The calmers didn't work.... hunting report...long..

[Chumsmum]

Went out for my second time hunting today, but it didn't go to plan....

My normally quiet pony gets rather excited at parties so I thought I would try So Calm paste to see if it just chilled him out a bit...it didn't even touch the sides - and neither did the sloe gin that I chucked down my throat!

A small group of us kept away from the others at the meet but this ended up with us getting a bit left behind and I think this just wound him up more. While everyone else was doing a nice walk or even a brisk trot he wants to go everywhere in canter. He threw in the occasional stroppy buck but he doesn't do anything else except wanting to go at 100 mph everywhere and pulling my arms off.

I hoped that when we crossed a couple of fields I might be able to have a good blast on him to wear him down a bit but the Field just walked across them (rained all yesterday and there were sheep at the bottom). Rather embarressing that the rest of the field just walked up a hill while me and the P2P cantered up it despite my best efforts to stop. My only saving grace is that he stood relatively still when we did stop.

Decided very early on to end it there, I was getting a few looks and he seemed to be getting worse not better

I turned him away from the others easily enough and within 50 mtrs he was calming down and like a different pony. I could walk on a loose rein and we had a lovely relaxed canter up the side of the field. I decided to go for a hack over the woods instead and had a lovely time and got back about the same time as the others.

So, I might have to accept that we don't make a good hunting team... I know that he needs to go a few times to get over the excitement but I don't know if my nerves will take it. A friend (who is injured at the moment) is going to take him again for me - she thinks he is just excited and needs to be up the front and jumping - I haven't got the confidence in my jumping ability to do this yet.

So I feel a wuss for not seeing it through but glad I stayed on and we had a lovely rest of the day.

Hopefully some photos in PG later (when OH has downloaded them) of us at the meet but no action shots of me as we didn't stay out long enough lol.

Sorry to waffle on

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Think you did really well! keep trying, im sure he will settle x

 

[welshpony]

Don't feel bad for not seeing it through, I took my horse out for his first time today and it was awful! Had no brakes (in a cheltenham gag) and he bounced about everywhere - we went home after an hour and there is no way he will be going again, so you are much braver than me!

 

[mickey]

I bet going back from the main party made him more anxious? If you are nervous too it may make him worse? Perhaps try someone very experienced to see if they can calm him down? If not, I reckon hunting is not his thing!

 

[harleyandjasmine]

it doesn't matter if you didn't stay out long
the more experience he gets the better even if its in short bursts
my horse used to be like this even with a kimblewick in
however once she relised that it wasn't worth all the fuss she settled down
keep trying and it will come

 

[Chumsmum]

Thanks for replies - you have made me feel better about the whole thing.

I would guess my nerves are not helping though he appeared to ignore everything I was trying to do or not to do lol.

I think I need to review his bit/noseband to sort out some brakes and also some braver jockeys than me to take him out a couple more times.

I also accept that hunting may not be his thing but I can live with this, following on foot is far less stressful and I can enjoy seeing the hounds working

Thanks again for replies.

 

[RunToEarth]

Ah, your lad sounds just like how mine used to behave!
I found that the trick was to keep him up with the fieldmaster- the fewer horses he has infront of him the better, and also don't be afraid to let him go hell for leather when everybody else does, just be sure you are ready to pull him up. Mine used to be a pain in the arse, the further back we were, the worse, and I used to leave a longer line before a jump so he didnt run into the horse infront's bottom! Mine is in an english gag now and I've just about bossed him, better taking a couple of pulls in a strong bit than a thousand in a weaker one.

 

[Chumsmum]

My friends have said exactly the same thing - change bit and get him up the front! I'm fairly confident that he wouldn't try and get ahead of the FM either, he stops as soon as everyone else does - he just seems to think he is missing out at the back lol.

I am doing some XC training soon so I'm hoping this will give me the confidence to go for the jumps - he loves jumping.

He is very much a different pony out hunting so I'm going to have to get much braver if I want to continue :grin:

Thanks for your advice - I really value it

 

[Starbucks]

If he stops when the others do I think you'll be ok, he doesn't sound like a complete fruit loop!

Agree with Rosiie you need to get him up at the front. Hope you get the confidence to enjoy him!

 

[sueandtoto]

I was just thinking of you today and if you tried the So Kalm for hunting!! how weird :shocked: sorry it diddn't work , maybe hunting is just too exciting !! our pony is quite laid back normally but put him with a group and he changes completly , maybe he picks up on you not being confident as well , I would let someone else take him , at least you had a nice hack and he was well behaved

 

[Chumsmum]

We were talking about this today - perhaps it did work to a certain extent and he was still excited lol.

I might try one on a 'normal' day and see if he falls asleep :grin:

I think I will get someone else to hunt him next time - try him up front with some brakes.

Plenty of people who saw him / know him have offered to take him so I'm probably exaggerating how excited he was - I'm just a wuss

 

[HBII]

You are no wuss! I had butterflies for you and I wasnt anywhere near a horse that day. You did really well and I am very proud of you at having a go. You have sussed his issues hacking in a large group, he likes to be up front maybe you just need to apply that to the hunting field?!

Hbx

 

[Hersom]

Had no brakes (in a cheltenham gag) and he bounced about everywhere - we went home after an hour and there is no way he will be going again, so you are much braver than me!

That's scary.

First time horses sometimes don't get it. They get horribly excited because of all the other horses but have no idea about pacing themselves. They do get better with each successive outing. If you can find a meet that starts with a good run between the parking and the meet or begins with a good long canter you'll find it easier. The worst, worst hunt starts with a load of fiddling around and lining out but no action.

 

[JenHunt]

i find my lad is better if we trot away from the meet on the roads before a gallop up a field, that if we just go straight into a field and tear off.
i also find he's better at the front in a double bridle than at the back in a dutch gag. but i appreciate that it's not everyone's cup of tea...
i use naf tempralax for the first couple of meets each season just to take the edge off his excitement. once he's had a few days out he's much better.
keep going though and i'm sure he'll calm down.