is this a mad or quite good plan?

[Alameda]

so am finally (after a quite long time) just about relaxing and enjoying the pony who used to rodeo and am thinking hunting, although at present if he is out with more than one horse he does buckaroo a bit although can sort of hold him and it is more sweet that he is excited than bad old days of bolting and doing rapid-fire bucks culminating in an actual handstand

but can work on this over summer and get him fit, then maybe get someone v experienced to take him out for literally just an hour or so every now and then during morning hunting and if that goes ok try taking him myself?

I think it should suit him, although I thought it would suit my horse and the consensus was eventually no, it frazzled his brain and it took a whole to get him right again . Am I overlooking anything important or does this seem like a good project? I need fog oaks and Project Love That Pony is working v well so far

[Alameda]

what? What are fog oaks? Why?

[Pixel]

Ha ha at you wanting him 'fit'.

That's a vote for MAD btw, but then as you know I'm a massive wimp .

[Alameda]

I know, I know I know! Not you being a wimp, the wanting him fit.

But he is my new pocket rocket now, he has got big shoes to fill, when horse retires (although obvs technically barefoot).

[Abbicob]

Nooooooooooooo - do not do this.
You are already struggling with behaviour a bit and have in the past and you may find that as the horse gets fitter this may get worse again.

You will not be welcomed at the hunt with an out of control horse.

[Alameda]

they were really lovely about the last one, gave me a list of quieter more open meets (and a list of ones we were less welcome at, haha)

I will be happy just hacking forever though, it was just a thought

[Callisto]

Hunting is great education for a horse and I would say Do It! But make sure you have good brakes and steering! Also, you don't need to get him hunting fit if you're just going out for an hour or two to start with. Personally, I would take him cubbing first - more relaxed and smaller field.

[Mirage]

Could you take him hound exercising? That is a lot lower key and may ease him in gently.They start around August here,so not too long to go.

[SaggyCeratops]

You're a mad bugger, aren't you??

[Treblesallround]

Go on, you know you want to

[horseylady]

Agree hound exercise. Hunting tends to kill or cure. It is superb education if they dont blow thier brains. Good luck finding someone willing to take him though?! I hope you have brilliant insurance and pay well :)

Plus I'd never hunt barefoot!!

[MoonlightandRoses]

Don't know the background, but sounds as though he's been a spot 'challenging' in the past?

Agree with getting an experienced rider to take him on some quiet runs out first - our mid-week hunt is intended for novice horses &/or riders and the week-end one is most definitely not. You'll also then get a unbiased opinion as to whether he's too hot to hunt.

If the hound exercise runs don't suit, maybe consider some paired hunter trialling in September before the season starts? It's good for seeing how he goes with a horse in front, and for trying different bits out - my favourite for the lively ones when hunting is using a three ring with roundings - you don't have to swing out of them then, but there is a little extra control.

[Butkin]

Going out Autumn Hunting (or whatever they call cubbing now) is probably a good plan but you don't need to be too fit for that and I'd actually counsel being unfit would be a good idea. They soon tighten up once they have been out a few times and you'll only be out for less than 2 hours and mostly standing around.

Of course you will need to know he'll stand by himself in a line (my old boy hated this so I waited until proper hunting started).

[Alameda]

oh thanks everyone, nice range of things to think about and all v helpful

August is still a while away so plenty of time to test my new feelings of security and see if it still feels like a good idea?

even if the most I can hope for is just to hack him most days for years to come will still consider myself very lucky to have him :)

[horseylady]

Not sure where you are but two if our local hunts start their 'ambles' in June. Really really gentle, steady pace (pretty much walk and trot) but they get the horses to understand working in a group etc. And you don't have the hounds to contend with. I agree with the fitness thing too!! They don't need a huge level of fitness to cope, and the reason they start this early is to get the hunt horses fit again (and raise money!!)

[Alameda]

Suffolk, quite a choice but I know where I was made very welcome on my unruly beast last year

[Butkin]

We have an Autumn meet at our stables for the Suffolk. Will watch out for a wild child!

[Alameda]

ah how shameful, at least he isn't pink and sparkly anymore!

[MoonlightandRoses]

You tried to hunt a My Little Pony ? Not surprised you had trouble.

[Alameda]

haha no, I tried to hunt a brown horse - now I am contemplating giving the My Little Pony a perfect opportunity for revenge after I dyed him pink a coupe of years ago . . . (he looked great, eventually, once we got past the flayed alive stage of the dye)

[MoonlightandRoses]

oh the joys...

[Alameda]

ok so that's settled then, and have found someone willing to take him the first few times if necessary (more for shame management, nobody will get cross with her as she is an Important Person but they might think am taking the piss if I show up with an even crazier pony?)

still plenty of time to get him used to going out in groups and show him some ditches (wibble)

[MoonlightandRoses]

Yay (and don't forget the drains, walls, drops, double-ditches, hedges and banks...)

[Alameda]

we don't encounter many of those scarier things round here, I don't know, Butkin might correct me (I could be in denial?) - our territories overlap a bit but Suffolk is pretty much Suffolk, plough and ditches. I just like the bits where you go like the clappers and not the bits where everyone is shouting 'loose horse' and you realise it's yours and you are face down in some dirt and your hat has come off etc

excited, so is the consensus that do not need to get him fit? we won't be going out three times a week for a full day, just now and then when I can afford it/hack there/scrounge a lift

[MoonlightandRoses]

All part of the fun - it's why foot followers tend to gather near things like river drops and some of the muddier ditches .

Can't wait for the season start again now.

Definitely doesn't need to be fully fighting fit - pulling out early with a tired horse is preferable to finding yourself past the hounds and well into the next county on a fit one...

[Alameda]

eeek

let's not think about THAT