Should I or shouldn't I?

[dodgers89]

Today I went to try out a horse with view to loan. He seemed lovely in the stable, stood to be groomed, tacked up etc and seemed fine while hacking. Not too forward and with good breaks. However, we were hacking down the field and he heard the hunt horses on the road on the other side of the hedge and started prancing around and shaking his head wildly. I don't think he bucked but I thought I was going to come off once or twice. His owner said that's the worst he gets and I seemed to manage him fine. I would call myself a confident novice and I'm not 100% sure I would be happy if he did that and I was out on my own. He did chill out eventually but it took him a while of jogging and head tossing. She also said he spooks at quad bikes and living in the countryside, we're liable to come across the odd one when out hacking. What would you do?

 

[Elsiecat]

I imagine more horses would react to the hunt passing than those who wouldn't. That really wouldn't worry me.
I'd ask her how badly he spooked at quad bikes. But it wouldn't put me off.
That said, if you've got these doubts already then perhaps he's not the right horse for you?

 

[dodgers89]

We passed a field of alpacas as well and a similar reaction. The owner said he's been known to kick out at quads behind him.

 

[Elsiecat]

I think you've just got to decide whether you could enjoy hacking on him. Don't forget that things will improve when he grows to trust you.

 

[hnmisty]

I think you've just got to decide whether you could enjoy hacking on him.

This. If you took him, would you spend the entire hack worrying about encountering quad bikes/alpacas/other woolly horse eating monsters, or would you be able to enjoy yourself?(Ignoring the hunt, I'd be more surprised to find a horse who didn't react!)

 

[MadBlackLab]

most horses react to the hunt. I've known horses that have to be shut in stables and sedated when hunt near so a bit of jogging and head chucking is quite mild.

Why don't you go back and try him again when you know the hunt not around?

 

[oldie48]

There is no way I'd hack my horse out if the hunt was around and that goes for all my previous horses too, if all he did was toss his head a bit and bounce, then he's a saint. I don't think there's a horse born that is completely bomb proof but he sounds pretty good!