How does one desensitize a horse to the hounds?

[HunterJumperGin]

Situation:

Horse (not mine) in the barn is potentially being sold as a hunt horse. Great out in a group and scope to jump whatever it is presented with. I’ve gone on hunt paces with the horse and owner- where they did wonderfully. Owner is thinking of marketing the horse as a hunt horse potentially, but has never been out with hounds. Are there methods of safely (safe as possible?) desensitizing horse to the hounds vs. “let’s go and see” and risking a bad reaction?

Horse is generally skittish around the owner’s dog, but has trailered off the property where other dogs were loose, and never had a problem. Owner understandably wants to try and complete some training before diving in head first. I’m generally curious as well to see if there’s a method. Thanks in advance!

[RiderInTheRain]

The best way to do desensitize a horse to hounds is to go out on pre-hunt season mounted “hound walks” if your hunt allows guests to do so. This way the horse sees the hounds but doesn’t have to deal with all the excitement and organized chaos of a real hunt.

If owner is a hunt member, she may able to get permission to go hang out with the horse by the kennels. I have done that with a skittish youngster - just parked the trailer by the kennels, unloaded the horse and let her alternately eat a snack and stare at the hounds until she decided they weren’t a big deal.

[Kodiak]

Mounted hound exercise with a buddy. She will need permission to attend and should hook up with someone who has a steady-eddy hunt horse. Then they can look from a distance and approach as the horse feels comfortable.

Most importantly: Encourage the horse to face/watch the hounds and to keep hindquarters away from them at all times. This helps to prevent spook-kicks and lets them look and think and start figuring out the job.

The other thing to keep working on is riding in a group–maintain position, stop unexpectedly, stand, etc.

[SonnysMom]

I went out a number of times with a farmers pack. Finnegan was bit “bunchy” with hounds. The ones that didn’t go back to the huntsman and would join the field would always wind up behind the “white” horse. He was initially very concerned with having them behind is his hocks and following along. I would just talk to him. That non-sensenical “You are fine. Don’t you dare kick a hound Good boy talk in a soothing tone of voice” I just keep taking them out and if possible swing the butt away from the hounds. If they are following I keep re-assuring him that “Everything is good”. They seem to gravitate towards the white horses. He used to be “bunchy” and concerned when the hounds would come up behind him and come crashing through the brush near him.
The next year when I hunted he was great with hounds.
I went out trail riding one time and a guy had his dog off leash and dog was standing under Finnegan sniffing his belly. He just stood there.
I hunt with a farmers pack so the hounds tend to get a little more up close and personal. My horse tends towards being anxious but looking to me for confidence.
Just be positive with the horse and swing he butt away from the hounds as much as possible. Time and exposure, especially with cubbing or farmers packs will help

[HunterJumperGin]

Thanks for your responses! Hoping they will be able to trailer out with someone soon for exposure.

[Foxglove]

Perhaps a slower approach might be possible. See if huntsman will allow the owner to keep the horse at hand at the kennel where hounds are kept while he takes a few hounds out at a time. If the owner calmly led the horse around the yard, chatting pleasantly with the huntsman who would have a hound or two out to start with, then added a hound or two until there were four or five --all the while keeping it low key and relaxed. Perhaps have a second horse out in hand too to keep the mood calm and fun. Treats for horses and hounds would be in order, of course, huntsman would need to approve. I know our huntsman would accommodate a member or potential member if the person could work within his schedule. Just a thought . . .

[HunterJumperGin]

Foxglove, you don’t happen to be in GA do you?

Owner is going to start by going on trail ride(s) in mountains with someone who breeds catahoulas and could take a few out. I’ll encourage them to pursue actual hunts as well through out the season or exercising days.

[Foxglove]

Sorry, no. I hunt with Battle Creek Hunt in Michigan with a huntsman who is fantastic. He loves to share his hounds with anyone --kennel tours are never too much trouble when one brings a guest. If you are ever close by Sept-April --please be my guest at the hunt.

I was with first flight last week and took this picture of him.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/foxgloveweeks/PA300022_zpsz2zlyewj.jpg

[ecileh]

If your hunt (or one nearby) does learn to fox hunt clinics, that would be a good way to expose the horse to hounds and also build some hunting cred for the sale.

Our huntsman brings a handful of the steadiest hounds to our clinics and does a segment with them in an indoor and then (weather depending) sometimes takes them out for a mock hunt type experience.

A clinic will also give the owner a better sense of how the horse might actually behave in the hunt field. My mare had spent her life hunter pacing, trail riding, and eventing with me and it never once occurred to me that she might handle being in the field differently (I did worry about the hounds, but she loved them from the get go). When we did our first clinic, she EXPLODED when the huntsman galloped by with the pack. I would have lost money on a bet that she even had that in her.

Scope and willingness are great, but the hunt field is really unlike anything else.