Took my horse for his first time out cubbing!

[10wardd]

Took my horse who had never hunted before out cubbing yesterday!
Fair to say it showed as he kept rearing and I had 0 brakes! By the end there was a significant improvement regarding hounds and he let them come past him and around his legs with no bother

Does anyone have any recommendations for keeping for horses new to hunting sane out in the field? He was also dangerously strong (ridden in french link loose ring with flash), What bit should i try for a usually very soft mouthed horse?

All advice appreciated and thanks n advance

 

[meesha]

See if you can stay out as long as possible and go as often as possible. My chap is very strong but if we stay behind another horse we are OK, if he sees open ground in front of him he tries to take a hold. Ask around and see if you can tuck in behind something that doesn't mind you a bit close.

I have tried every bit going, Waterford 3 ring, Cheltenham gag etc, tom thumb was OK but pelham with curb seems to be good although not properly tested yet as I lost my curb chain between lorry and setting off.... Duh !! I have just bought a pelham with lozenge which I will try next time as the pelham I borrowed had a nutcracker action which made him a bit pingy, I use roundings.

 

[AAR]

Try a Pelham

I used equine American calmer for my 5yr old's first season, it comes in a tube with 3 doses in. Doesn't work for every horse though.

 

[spacefaer]

Bit wise, you could try a NS Universal - same lozenge concept but slightly stronger.

Make sure he's not fresh when you take him, either through hard work the day/week before or through a calmer, or a combination of the two!

Take him as often as you can so thattthe novelty wears off and try to stay at the back with the walking crowd - every hunt has a gang of young/elderly/non jumping who stay quietly at the back. If necessary, staywwith them all season, until he's settled down.

The more running and jumping you do at the beginning of horse's hunting career, the busier you will make him.

If you want him to be a classically well behaved "made" hunter, it'll take time (maybe a couple of seasons) If you have the patience, it's well worth it - depends how often you can go out and whether that's what you want!

 

[Ditchjumper2]

I agree with Spacefaer. It takes time and patience to "make" a hunter. If your horse thinks it is all galloping and jumping that is all he will want to do. Ours always start at the back with the WI. They learn to stand whilst everyone else is tearing about. Then they are allowed to go in the middle then back to the WI. Then they go front, back and middle. Then off on their own with a bit of whipping in.

That way you end up with a hunter that is well mannered and will go anywhere.

 

[Happy Hunter]

As per DitchJumper really - I took my mare out for her 1st day this morning.
Though I am now convinced she has been out before in Ireland (Wasn't sure before - seller had no info)

We had a lovely quiet day, only cantering once to avoid being chased by some 'boisterous cows' - as it turns out, the farmer had labelled them incorrectly and the cows were fine.

**Note it was only myself and 1 Hunt staff in with the cows, opening a gate to let them back into their pasture once the field had passed. - I was rather pleased the newbie took to it so well!

 

[PorkChop]

Get out as much as possible and stay out until hounds go home - hard work the day before and box a bit away from the meet so you can have a brisk trot to calm your horse.

I'm a fan of a kimblewick because it can be made stronger or milder fairly easily.