We went cubbing for the first time today......

FestiveSpirit

FestiveSpirit

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and we were sent home by Spacefaer after 20 minutes for our own safety :D Bob was OK at the meet (is it still called a meet when you are autumn hunting?) and I thought we were going to be fine - then when the field moved off his little brain could not cope :eek: We spent 5 minutes running around the now empty field backwards in circles....then I finally got him going forwards, so we cantered down the lane, caught up with the others, and kept cantering....

Up to a junction, the field stoppped, Bob ran around backwards in circles....

Got going forwards, cantered down another lane, the field stopped to go through a gate into a farm yard, Bob ran around backwards in circles....

This time we added a bit of variety by bouncing off the hedges at either side of the road and falling down a ditch too :D

Finally got him through the farm yard (5 mins after the rest of the field had gone through...) and across a field to another gateway, Bob decided that bucking, spinning, and running around backwards with his head between his knees was the way to go :eek:

Spacefaer had been looking increasingly concerned and doubtful, so at this point suggested that Bob probably wasnt go to settle and that we should go home :D

It sounds ironic but I am really glad we went, really enjoyed myself, just a shame it wasnt Bobs thing at all :rolleyes: Got some pictures too so will put them on FB when they are sent through to me :):)
 
Pics added :)

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he's a lovely looking horse... does sound like it was too much for his brain today tho :(

how old is he? and what has he done up to now? What I'm meaning, I guess, is could you put today down to him being young/inexperienced and hope that he'll get better with time and practice?
 
He is 11 years old, and has pointed for two seasons in Ireland so I had assumed he had hunted before :D I have just texted Spacefaer and asked her whether she would bother trying again :p The Ledbury are out again on Monday, might be able to get there :D
 
ahh... I've found from experience that horse who have hunted in Ireland do tend to be a bit more exciteable than those who've only hunted here. I'm sure someone will contradict me, but thats my experience. They seem to do a lot more fast and furious than we do!
 
When you say pointed! Do you mean point to pointed? Because it's likely that as a point to pointer in Ireland he never saw hounds and never hunted!!!

My horse is always a bit excitable at the beginning of the season but calms down after a couple of meets.

I would suggest taking him out again, a few more times if you can!!!! Hopefully he will calm down!
 
Yes I meant point to pointed - but really???!! I had assumed it worked like in England where they had to hunt to qualify?

I might well be trying him again next Saturday then :D
 
In my experience most hunts over here will just give you the certs. Most hunts don't encourage pointer to pointers out hunting.

Some trainers do send their horses out but majority prefer not to.
 
Oooo that is interesting! Maybe I am being unkind to Bob then... I am really unsure whether to try again or not, I am not bothered by his behaviour but he did get SO wound up I am not sure it would be fair to him?

That is very fluffy bunny of me isnt it :p
 
errrr I qualified mine over here a few years ago and she barely saw hounds...I wouldn't say that was unusual...not right but not unusual!

ets everything else I've qualified hunted properly - often more than they needed to but this particular mare was nuts!
 
CareyR said:
Oooo that is interesting! Maybe I am being unkind to Bob then... I am really unsure whether to try again or not, I am not bothered by his behaviour but he did get SO wound up I am not sure it would be fair to him?

That is very fluffy bunny of me isnt it :p
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Try him a few more times! Patience! Some horses get really wound up and soon settle, I know it might be a pain but even if you only bring him out for 20mins again and get 5 minutes of peace he might just learn to settle down. TB's do tend to be more highly strung.
 
If you really want to hunt all season then..... drugs! I'm sure I've said this on here before, but potassium bromide worked wonders on my old pony who behaved in a very similar manner to Bob! The vet gave it to me. You feed it on a daily basis and it has a cumulative effect. It chilled mine out enough to make hunting bearable, and by the end of a season hunting weekly he was a dab hand and he didn't need the stuff the next season.
 
They don't have to hunt here to qualify for pointing. The hunter certs actually state that the master has seen them safely school over fences in a satisfactory manner. Majority of masters would never even see this. You pay the money, you get the cert. It's basically a money spinner for the hunts and some charge more than others
 
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