Hilltopping a horse with bench knees?

[commonfish]

Hello all, first time poster here! Hang with me here, I’ve got several questions.

I am a bit interested in trying my hand at foxhunting, but I have several limitations and concerns, which means that I am far off from subscribing to a hunt and attending a full season. For now, I would like to possibly cap with a couple of the closest hunts to me, and just stay at the back of the field. I don’t jump (never learned how to yet. I doubt I ever will have much passion to go sailing over obstacles, but maybe small stuff one day). I have never galloped before either, but lessons are for learning- so I’ll be working on beefing up my skills.

With all that said, I would like to try and lease a horse for my first several hunts, but the goal eventually would be to take my own horse out, if his conformation would allow it. My gelding has benched knees, but aside from slightly thin bone below the knees, has nice build otherwise. Given that I don’t want to jump or go flying at top speed over the countryside, do you think a horse like this will hold up to occasional hunting? Will even the hill toppers outpace us, or might we find a place in that field? I know so much depends on the specific hunt in question, but in general, might we fit in?

I would never do anything to purposefully endanger my guy, and I know he is somewhat limited by his conformation, but would I be endangering his joints with this level work? Our current discipline is AQHA hunt seat and western pleasure, but I would like to expand our resume and fox hunting has always been a dream of mine.

[WildBlue]

The cheapest way to find out is to take him trail riding. Work up to a couple hours of walking with some stretches of trot and canter, and see how he handles it. Even better, practice for hunting when you do it by riding with some friends and maintaining your position in the group. Most horses have conformational flaws, and many get along just fine.

One side note to your question, regarding riding along in the back. In a group of horses, there’s a crack-the-whip effect, so the back of the line can frequently end up having to ride faster than the front. Something to keep in mind.

[Hinderella]

If one of your local hunts hosts an introductory clinic, try attending. I just went to one hosted bt Tanheath Hunt (more on that later) and it was a terrific opportunity to explore the skills needed by both horse and rider.
You may also want to try hunting withan experienced leadreron a made horse. I’ve gone for three years now to Hunters’ Rest (www.huntersrest.net) and it’s provided me with invaluable experience. The hunts near you may offer similar learning opportunities, contact the master to find out.
On a made horse you can focus on learning about hunting without worrying about your horse. And then you can decide whether hunting willbe right for him.

[commonfish]

Good advice on taking him out on trials for conditioning, and taking part in start of season/ intro clinics. I’m definitely planning on attending the intro clinic put on by one of the hunts next year, as it’s too late for this year’s. I think this winter we will focus on polishing our skills for shows, but come spring or so try to start conditioning for a small hunt season in 2014.

For certain I’m planning to lease a horse for at least the first few hunts, and might even try to find an experienced volunteer to ride my gelding his first few hunts as well. I try to always take the slow, steady, and safe approach when it comes to my horse, as I plan to have him for a very long time. He’s only 12, and I hope to have at least 10 good years of riding before I have to think of reducing his workload. With him having those knees, I know I can’t take his soundness for granted, and I will never knowingly endanger him. I would rather work out some sort of lease on another horse than try to take him hunting if he seems to be unable to hold up.

[Beverley]

My 10 yo has godawful knock knees and straight shoulders and is the ugliest mover on the planet at the trot, but he did not get the memo that he shouldn’t be able to go hunting (or multi day back country camping). For sure if I were hunting him regularly he would likely not hold up for long-and I have never schooled him over fences though he’s certainly allowed to leap ditches and sagebrush out hunting. To be sure, you want to set your horse up for success, a good base of conditioning is a must (for any discipline, really). But yeah, go for it. I will further observe (having shown AQHA western pleasure and other events) back in the day- that generally speaking, foxhunting/ trail riding is far easier on a horse than going 'round and 'round in an arena.

[commonfish]

@ Beverley: Nobody told my boy he’s not supposed to jump! He willingly seeks out stuff in his path that he can hop over if given the chance. Ground poles, cones, mounting block… he loves it- and looks pretty cute doing it. :sadsmile: He would probably make a pretty happy hunter/jumper, but he’s going to have to settle for hilltopping.
For sure the pleasure classes can really put a lot of stress on those joints- it’s not easy on them , especially in the upper levels. I really do need to find local space to just take him out and ride- what trails my barn did have access to have become unsafe in the last couple of years due to coyotes moving in. Maybe we should invite the foxhunt to come hunt them. lol

[gumtree]

Bench knees, or more commonly referred to with Thoroughbreds as offset knees is usually congenital. IME is seems to be more prevalent with Quarter horses then other breeds I have been around. I pretty much only work with Thoroughbreds and though I would rather have a horse with perfect to near perfect conformation a horse with moderately off set knees would not be a deal breaker as would back at the knee, calf kneed. I have seen many Thoroughbreds with off set knees perform very well with little to no soundness issues. When inspection yearlings with off set knees I like to watch them walk quite a bit and see if they walk through, or use themselves well when viewed as they walk at me and from the side. I want to see how they use their shoulder to see if their conformation faults interfering with fluent motion. All that being said a Thoroughbred that is offset and retires from racing with sound knees would be of little concern other then the look. They have learned to work with what they have, their body and muscle memory have made adjustments to compensate. It is a dent and would effect the value of the horse. This has been my experience with Thoroughbreds. My wife has a really nice TB she hunts with Cheshire which by anyone’s standard is a pretty stout hunt. His’ knees are offset a bit and is a bit pigeon toed, toes in from the knees down. He has no trouble running and jumping all day. Though at 15 his conformation is catching up with him a little bit more from being pigeon toed, mild ring bone is coming on. Nothing that a bit of management can’t take care of. I haven’t seen your horse so this may or may not apply.

[judybigredpony]

All that Gumtreen says is true…so in a nutshell beyond your own riding skill limitations…Has a Vet advised you to limit your horse? Does he have bad X-rays showing degenerative condition in his knees?? I saw a well bred fancy expensive young horse while in Ireland being sold as a UL Jumper with horrific bench knees and no one batted an eye while he soared over 4 ft courses…

[commonfish]

The vet’s never said anything about his knees. I didn’t have a ppe done when I purchased him (not entirely smart on my part, but a decision that I was comfortable with), so there wasn’t any evaluation at that time, and the horse hasn’t ever had any problems since then that the vet needed to evaluate. It probably wouldn’t hurt to have X-rays done, just to take a look and see if there are any damages/changes to his knees, but there isn’t room in my budget for them right now

I’ll have to log on from my computer later and post a photo of his knees for you guys.

EDIT: Here it is! Sorry he looks so incredibly grumpy, this is the only photo I’ve got of him to decently show you his legs.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/stormsight/Conner/photo8.jpg

[Beverley]

Well, nicer from that angle than my horse.