Hunting - what do you wish you had known?

[Skyedragon]

[QUOTE=Hotspur;7051603]
There are only 3 hunts in our home State of Michigan, and I do not know which one might be closest to your home. My wife and I hunt with Metamora, we are between Detroit and Flint.

I encourage you to consider a visit with us! Metamora Hunt is starting hound walking this weekend, and we have regular training rides for new fox hunters and their mounts. We also have a mentoring program.

The leader of our slowest field is also a full time horse trainer. She also has experienced hunt horses for hire.

Please visit our website: www.metamorahunt.com and use the contact information if you like. My wife is our Honorary Secretary.

Get out there and have fun![/QUOTE]

That is a bit far for me. I am located in SW MI.

[Beverley]

What do I wish I had known? Nothing. I already knew enough to know I wanted to try it, read Wadsworth, was well prepared skillwise by both a lifetime of bombing about the countryside and good instruction, and was on an experienced hunting horse. There really wasn’t much hilltopping to speak of, so it was a given that one started first flight. Just as it was a given that showing hunters and eventing started at 3 foot 6 inches (we had 2 foot and 2 foot 6 only for in house or local schooling shows). 42 years later, I’m still at it.

As for the ‘better living through chemistry’ approach to training, that has been the subject of many threads in this forum and so easy enough find and read. But I will reiterate my own position- have never used any chemical enhancements to make hunting horses or horses for any other discipline. A well handled and well schooled horse just doesn’t need it. I view it as a shortcut, myself. Whether for hunting or western pleasure or anything else. Every horse I’ve owned myself for hunting, I made as a hunter, save one that had some prior experience. They all loved it from the get go. Had a couple that washed out, use of chemicals would have forced them to tolerate, but why insist on forcing a square peg into a round hole, find that horse a job it likes. And yes, I have seen some ugly wrecks in and out of the arena with injected horses. Others perhaps haven’t after years of use, great for them. I’ll observe that decades ago I knew some riders who insisted that their horses have ‘a cup of tea’ before hunting. The savvy barn manager ‘pretended’ to give injections, riders assumed horses were drugged and thus they relaxed, and the horses (who didn’t need drugs anyway) were fine since their riders were relaxed.

Lots of good advice has already been given and so no need to repeat! Go forth and have fun!

[Huntin_Pony]

OP -

You’ve gotten lots of good advice and a very gracious offer from Hotspur and I wonder if the tone of your responses is because you’re pressed for time or something else.

First, let me praise you for starting the thread in the first place, to seek valuable information from others. But, for myself, you could have shown more appreciation for the ideas that have been shared. (For example, you could have said to Hotspur, “Thank you so much for your kind offer, but I live in SW MI so probably will not be able to accept. Do you happen to know anyone at Battle Creek who would be good for me to contact?”)

I would not even mention this, because this has been a quite civilized thread on all sides, however foxhunting people generally go out of their way to be polite and helpful and you can do better than you have done here. Going that extra mile to show people that you are gracious will stand you in good stead in the hunt field. Seeming dismissive will not endear you to the group.

Trying for constructive criticism; hope I’ve achieved it.

[Skyedragon]

After my time at the show yesterday I think I will probably up his bit for xc and hunting. Anybody have any suggestions for something a little heavier than a Myler comfort snaffle without getting into anything too harsh?

[Skyedragon]

[QUOTE=Huntin’ Pony;7056430]
OP -

You’ve gotten lots of good advice and a very gracious offer from Hotspur and I wonder if the tone of your responses is because you’re pressed for time or something else.

First, let me praise you for starting the thread in the first place, to seek valuable information from others. But, for myself, you could have shown more appreciation for the ideas that have been shared. (For example, you could have said to Hotspur, “Thank you so much for your kind offer, but I live in SW MI so probably will not be able to accept. Do you happen to know anyone at Battle Creek who would be good for me to contact?”)

I would not even mention this, because this has been a quite civilized thread on all sides, however foxhunting people generally go out of their way to be polite and helpful and you can do better than you have done here. Going that extra mile to show people that you are gracious will stand you in good stead in the hunt field. Seeming dismissive will not endear you to the group.

Trying for constructive criticism; hope I’ve achieved it.[/QUOTE]

I think you are reading between the lines. I was simply stating that her hunt was too far away. She is 4 hours from me.

[asterix]

Well, I am a giant nobody in hunt land but I must also object to the notion that ace is required of any new hunt horse. I had a horse who needed a new career in midlife, and it was fairly obvious hunting might suit him. He was happier in a group than alone, handy across country, and had been broken by someone who started hunt horses as part of his living.
I think he may have roaded as a 5 year old, but nothing until he was 9. I am an eventer with no hunt experience.
I took him out cubbing a couple of times with the local hunt. He was very excited, but controllable. I was told he did pretty well for a newbie, although certainly he was the most excited he’d ever been in the 5 years I’d owned him.

A few weeks later he went out with an experienced friend 2nd field Opening Hunt. A few weeks after that she was taking him 1st field. He hunted that season 1st field with Green Spring (Md) and a joint meet with Middleburg/Orange (VA). He took to it immediately and got better and better each time out. I never gave him any Ace. I don’t much like the idea of him having to move his feet so quickly and keep his balance while drugged.
You know your horse. I think it’s an excellent idea to get out roading and cubbing with a mentor and see what happens.