Reschooling a Hunter to SJ help and experiences?

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Katieandnik

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Hey hey just wondering if anyone can offer any tips or experience on re training a horse that's hunted to show jump.

Iv been lucky enough to get Morgan who has hunted for 6 years and had 4 years doing nothing.
Is definitely a hunter at heart.

Having trouble with him wanting to canter everywhere and when I have more then one sj up he's locking onto which ever jump he sees first rather then the one I'm aiming him at and he races over it !
Been told this is the hunter coming out in him. Iv no experience myself with hunters I can control him and only takes about 5 mins to get him to give in to me lol but it's absolutely killing me off to hold him back and he's in a Pelham I really don't want to put a harsh bit in as it's not really him that's the problem it's me not knowing the hunter ways.. so if anyone can give any advice I'd really appreciate it.

Oh and he also crabs in canter he's not napping at all its just his canter is sort of sideways. It's not all the time. Again no experience with this? :(

He is an absolutely amazing horse I just need to learn his ways and we need to sync up
 
Flatwork, polework then gridwork, he probably has gaps in his education but thinks he knows it all!! Treat him as a young horse by going back to basics, although you will be able to move on fairly quickly, get each stage fairly well established before moving on, we are doing the same with an ex racehorse who thought he knew all about jumping, he is coming along nicely, as the flatwork gets better so does the jumping technique.
 
Hey be Thanks for that all iv been doing is flat work really iv had a couple of jumping lessons on him and realised were not ready for that yet but I am really hoping to get to do some shows this summer :)
Literally the last 2 weeks iv been riding has been just walk and trot as he just wants to canter constant I need to get him to just calm down and walk and trot like we're not in in a rush . Having lessons off an amazing lady and I'm 100% better now then 2 weeks ago buttttt feels like this walk and trot isn't going anywhere. . :( xx
 
It's not about him being a hunter, it's about him being uneducated.

A well educated hunter will trot to a fence, pop it, land, turn, or will canter on down to any fence you ask. He should also stand in a queue and watch other horses jump before him.

Sounds like Morgan is a bit rude and over enthusiastic, and you need to get some communication sorted, and some rules! As be positive says, take him back to basics and establish control.

At least you know he's bold!
 
Yessss this is exactly what I'm getting from him he you both are putting what I'm thinking about him into words! Like I say I'm beginner when it comes to hunted and maybe who ever hunted Morgan just aimed him at the fence and held on.. that's the vibe I'm getting.

I am taking him back to very basics just walk and trot. Guaranteed as soon as i get in the school he will go from stand still to canter. But I hold him back and do tight circles and work him hard in walk and trot for about 5 mins ( at this point I'm shattered lol) but then his head will drop and can feel him on the bit and working very nice ( I tried to take him into canter again at this point and he went back to charging around)
Now back to just walk and trot until 100% with that. .

What I don't get is he's extremely responsive like he he's once been there and done it once iv shown him I won't let him win ... maybe I'm too weak for him? He is an extremely big horse :/
 
Ditto Spacefaer. This isn't about him having hunted in and of itself - it is because he lacks education / manners. Or he is in pain. All our SJ'ers have hunted -and do still hunt. You can't have a hunter charging off at every fence that takes his eye line or jumping everything flat out. That's a recipe for disaster on the field.

If you haven't already check back, teeth and tack to be sure he isn't running from pain. Also look at how much feed he's getting. He sounds very fresh so if you have him on hard feed at all consider stopping that and moving to forage only. Then lots of lessons, lots of poles and grids. You could also think about reducing the strength of the bit. I know it sounds odd but if he charges in and you hold him back then he may well charge more because he wants to save himself. Horses need freedom in the head to look at the jump and if you restrict that too much they can start to tank about. Or he might prefer something with more flex in it than the pelham. Hanging on to the reins alone will just make matters worse as his mouth will deaden. Talk to your instructor about it.
 
I felt I was hanging on the bit loads last time I rode cause If I let him have any rein he would just go straight into canter :/ iv rode him in a D ring snaffle and a bit with a copper link in (can't remember what that's called) and as soon as i went back to the Pelham he seemed alot better.
Had dentist and back out as iv been told this horse prob has never had either his hole life! Do it was first thing I did before I started riding.
His saddle is one that's been made for him so I can't see that being a problem?

The feed may be making him fresh another thing is with previous owners he was never fed correctly so we have started giving him correct feed for his size etc 17.2 alot of feed lol he's on sugar beat bran and normal mix been told he can't have chaf. .

How would you stop him crabbing? I'm riding today :) x
 
He's crabbing because he's keen to get to the fence and you're holding him back, so all the energy created has to go somewhere, so his hindquarters are overtaking his front!

How fit is he? You said he hadn't done anything for four years? How long have you been riding him?

He sounds very much like one of our hunters, who is a similar size. He's very forward going - if you soften your hand in walk, he'll trot, if you soften your hand in trot, he'll canter..... very frustrating when you are trying to school him!

I would stick to walk and trot with him, and get the basics absolutely solid before you try cantering him at all. It may take longer than you want it to, but it will be well worth it in the end.

Do you have the pelham on one rein with roundings or two reins? If it's one rein, then the aid you are giving him is pretty dull - it's a "stop/start/steer" basic function. He probably has no more knowledge than that, but it might help to put him in something more responsive. It's very hard to advise without seeing him, but I hope your instructor is good enough to be able to suggest a good bit for you.

ETA with ref to his saddle - when was it made for him? If recently, then that should be fine - although you have to remember that all horses change shape with work and feed, and what fitted him 6 months ago, may not fit now. If the saddle was made when he was in work 4 years ago, then almost certainly you should get a competent saddle fitter out, as he will definitely have changed shape.
 
Get some lessons with a good instructor. You might find schooling him on the flat with jumps in the arena is a good idea but nothing can take the place of good eyes on the ground to help with a horse like this. He sounds great fun for the future tho :)
 
I would suggest that he is getting too much feed for the exercise he is getting and therefore has far too much energy for you to cope with. Try cutting out all hard feed and just feeding hay to start with and possibly adding a balancer to make sure he gets all the vits and mins that he requires. What do you mean when you say his previous owners never fed him correctly? Why can't he have chaff?
 
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