Would hunting send my horse crazy?

[Ziggy_]

This is kind of inspired by a thread I saw in CR. Basically I was hoping to try hunting this year with a few mates from my yard, my horse went a few times as a youngster but I've never been. I thought she would be a good horse to take as she is brave but careful and I feel very safe on her.

Thing is, she is very excitable, forward going and very competitive with other horses. She is a good jumper but very bold already, and after reading a few threads I'm wondering if hunting will turn her into an absolute head case...

Does anyone here hunt this type of horse successfully? And by successfully, I mean without dying/being yelled at?

Honest opinions please!!

 

[Ziggy_]

I should add that she just doesn't 'do' standing still... at road junctions out hacking we have to keep walking backwards and forwards a few steps at a time so that her feet are always moving!!

 

[Starbucks]

My horse, Badger, is pretty strong/fast/bold XC, cantering in company etc. but I totally love hunting him!

He is very level headed though, as I suspect your mare might be if you feel safe on her.

He is strong hunting, he just loves to gallop, especially with lots of his mates! He has looked after me completely for 3 seasons though and I find if you ever have to gallop past the field master, if you shout "Sorrrreeee!!!" and offer them a drink after they soon forgive you! We have very trappy country with lots of big stone walls and stuff, people normally have smaller, chunkier types than Badge but he manages just fine. No way has it made him jump flat, like someone said in the CR post. In fact when I'm doing XC at events now it doesn't even cross my mind that he's hit anything, I know he will look after himself and me. It's just a shame he can tell the difference between a show jump and a solid fence!

I have hunted a lot of horses and I think I can tell now if they are going to be dangerous or not now. My dads TB has done a few scary things with me on hacks/XC as did my old horse who scared the life out of me when I took him hunting. It's like they loose the plot in the moment of excitment/fear and don't think for their own safety. They are the kind of horses you don't want to take hunting.

I think you should give it a go.