Conformation Critique/experience with OTTBs as field hunters?

[danceronice]

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I’m hunting for my next horse. I have this urge to try field hunting (my last horse was an OTTB who never quite got over the first “T” in there and would not have been safe going in a large group of horses) as something I could do that would be fun, involve dressing up me and the horse, isn’t showing hunter/jumper or dressage, and involves going out cross-country without actually having to jump huge unbreakable obstacles if I don’t want to.

I stumbled across this boy on the FLTAP trainer listings. I like his looks, I like that he’s unstarted at five and sound, and that he’s recommended for someone who wants a “less spirited” mount. (Being a racing fan and having written advertisements for real estate, I read between the lines of that ad as the trainer saying “This horse wouldn’t run if we stuck a firecracker under his tail and lit the fuse.”) For those who hunt: does anything about him jump out as particularly suitable or unsuitable as a hunter? Also, does anyone have any advice on, once an OTTB is going reasonably under saddle, introducing him to the hunt field?

(And no, this doesn’t mean I’m taking my brother up on his suggestion that we take a vacation to Ireland and ride with the Galway Blazers. See above about jumping huge scary obstacles.)

[Ray]

hunting is so much fun, by all means, give it a try. I would suggest that you get out there on a made hunt horse, to see what its all about.

Its just a crap shoot as to whether any horse will hunt. That horse looks like a fine candidate, could be a fun project. to get him started, get him trained well on the basics, and then take him trail riding, alot, to see how he reacts to stuff. Once he can go for a gallop in company and not lose it, and is OK with other horses coming close, and you can be sure he is OK around hounds, take him roading with a hunt. And by all means, be in touch with your local hunt, chances are good the staff or a member will be happy to give you some advice if you are a prospective member. Doesnt hurt to get started now, go walk hounds, help with territory, observe the hunts, you can learn alot and earn some good hunt karma

[lesbrill54]

well, yes-hunting is a lot of fun but agree with the previous poster-if you haven’t hunted, do it first on an experienced horse. As for confirmation- the most important part does not show up in a photo- the brain. And its not the same as slow. OTTBs in my experience, make great hunt horses-its not as exciting as racing- but getting them that far along can be sort of exciting. good luck.

[Bogie]

I hunt an OTTB and he’s great. Teaching him that he didn’t have to be first in a group of horses took about 2 years but once he figured it out, he was fine. This horse may not have had any starts but he was most likely in training, so you will have some racing “triggers.” In the OTTBs that I’ve owned, they are different. While my gelding would throw a tantrum if asked to follow another horse my mare would react when a horse galloped up behind her.

Here’s something I wrote after being asked by a number of people if their horses were suitable for hunting. Hope it helps.
[URL=“http://www.equineproductsreview.com/?q=content/your-horse-ready-hunt”]
Is your horse ready to hunt?

[ab06]

I think he looks great for hunting and a steal of a deal. But for the record, I’ve spent the last 3 years in the hunt field on a horse I thought was tailor made for hunting. Super quiet, never kicked, never spooked, etc. He still doesn’t kick or spook, but quiet? He’s part QH in a field of OTTB’s and darn near the biggest maniac out there. He’s finally hit his stride this year and settled in, but never again. From here on out, it’s made hunt horses for me.

[danceronice]

I definitely can’t afford to buy a made hunter (plus, rather like dogs, I feel guilty buying purpose-bred and trained anything when I can pick up a greenie who might end up someplace bad)! If I bought him and it turned out he couldn’t, for some reason, handle hunting, I could find him another job. My other current window-shopping favorite (who unfortunately I’d have to make a VERY fast decision on) is [url=http://www.canterne.org/images-salehorses/VolcanicForce.jpg this guy. 16hh, 6 years old, ‘wear and tear’ on an ankle, and he HAS been racing, including G III (just at Suffolk, but still.) My last horse was another retired not because he didn’t want to race but for injury, so I’m leery of horses who actually LIKED their job at the track. I think my boy was twelve and had been off track for eight years the time I was riding out in our hayfield and he decided the flat strip along the side was a good place for breezing out a quarter. (Fortunately he remembered the racetrack signal for ‘stop’ before we got to a fence.)

How would one go about catching a ride on someone’s hunter? There aren’t any hunt clubs in my immediate area (at least none on the link from the sticky thread here) and of COURSE the one nearest to me on the MFHA site link is the one in Michigan without a web site (Battle Creek.) Of the other two, Waterloo is plausible but a long drive and Metamora is probably four hours away.

[Bogie]

@danceronice;4488626

How would one go about catching a ride on someone’s hunter? There aren’t any hunt clubs in my immediate area (at least none on the link from the sticky thread here) and of COURSE the one nearest to me on the MFHA site link is the one in Michigan without a web site (Battle Creek.) Of the other two, Waterloo is plausible but a long drive and Metamora is probably four hours away.

Most of the time if you contact a hunt they can tell you if anyone in the hunt leases horses. Some trainers offer a day rate.

My current OTTB was a successful racehorse. He did like his job and it did take some retraining to teach him a new one. However, good race horses are rated when they are raced so they understand more than just “run like hell.” My boy is probably more responsive to the idea that he must stay in the field than some of the non ex-racehorses that I see go tearing by me!

[Beverley]

Shoot, at that price I’d snap him up and give him a try. I might be prejudiced, though, I had an OTTB who broke his maiden at Finger Lakes- hunted him from ages 8 to 20.

[danceronice]

Well, now to complicate matters, a trainer just cut the price on Lucky to Cope, another FL Finest, to less than Carr Ride. (Equineline is also showing Carr Ride not unraced, but unplaced in 9 starts.)

Now I’m really torn. If I were not working this weekend I would honestly think about zipping over to Finger Lakes to look at both of them. My gut still says Carr Ride would be a better choice.

Anyone know anyone with the Battle Creek hunt? Or know a hunt within a not unreasonable drive of the South Bend area that has someone who would lease or loan a packer for someone to give hunting a try? (Also, if I did that, would I need to go out and buy a black hunt coat, shirt with stock tie, etc for a trial run? My old navy coat probably is too big, and my other coat is hunter green, and all my shirts are ratcatchers. Somewhere I have an ASTM velvet hat, but it’s one of the old-school “mushroom” ones that I hate wearing…is a velvet cover on a Troxel schooling helmet horrible form if you’re just…capping, is it called…to see if you like it?)

[Beverley]

I don’t offhand know anyone at Battle Creek, Metamora, yes, but I would expect you could call the secretary and inquire as to whether anyone rents out hirelings- and ask about attire at the same time. I would expect they’d be happy to have you give it a try with the apparel you have on hand. Many hunts- including Arapahoe, whose Master Marvin Beeman is president of the MFHA, have in their literature only a requirement for appropriate riding boots and protective headgear for those wanting to give the sport a try.

Shoot, at those prices, why don’t you just buy both horses.

[danceronice]

Lol, the purchase price, alas, is the EASY part–I have to pay to ship from Finger Lakes (my Dad is fine about coming down to help me with home repairs, but I think “Let’s hitch up the trailer we haven’t moved in ten years and haul it across Ontario to New York to load up an OTTB I just bought” would probably not go down so well, and I can’t drive the rig myself), plus board around here for TWO horses would mean little/no money left for hunting! And I suspect asking to dump one in my parents’ pasture would get me even more of a stinkeye as I live three hours away and would not be able to get up there every day. (Bad enough that once I have one down here I’ll be asking Dad to replant his hayfield so I can have a backup source…it’s not like our neighbor won’t cut and bale it for a share of the hay…)

Believe me, for $600 and $800, the thought crossed my mind–if the boarding prices where he lives weren’t absolute extortion, I would probably be able to talk my brother into buying Carr Ride for himself, even if he is “too short” for my brother’s taste.

Maybe someone will buy one of them before I make up my mind and solve my problem for me…

[Hotspur]

From Metamora

I’m from Metamora Hunt and I suggest that you consider visiting us for a weekend if you can. We have a member that is a wonderful trainer and has hunt horses for lease.

Do not worry too much about your turn out! As a Capper, there is much leaway with us.

PM me is you are interested.

Hotspur
Metamora Hunt

[Huntin_Fool]

Hey, I’ve started three OTTB’s (and am certainly no trainer). In my opinion TBs are the very best hunt horses-and I know there are lots who disagree;-). BUT they can be a handful until they settle down. You sounded like an experienced rider and if you’ve already dealt w/the TB personality and sensitivity then you know what I mean.

Yeah, it 's nice to have a made horse and yes buying a horse to save it doesn’t always work out-but sometimes it does especially if you do your research and have a good feel for the animal. That said there are horses who are absolutely fine everywhere-except on the hunt field and unfortunately there’s nothing quite like hunting but hunting.

So I say give it a shot. If you’re buying a green horse there’s never a guarantee it’ll work anyway. Just bring the horse along slowly and if it doesn’t work admit it and go on. I bet it’ll work out!

Regrards,
Huntin’Fool

[maunder]

I updated Carr Ride’s bio to state that he’s not placed instead of “never raced”.

Sorry about the confusion. We’ll be out at the track today listing more lovelies.

[sisu27]

No advice other than to say he is cute Go get him!