What to aim for?

chesnutty

chesnutty

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So, last Monday I took Harvey (17.2/3 Irish Sports Horse) for my first riding lesson in 13 years. I chose an instructor that comes out hunting, hoping that when we are both out she can give me some pointers!
I was extremely nervous, wondering what to expect. When we first arrived she asked me what my plans were, and to be honest I had never even thought about it! His main job will always be to hunt, so whatever I do with him is just a sideline.. but I started to think.. is he too big for show jumping? Has he got the stamina to event? Do I have the stamina to event?!
So, without knowing our end goal.. we started. He is such a giant, he really needs to supple up and get bending so that's where we start. We just did some basic walk and trot working - circles, transitions and leg yielding. I have to say.. I loved every second. I was knackered, felt like I'd been to the gym, but I really did enjoy it. So much so, our next one is booked for this evening - I have never had a slower day at work!
I really do want to spend our summer together, and doing something productive, but I still have no idea what. Someone help! Whatever we do, I have no idea where to start...
 
Getting him going correctly will make for a better hunter and should help prolong his working life so that is your first aim.
If he can hunt he will more than likely have the stamina to event at low level, that is a realistic aim for any horse , they are required to have the basics in all 3 disciplines so a good goal to aim for getting out to a few dressage, SJ and xc comps to see how they go with the view to putting it all together at an event later on if all goes well.

Have a plan, it can be flexible, if you have something to aim for who knows what you may achieve, and even if you do not get there it will be fun learning along the way.
 
Plan to school him to the point he can do the top end of the novice tests or bottom of the elems and everything else you want to do will be so much easier.

It would also let you keep competing on surfaces, because if it gets rock hard in the summer a big horse would not want hammering on the hard.
 
I do have serious issues with breaks out hunting, will all the schooling help with those too?

I've been riding him since October, but have not done much jumping with him out hunting (only when I have to), partly my own nerves and partly because he is so clumsy - worried because I can't take my time with it when hunting. He did cross country through the Summer last year (his owners sent him for schooling), and I have done some with him when not hunting and he has a good look before he jumps but never refuses. Do you think a hunter can moonlight in dressage and showjumping?
 
chesnutty said:
I do have serious issues with breaks out hunting, will all the schooling help with those too?

I've been riding him since October, but have not done much jumping with him out hunting (only when I have to), partly my own nerves and partly because he is so clumsy - worried because I can't take my time with it when hunting. He did cross country through the Summer last year (his owners sent him for schooling), and I have done some with him when not hunting and he has a good look before he jumps but never refuses. Do you think a hunter can moonlight in dressage and showjumping?
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Schooling should help with the brakes, from your first post I had thought he was an established hunter that knew his job and jumped well already, I would get the flatwork well established, aim to do some dressage, have lessons where you start to do some jumping at the end to build up confidence and get him using himself properly, the flatwork will make him more able to pick up his feet and concentrate on the job required.
 
Thank you be positive, I can only have lessons in the evenings whilst it is dark so we will be concentrating on flatwork for a good few weeks before the jumping starts anyway.

I will go tonight, loaded with my first aim - to get to novice level dressage tests comfortably.
 
You must have nerves of steel to ride 17.3 of unschooled horse flesh out hunting ! I expect you have got used to him hanging on your hand and ploughing a furrow on his forehand. You will have a lovely feeling and enjoy him so much more if he was schooled. You will also preserve his working life by getting him off his front end.

I had a pure ID heavyweight who was 18h. He was blessed with some natural balance and learnt very quickly during his lessons. He went to medium and was a joy to ride. I didn't hunt him much because I got fed of being swiped off by branches and banging my knees in tight gaps, plus he was a show hunter so I wanted to keep him in one piece.

I always had the last laugh when people referred to him as a boat or barge before they rode him. They got off and changed it to Rolls Royce.
 
chesnutty said:
Thank you be positive, I can only have lessons in the evenings whilst it is dark so we will be concentrating on flatwork for a good few weeks before the jumping starts anyway.

I will go tonight, loaded with my first aim - to get to novice level dressage tests comfortably.
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Good for you and a tip, don't shy away from the tests in 60 x 20. People think they are more difficult tests, but on a big horse you need the space. Lengthened strides in 20 x 40 is tricky. My lad was 2 strides to balance, lengthen for a nano second and 2 strides to the next corner and hope you got around the corner in the boards.
 
chesnutty said:
Thank you very much for your advice. I will keep you in mind for future - if you don't mind!
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Pleasure to help you, but Be Positive is better than me so would also be a great help to you.

It can be done. We have a horse on loan at the moment, my friend lost his horse recently and took on a 9 year old 18hh, the horse has only ever hunted with MFH or huntsman. All it could do was go in a straight line, fast, and jump.

The first schooling session went like this - grunt grunt groan, tail swish, hump, nap, grunt, hump, baby rumble, big rumble, get off please, get off I mean it, splat. That was October, last weekend he was 2nd and 3rd in prelim tests with 68%. Yesterday he was 5th on 66%, unfortunately he could hear dogs barking in someone's lorry and put in a few inattentive moments - you know, sideways giraffe impressions !

Good luck with your big lad.
 
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