I finally went foxhunting...with my mule!

[GoForAGallop]

Haven’t been on COTH for a while, but had to log in to post this.

I’ve been wanting to hunt with my local club for YEARS, and finally put it on my “must do” list for this year. I put together a whole outfit for my big, grey, roman-nosed steed, reached out to the hunt, and even bought a new roomy trailer this spring with the express intention of being able to leave him on it after a good hunt. The opening hunt this year was at a venue 15 minutes from my house (usually they are about an hour out) and I was determined.

A week before, big grey horse is dead lame for unexplained reasons. I hem and haw and wait for him to magically be sound, and think about reaching out to the hunt to tell them I won’t be coming after all.

This makes me horrendously sad, so on Thursday (meet was Sunday), I decide come hell or high water, I am hunting this year! Enter pony mule. (I had previously verified with the hunt that it was okay to bring one!)

I scrambled to put his outfit together in a few days (he is a dressage pony for his real job), and loaded him on the trailer Sunday AM.

Long story short, we had a blast! I only have a few cell phone pictures that a friend grabbed from the side of the road at a check in harsh afternoon lighting, but I hope it’s evident:

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14502829_10157540244450215_5073748254641886583_n.jpg?oh=81e15a2f90cc5498d18bc25ab2b0c8af&oe=58784260

(He is watching first flight and the hounds, so clearly he had figured out the game at that point!)

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14440791_10157534065690215_3038380821297172025_n.jpg?oh=26e6c038a226233fa314dce95f1613f2&oe=586BB5A6

I almost chickened out during the first five minutes under saddle, because my normally “meh, too much effort” pony was AMPED, but we had a whole 2nd flight of kind babysitters and the second we got moving, he was fine. He had big horses and hounds up his butt, and even got “ambushed” by a rogue hound bounding out of dense brush during a canter stretch, and handled it all with grace. I do regret not having enough time (to purchase/ship) slightly more bit for him, because we had some weak brakes here and there and I felt like I could have been easier on him than in his daily plain mullen d-ring, but we did fine. I am very, very proud of him…he was a $175 New Holland purchase intended to be a pasture pal, and in the last eight years of ownership he has never said “no” to anything I’ve asked!

So to all those who keep putting it off…just do it! I can be a huge weenie even though I am confident in my skills and my horses, but those five minutes of “oh no, what did I do!?” at the beginning were so, so worth the next two hours! And if you are anywhere near MA/VT/NH, I highly recommend Guilford Hounds!

[BEARCAT]

Sounds like a wonderful experience for both of you!

[rainpants]

Awesome!

[SLW]

Good for you making your hunting goal!! Your mule is fabulous! We’ve had mules come hunt with my hunt and they do great. Hope you get back out again this season.

[GrayMare]

Brilliant mule!

[Polydor]

Sounds like a fun day! Love the pics!
P.

[Draftmare]

Love the pictures! Some day I would love to have a mule for dressage and maybe even hunting!

[Sparrowette]

[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;8863376]
Haven’t been on COTH for a while, but had to log in to post this.

I’ve been wanting to hunt with my local club for YEARS, and finally put it on my “must do” list for this year. I put together a whole outfit for my big, grey, roman-nosed steed, reached out to the hunt, and even bought a new roomy trailer this spring with the express intention of being able to leave him on it after a good hunt. The opening hunt this year was at a venue 15 minutes from my house (usually they are about an hour out) and I was determined.

A week before, big grey horse is dead lame for unexplained reasons. I hem and haw and wait for him to magically be sound, and think about reaching out to the hunt to tell them I won’t be coming after all.

This makes me horrendously sad, so on Thursday (meet was Sunday), I decide come hell or high water, I am hunting this year! Enter pony mule. (I had previously verified with the hunt that it was okay to bring one!)

I scrambled to put his outfit together in a few days (he is a dressage pony for his real job), and loaded him on the trailer Sunday AM.

Long story short, we had a blast! I only have a few cell phone pictures that a friend grabbed from the side of the road at a check in harsh afternoon lighting, but I hope it’s evident:

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14502829_10157540244450215_5073748254641886583_n.jpg?oh=81e15a2f90cc5498d18bc25ab2b0c8af&oe=58784260

(He is watching first flight and the hounds, so clearly he had figured out the game at that point!)

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14440791_10157534065690215_3038380821297172025_n.jpg?oh=26e6c038a226233fa314dce95f1613f2&oe=586BB5A6

I almost chickened out during the first five minutes under saddle, because my normally “meh, too much effort” pony was AMPED, but we had a whole 2nd flight of kind babysitters and the second we got moving, he was fine. He had big horses and hounds up his butt, and even got “ambushed” by a rogue hound bounding out of dense brush during a canter stretch, and handled it all with grace. I do regret not having enough time (to purchase/ship) slightly more bit for him, because we had some weak brakes here and there and I felt like I could have been easier on him than in his daily plain mullen d-ring, but we did fine. I am very, very proud of him…he was a $175 New Holland purchase intended to be a pasture pal, and in the last eight years of ownership he has never said “no” to anything I’ve asked!

So to all those who keep putting it off…just do it! I can be a huge weenie even though I am confident in my skills and my horses, but those five minutes of “oh no, what did I do!?” at the beginning were so, so worth the next two hours! And if you are anywhere near MA/VT/NH, I highly recommend Guilford Hounds![/QUOTE]

(Bold mine)
Love the pictures, he’s really cute! AND, love the story. :applause::applause:

[beowulf]

Yes! AWESOME UPDATE! Was wondering where you went off to.

Sorry about your grey, hope he feels better soon – but love that his “little” (?) brother stepped up to the mantle to give you a fantastic time

ETA: I just saw you went with Guiford Hounds? I have been hemming and hawing and really wanted to cap this year but I’m a weenie and don’t want to be “That Person” with the clearly crazy horse (IDK what the TB would react like…)… Maybe I’ll woman up and reach out…

[riverinthewoods]

Don’t fox hunt but saw the title and needed to see if there were pictures.

He is ADORABLE. I want one eventually. Good job to the both of you

[Inclined]

Thank you for posting! It’s a great reminder to keep working toward treasured goals, and your mule is adorable!!

[Hinderella]

This is AWESOME! Your pony mule is adorable, and obviously put his super smarts to work in hunting. It sounds as though the other hunt members horses had no problems with having an equine cousin out with them.
I was impressed that you had only a snaffle
My pony was great hunting her first two years, then way too amped up in year three. Maybe we’ll get to try it again this year.

[GoForAGallop]

Thank you everyone for the compliments on my dear Henry. He’s very photogenic but even cuter in person…he has a snuggly puppy dog personality and meets me at the gate any day, any time. We’re working on 1st level right now and he has been the most eager dressage partner I’ve ever had…he likes thinking! But he also takes a jump, and spent a period with his leaser as a western pleasure show pony as well.

[QUOTE=beowulf;8864271]
Yes! AWESOME UPDATE! Was wondering where you went off to.

Sorry about your grey, hope he feels better soon – but love that his “little” (?) brother stepped up to the mantle to give you a fantastic time

ETA: I just saw you went with Guiford Hounds? I have been hemming and hawing and really wanted to cap this year but I’m a weenie and don’t want to be “That Person” with the clearly crazy horse (IDK what the TB would react like…)… Maybe I’ll woman up and reach out…[/QUOTE]

Henry is wee, only 13.3 and narrow! Although my “big” grey gelding is only 14.2, just with a giant QH barrel. But I’m only 5’2’’ on a tall day!

The whole Guilford gang was just an absolute pleasure. The woman who usually leads 2nd flight is such a gem, and made sure everyone was safe and comfortable.

I kept waiting for conditions to be perfect (wanted to go with a friend, wanted to go to a particular venue, needed a different trailer, needed to use a specific horse, wanted to have the right bridle, etc) and after the loss of a young friend this year in a tragic car accident, I realized I just needed to do it!

[QUOTE=Hinderella;8864591]This is AWESOME! Your pony mule is adorable, and obviously put his super smarts to work in hunting. It sounds as though the other hunt members horses had no problems with having an equine cousin out with them.
I was impressed that you had only a snaffle
My pony was great hunting her first two years, then way too amped up in year three. Maybe we’ll get to try it again this year.[/QUOTE]

One of the hunt staff had a horse who gave him a big eyeing up, because apparently the poor soul had once been pastured with a couple big draft mules who beat him up. :lol: But he worked out of it quickly, and everyone else ignored him. Apparently they had a Whipper-In who used a mule a few years back, so he wasn’t the first to go out with the hunt!

He was controllable in the snaffle – but only just! If we go out again I’ll bit him up a little, just so that I can swap more to polite reminders instead of nagging.

[CarrieK]

You rock!

[ChasPonyCat]

That’s so cool! I bet he looked uniquely awesome out there.

[Libby2563]

LOVE IT!!!

[peedin]

How scary is hunting? I would love to do it but would die of fright. Plus I don’t have a horse.

[rebecca_yount]

YAAAAAYYYYYYY!!! Good for you and Henry!!! Horses (and mules) love hunting. And for peedin: It’s not that scary after you do it once or twice. Go with 2nd field or even 3rd field if they have one (most hunts have a 3rd field at least some of the time). If you go on a weekday rather than weekend there will probably be fewer riders and it might seem less scary then. You don’t have to jump with 2nd or 3rd field.

Some places/hunts, or members, have hunt horses you can hire.

I ride my dressage (now working equitation) mare with a double bridle for lots of brakes, and make friends with a field master who will be the one taking care of you.

Even though one of the scary things is it seeming that your horse will get hurt, but they really don’t. And you pretty much won’t get run off with if you have good brakes and besides, when the field stops, they all stop.

[GoForAGallop]

[QUOTE=peedin;8866625]
How scary is hunting? I would love to do it but would die of fright. Plus I don’t have a horse.[/QUOTE]

I feel very, very safe on Henry, at any speed, and consider myself a very competent rider. (Or good lord I should be something close, after 20 years!) But due to riding a bolter for a few years recently, I do have a pit-of-my-stomach reaction to being on a horse who is really, really amped up. That’s why I say that I almost chickened out in the first five minutes…for a horse (or mule…) who usually has a rock-solid Park gear, his wiggliness while waiting to head out brought up that inner fear. (It also probably didn’t help that I was nervous and he very much looks to his rider.)

But once we were moving? Totally fine!

And the one time I lost brakes was when the majority of the field took a sharp corner in a corn field and we lost sight of them. Team player that he is, he freaked out a bit and ran (we were already cantering) to find them. Reality is, I know how to sit a gallop just fine, so I just sat and waited the five strides needed for him to catch sight of his new friends again, at which point he resumed carrying on calmly. As rebecca notes, it’s going to be the rare equine that leaves the group! In a stronger bit I would have insisted on better manners, but it wasn’t worth the argument in a plain snaffle. Circling or pulley-reining to regain control would have been much more of a production than just letting him catch up to his buddies!

That being said…not sure I’d go out on a strange horse unless the owner could insure me they were an absolute saint on the field. I definitely am not brave enough to be a new hunter introducing someone else’s horse to hunting, either! I only braved the green-on-green combo because I trust my little guy so much in general.

[Mukluk]

Thanks for sharing!!! Looks like you two had a great time and here’s to many many more!!!