To Hunt or Not...?

[3Beasties]

I've had my mare for nearly two years. She is a 7 year old, ISH. Hunted in Ireland (is this a good thing??) before coming over here when she was 5. I haven't spoken to the people who hunted her but I would possibly guess that she was hunted hard as she came over here looking very lean (and she is a very good doer usually- I have to hunt for her ribs!).

She was extremely nappy and explosive when I got her and it took a good 6 months to be able to hack her out. Another 6 before we really stated working as a team. We are now at the stage where she is pretty well behaved most of the time but she does still have silly moment where she will leap/buck/bronc/rear etc.

I bought her wanting to hunt but after the behaviour in the beginning I really didn't think it would be possible, now I'm wondering if its worth a try? If she won't hunt I don't mind, we compete regularly so have other things that we can do. It would just be nice to think that we could go out a couple of days a season if the chance arises.

We don't do much hacking in company and haven't really had the chance to do fast work with anyone else so I'm not sure how she'd be in that situation. We will have a chance next week to do a group hack so I guess that will give me an indication as to if she will settle down in company and potentially hunt well. I guess I'm also worried that hunting her might make her revert back to her previous nappy behaviour!

So, do I just choose a quiet day and take her along? I am an inexperienced hunter myself so the other option is getting someone else to take her for me? (although she's only really used to me riding her). Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[irishdraft]

Most horses that have come out of Ireland have the tag of being hunted whether they have who knows hunting itself shouldn't cause the behaviour you describe if the mare
e is now settled and you feel confident take her autumn hunting this is quiet and ideal for young or novice horses to get a taste of it

 

[3Beasties]

Forgot to say in OP, we'd start with Autumn hunting, probably a weekday meet

 

[PorkChop]

I would say go for it - however if you are serious about her being a well mannered hunter be prepared to stick it out.

Start with Autumn hunting and go as many times as possible, the closer together the better. I have found it takes at least ten to fifteen outings to turn a corner when it comes to them behaving before you see an improvement if they are naughty.

Also do not be tempted to go to the big meets her first season ie opening meet, as it may undo all your hard work!

 

[spacefaer]

If you hope to make her into a horse that's nice to take hunting, I would agree with LJR that you need to go enough that it's not exciting. If you only go out a few times a season, then most horses will learn to associate hunting with fun and excitement - and I suspect you might not have much fun if she is enjoying herself too much!

 

[Bernster]

Well, obv my knee jerk answer to that question would always be a resounding YES of course. But the more considered answer bearing in mind what you've said, and bearing in mind that I am a total wuss and physical coward, is that in my case I started out with group hacks and sponsored rides to see how they behave in company, xc training clinics, then on a newcomer day in the Autumn with a couple of friends who had quiet horses and who I knew I would come home with if it didn't turn out well. I also did a few hunts on hirelings first to get the hang of it, although frankly that was more white knuckle than going on my own!

I'm not a seasoned hunter so I started out slow. If my horse was still a bit tricky then I'd probably have got my friend to take horse out, but the first horse I hunted was pretty much bombproof and I'd had him ages so I didn't worry too much. The second had been out a few times already and I was a bit more experienced so I wasn't quite as nervous.

Sounds like you are in a good place though so there's every reason to think it should go well. Good advice from the posters above

 

[kentridingclubber]

Got my ISH over here aged 5. He had hunted in Ireland and here by the dealer. He 'bounces' I'm company or when excited which is a pain and had me off the first time he displayed his rodeo acrobatics. It took me 18 months but I finally took him autumn hunting last season half a dozen times. Glad I did but I was fairly strategic and disciplined. I went for a hard hack the night before the first time etc. I went out mid week every week for a few weeks, I tried a Saturday but soon came home as was a little too much for me (not the horse to be fair) to hold him in a snaffle and keep up the behaviour levels I had maintained during the week. I made him stay at the back even though he didn't want to and this alone did him the world of good, strong willed ****** he is. I found moments, where I was able to match pace with someone else (stopped him pulling up the back end of whatever was in front) that I actually had a thoroughly pleasant time chatting whilst cantering along ! Couldn't believe it. Tried his luck with a rear though when standing but luckily I was quite sharp with putting a stop to that (previous rearer, not going down that route again!)
Didn't have time to buck, which is a blessing as he really is a dab hand at a rocking horse impression

So for me the result was unbelievably good as horse really is a brute. Looking forward to getting him back this season soon as i can. Good luck with yours.

 

[applecart14]

Don't forget your insurance policy - you often have to pay additional premium if you hunt as its classed as a high risk sport.

Personally, I wouldn't hunt as I don't agree on it, can sometimes be difficult to keep one's mouth shut when you are at a yard with people that hunt but I choose to sit on the fence instead of saying my true feelings, but I feel no amniosity towards them if this is what they choose to do and wish them well in their chosen sport. It must be fun, but I keep thinking of the poor fox and the total terror and anguish it must feel in the effort to escape, and the last few seconds of its life when it realises it is about to die. Mum once said she had heard that their hearts 'literally burst' but I think she made that up to put me off!

I think I am a bit over sensitive when it comes to animals.

I also wouldn't go as I wouldn't risk my horse but that's a personal thing.

Why don't you go on some fun rides to see what your mare is like in company. You will probably be able to guage it well then.

 

[Goldenstar]

Go with a friend so you have a companion if you need to take time out you can get away with another horse to support you.
Autumn hunting is the way to go .
Irish horses who have hunted young can be very explosive when you take them out again after a period with no hunting .
Hunted in Ireland can mean so many different things from we took him and the riders only just recovered , or we used him as hireling to get him broken,to he got quietly started by an old Irish man who had been making horses at the hounds since Norah was a lad .
Be prepared for anything .
And as others have said you need to be prepared to repeat regularly my young Irish horse is doing three days a week ATM.

 

[JonnoT]

I'm a relative newcomer (born-again rider) but am introducing a young horse to hunting, with the benefit of some fantastic advise which I'll pass on. It's a long game, then focus of which (to start with at least) is making the whole hunting experience as 'normal' and un-exciting as possible for your horse.
- Get him used to hacking in company
- Get him used to dogs being around him (you won't be asked back if he kicks a hound)
- Identify a nice quiet meet to take him to first. Put a Green ribbon in his tail for the whole of his first season.
- Take him with a horse that he knows and is guaranteed to behave at the meet at least.
- Let the master / secretary know in advance that you're bringing a novice and will be leaving the field early
- First time, plan to do no more than taking him to the meet and maybe a ride with the field to the first gate - then a nice long hack back to the trailer
- Once happy to take him across open country, hook up with one or two reliable horses (& riders) who are happy to box you in if he gets lively.
- Stick to your minders like glue - you don't want him to get stressed about getting left behind.
- Get out regularly but avoid the big fast meets (opening meet & boxing day spring to mind).
- Take the whole first season at his pace. You might not do more than 2 hours out in the whole first season.
- It's a long game. You've got the whole is his life to enjoy him out hunting!

Enjoy!