So we went on our first hunter pace this past Saturday and my guy was mostly fantastic. He jumped everything I put him to, whether it was something he’d seen before or not. He held up to the 6 miles pretty well and was game for all we did and wanted more. We did hilltop so mostly kept to walk/trot with a few canter/gallops thrown in. The big problem I ran into was when my team mate went over the fence and I wanted the go around my horse got very upset. When we followed my team mate over the fence he rushed and was not able to be held back well. He does get a little excited over fences at home, but nothing like this. I never have trouble at home with him frantically trying to follow another horse. The rushing I can and am working on. I put a fence in the middle of the ring, sometime we go over, sometimes we turn away a stride out. sometimes we do figure 8’s in front of it etc. Lots of exercises focusing on him listening to direction. I will be doing a LOT more of this. I’m not really sure how to work on him getting so upset about my team mate going one way and us going another though as he is not this way at home. I would like to go do more of this so would like to work on it. it’s been offered to go with them while they road the hounds. There’s also a hunter pace in October and the hunts start after labor day. He goes in a regular snaffle, with no martingale. I do plan on trying a slow twist which is what his old owner had him in. My trainer suggested we might try a running martingale as well. His saddle has been professionally fitted. His teeth are done, he gets massages every three weeks, has been vetted, had hock injections. I have physically done all anyone can find. So it’s down to behavior. Sorry about the book… any advice is appreciated!
When you come to the jumps, how about you go first? That way you decide to jump it, or do the go around…also, while many disagree with bitting up to something stronger, I think putting him in something a little stronger-but that he is used to, wouldn’t hurt, either. You and your partner can also alternate leading/following, that is good for the horses to accept as well.
I’ve been hunter pacing for 30 years-on various horses, some take them as ho hum, just another ride, while a few get a bit hot with all the “excitement”…of course, also question yourself-nervous? calm? Remember they always know YOUR mood:winkgrin:
We did alternate a couple time, but not a ton and not to any fences. My trainer suggested bitting up a couple times at home just so it’s not a total shock then only using it when we’re out. He always get a little hot jumping. I was definitely nervous and honestly fatigued by time we were done. I did my best to stay calm and cool and try to keep breathing and relaxing… lol!
For my horse that would rush jumps, I would use one fence to jump, nothing too big. And then jump the fence, come to a halt, turn and jump the same fence from the opposite direction, then halt and turn and jump again. As soon as the halts became easier, I’d work on the same drill, but walk up to the fence, a few strides out trot, jump, halt, turn to approach the same jump from the opposite direction and repeat.
As soon as I get some relaxation and ho-hum about the fence we go and do something different, whether it’s have a relaxed walk around the ring or to go on a trail ride.
I am also careful to not do full courses very often. I will jump one or two jumps and then come down to a walk and relax a moment and then gather back together to do another jump or two.
Have you jumped him following another horse at home? Keeping him 3-4 strides back, increasing the distance sometimes, not taking the jump others, having him halt and then trot to the jump? If you haven’t asked him to do these things at home, it can be really hard for him to understand away from home.
Playing leap frog on the trail can create an independent (from other horses) mind and also give you a chance to play with changes of pace even if the other horse is going faster or slower.
I agree bitting up can help. There are many other stimuli away from home and you may need to turn up the volume of your aids to get him to HEAR you. Depending on his evasion, a running martingale can help. Be sure that you try both at home before riding away from home with them. If you can try to recreate some of the excitement at home, that would be great as it will give you a chance to see how he responds to the new tack.
This is one of those things that newbies don’t anticipate, so really good that you know to work on this now, as often you have horses jumping in front of you and a hound or two will cut in and you have to wait. Or wait for staff. Anyway, see if you can take him to a cross counrty schooling, or go out with a friend and have them jump while you stand and wait. Really, field hunters must learn to stand and wait, very important and hard for herd animals. They will learn that they are not being left. Standing around while others jump is a good way to prepare. Just try to loosen your reins and be very chill. Hard, I know!
It’s not uncommon for horses to get worked up when their friend goes first. Here are a couple of things you can try:
- Alternate leading with the other horse. That way if you don’t want to jump, you won’t be left behind.
- Stay close behind the horse that’s leading so your horse doesn’t feel “left”
- Ask the rider of the other horse to trot to the fences so you can approach it in a more controlled fashion. It’s easier to control the rate of the trot through posting, so you won’t feel like you are always on your horse’s mouth.
- Jump the same fence multiple times (if another team isn’t right behind you) so that the jump becomes ho hum.
- Practice at home jumping in front of/behind other horses. It’s really something that you need to teach. Even my laid back draft x gets worked up if she feels like she’s missing out!
The importance of being able to NOT jump a fence unless you are ready can be due to: hounds unforeseen until the last possible moment, a rider who made it over the fence, but the horse didn’t, getting cut off at the fence by a rider who has NO control over the horse in question as they approach the fence. I have experienced all of these and on the rider without control, I do believe I said loud enough for the rider to hear me, “REALLY!” Of course in that instance, since I had control, I had to circle back and jump again…the person without control’s horse balked at the coop, but cut me off in the process…REALLY!!!
Jawa, happened to me too. The rider just shrugged and said “he really likes being in front.” Clueless. Result being everyone hated her but of course no one said anything. That’s what happens. People think hunt members will scold them but in reality they will get the big freeze if they don’t even try to learn the ropes.
Thanks for all the great advice! I did try the slow twist and it worked fabulously at home. I’ll be going back to the plain snaffle at home and bitting up to the slow twist when we’re away. My trainer is the only other boarder at the stable and she disagrees with schooling following her horse and stopping, turning away, or jumping at times. So, while I understand the logic behind that, I won’t have the ability to school that. I am planning to go cross country schooling next month. I feel like he was using her horse as a security blanket and got frantic when he felt they were seperating. Thanks!
There are other exercises that can help create an independent mind.
Playing leap frog at each pace.
Have her horse halt and you keep walking forward, then progress to trot and canter. Then you halt and allow her horse to catch up. Go a bit together and then switch.
Ride in the opposite direction of her, working through all the paces as your horse becomes confident.
Ride out alone. Ride out alone someplace new.
Get your horse out on as many group trail rides as you can, even if they are just walk and talk rides. This will help your horse to become calm about seeing new horses and new places.
