Will hunting make my horse a headless chicken xc?

[Cruiseonamiro]

Been talking about going hunting, though i've never been before. From the people i've spoken to, there seem to be several schools of thought on hunting. The first is that, it'll teach him self preservation etc - and he's been before, it was all he did from a four year old in ireland. The second is that unless you take him regualrly, once a week, fro example, it might make him a headless chicken. What do you guys think? I'm concerned about legs, and ettiquette and stuff because i've never been before, but in the same respect I think it might make the winter more interesting for him, because he's not had a winter where he's not goine hunting since he was backed. Dilemma!

 

[Enfys]

The first took I took my arabs they almost blew their brains, the second time they had it sussed and acted like old timers. If we were at a Meet or covert they stood still, cocked a leg and dozed, they both absolutely loved it.

It didn't make any difference to their behaviour at home, no injuries other than normal nicks and scrapes that they could have got anywhere.

If your horse has hunted, he'll know the game already and will probably be fine. Not hunting isn't going to make any difference to him, he won't wake up and think "Oh,winter time , should be hunting!"

As for etiquette, there are plenty of threads on that in here. Basically,leave the bling at home, don't let him kick or run over anyone (hound, horse or human), give way to anyone in Hunt Livery, say Good Morning, Good Night and Thankyou in the right places, introduce yourself, tuck in behind someone who knows what they are about, and where they are going, and you'll be fine.

Happy Hunting.

 

[stencilface]

..... to add to the above post - look out for the inevitable loose horses, bolting horses and people who have absolutely no control. Only been hunting once and it was a falling off bonanza, very amusing but not something I want to practise myself!!!!

 

[Thistle]

W hunted most weekends from when she was 4 to 9, it was all she did apart from the odd bit of 'boys' PC.

B also hunted her some weekends for the 3 seasons. W then developed an eye problem that is aggravated by cold, wind, rain etc - mostly what you get whilst hunting.

I strongly believe that the hunting was very good for them both, it taught them both balance, self preservation and stickability.

If the weather if a bit grey and dull and the meet is near by they will still go out for a few hours. For W it makes her day!

Trouble is nowadays B has saturday school and with the eventing it's hard to fit it all in.

We are planning to take F out sometime as soon as we can manage it.

 

[kit279]

That really really depends on the horse. If the horse is a little bit lazy and backs off his fences and is generally not very forward and a little cowardly, hunting can really perk them up and make them enjoy themselves much more. A good hunter is the sort of horse that follows, one who might need a lead over a scary fence or was a bit iffy about ditches etc. I would argue that that kind of horse will rarely make a top eventer - for that, you want a very bold leader type of horse and for those kind of horses, hunting can blow their brains, harden up their mouths and teach them to jump flat without really looking where they're going as well as ignore you totally! So for me, it very much depends on the horse - FWIW, I'll be hunting my bone idle chestnut but I think hunting would ruin my grey and he's by far the better eventer.

 

[Groom42]

Come to ours! Dec 4th.

 

[Starbucks]

[ QUOTE ]
A good hunter is the sort of horse that follows, one who might need a lead over a scary fence or was a bit iffy about ditches etc. I would argue that that kind of horse will rarely make a top eventer.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sorry but I think that is completely wrong!!! A good hunter is one that will jump anything safely, infront or behind. I think there are a few field masters etc. who have "good hunters" who don't need a lead over a scary fence or a ditch!!

in reply to OP - I don't know what you are worried about, he's been a lot before and he is probably such a good boy because of it.

I'm sure you will love it!

 

[Bossanova]

I hunt Moon when I can find a suitable meet.
She xcs in a snaffle and hunting was the making of her as a young horse