him going due most days, it's desenstiving him bit by bit.

 

[georgie0]

I know I am a little old fashioned about my horse management but if the horse was mine.

He/she would have their feed cut right down to the bare minimum.

Exercise twice a day about an hour and a half in the morning at about 8:00 am and then for about half and hour in the afternoon at 14:00 hrs.

If you can comfortably hack onto the meet from your stables, that would be ideal because you will then have to hack home.

In the alternative park up as far from the meet at practical.

As Jenhunt says try and keep the horse on the move out with hounds, what all this sounds like is lack of work. He is therefore showing his impatience when either waiting for hounds to draw and or at this time of the year moving slowly.

In my experience if a horse is properly worked in a regular routine and becomes fit to what I call 'hard fit' (personally I like my horses when they are really fit to be just slightly 'run up'), it is remarkable how sensible and co-operative they become.

Lots of work and minimum feed at the outset - routine and then build the feed again with the work load and compliance of the horse.

^^This! (Too lazy to type out an answer as comprehensive and long!)

 

[Rose Folly]

Judgemental has said most of it. Not too much feed, hack to the meet whenever possible, don't arrive at the meet too early and expect him to hang around, keep him on the move at the covert side all the time (the devil finds work for idle hands applies beautifully to horses' minds). When hounds are running try to place yourself at the back of the front third. Then you will not be among the refuseniks and faint-hearted, and your horse will again have things other than being troublesome to think about.

Good luck. I had one or two shockers in my time,but they all came out right in the end.