First Hunter Pace

[crazybootlady]

WOW. I am hooked on pacing for sure. It was such fun! Everyone in attendance was exceptionally nice. Titan was wonderful, and I can’t wait to go again!

I was invited more than once to come hound exercising in the summer, attend the paces, and come cap in the fall, and subscribe if I wish.

If I were to say, make this my goal, to fox hunt, on my horse, what things should I be concentrating on as far as his training?

I am crazy excited and hoping to go to another pace next weekend with another green horse as a partner, which means we will be able to take the time to work on issues such as teaching Titan to deal with being behind another horse.

Cute Titan pic on my blog (link in sig). I’d love to keep everyone updated on our progress via the blog, follow if you wish, I’m sure there will be at least one funny story to tell as we start our new journey.

[Kodiak]

In a lot of ways, foxhunting is like riding a hunter pace course with a group of strange horses, your horse has to stay in the middle of the group or even the back without crowding or kicking, and there are likely to be random dogs popping out of the bushes and running under/up past your horse. Sometimes, you’ll also need to back off the edge of the trail and allow another horse to trot or canter past. Those are basic skills needed for all fields, so you have plenty to practice on trails this summer.

When attending hound exercise (or hunting for the first while), I strongly recommend going with someone who’ll stay with you and help you train your horse regardless of what the rest of the group is doing. A lot of horses get excited and very forward, but it’s a huge no-no (like, not get invited back) to ride among or pass the hounds or staff. I’ve seen a lot of people try to keep their excited, new-to-hunting horse behind the hounds and get bucked off when the horse has had enough of being held back. Go with a babysitter or two, keep your distance, and gradually get closer to the action.

If you horse is food motivated, there’s nothing wrong with a pocked full of cookies to reinforce good behavior. Enjoy yourself and the journey–common wisdom is that it takes at least a couple seasons of regular hunting to make a good hunt horse.

[Bogie]

It’s a good idea to follow a hunt or two on foot/car to watch the action before you ride. Then you know what to expect.

In your blog post you mentioned that your horse got antsy going behind . . . that’s something you’ll need to work on because you will ride at the back of the field and you will need to keep your horse from running up on the horse in front of you.

I worked with my current hunt horse for a LONG time on the necessity of not always being first. As a successful racehorse, it took him a while to grasp the concept! When you’re at a hunter pace or out trail riding, practice by switching off who goes first and who gets to follow. My horse would literally throw a tantrum at first, but he figured it out and now he goes where he’s told. Okay, he does get a lot of loft in his gaits if he’s held back, but he doesn’t crowd the horse in front.

[crazybootlady]

Thanks. I am planning on doing a lot of work with him about being okay with horses in front of him, and remaining calm and walking/trotting/paying attention even if another horse gallops off.

I read the revamped hunt website of this hunt after I had posted… and they reinforced that the HALT and the ability to halt at any time is the most important gait of a hunter. So we will be working on that as well. If we have to hilltop all season, then hilltop again during the beginning of next and then start moving up, I will remember that I am on my horse’s timeline depending on his comfort level.

[jawa]

One nice aspect to the halt of a great hunt horse, you can drop your reins or at least give them several inches of slack and they will still stand. If you have to maintain contact on your horse to halt and remain at a halt, imagine what it will be like when you add excitement.

A check/halt out hunting can last less than a nano second or it can last upwards of 30 minutes (those are not the good days). They can happen after a walk, trot, canter or after gallop. It’s nice if your horse will learn to take a nap during this time.

If your horse isn’t used to being around dogs while being ridden, that’s a good first step before being around 30 or more hounds that are darting here and there.

Play leap frog at all the paces to get your horse used to following. Playing leap frog with LOTS of horses at one time will really get your horse ok with any position in the field.

This was posted in an earlier thread. You may find some of the exercises helpful and you may get an idea of some of the things expected of you out hunting.

Enjoy the Kool Aid!!!

[BeastieSlave]

My horse and I were both new to hunting last fall. Yes, the check was the one aspect we were not prepared for. My guy was a rock star in all other aspects, but I never appreciated how we hadn’t ever really just stood mounted for any length of time - and there was WAY more standing than I expected! He halted easily, but it stressed him terribly to just stand and that meant we ended up having to ride at the rear (behind the kicking pony).

We’ve been working on checks at home. I board my horses at the hunt and there are many opportunities to hack out on long trails alone and with friends. We stop and stand often now and that does occasionally involve treats I expect he’ll be vastly improved by the fall. I’m looking forward to many enjoyably hunts (away from the rascal pony).

[BeastieSlave]

My horse and I were both new to hunting last fall. Yes, the check was the one aspect we were not prepared for. My guy was a rock star in all other aspects, but I never appreciated how we hadn’t ever really just stood mounted for any length of time - and there was WAY more standing than I expected! He halted easily, but it stressed him terribly to just stand and that meant we ended up having to ride at the rear (behind the kicking pony).

We’ve been working on checks at home. I board my horses at the hunt and there are many opportunities to hack out on long trails alone and with friends. We stop and stand often now and that does occasionally involve treats I expect he’ll be vastly improved by the fall. I’m looking forward to enjoyably hunts (away from the rascal pony).

[jodyjumper]

Throw them in the mix! barring severe misbehavior, you know what you need to work on. A mare I thought was a total ditz in the ring turned out to be an easy Foxhunter–it takes a special kind of horse.

[The_Anonymous_Foxhun]

Many excellent suggestions.

I would add that you might consider riding in the second flight, rather than hilltopping, as some horses do better if they are moving along a bit. Of course, consult members of your hunt to find out how the different flights are handled. The third flight with one pack I follow routinely hand gallops where necessary to keep up. Others are walk, trot only and practically follow parliamentary procedure, as they are so structured. And some will require more standing around than others. All of this might vary by the fixture, too, so keep practicing all summer, and ask lots of questions as the hunt meets get closer.

Have fun!

#AFH

[jodyjumper]

There’s a short video on rockyforkheadleyhunt.com which shows what you need to ride in third field (walk/trot)