The season has finished.
What do you like to do over the summer?
All depends on what part of the country you are in.
Well, I started my new guy this season. He just turned six. He’s an OTTB that had been restarted with ring work and trail riding before I bought him. We started the hunting season with hound exercise, moving on to cubbing in 3rd flight. We had to take a hiatus during the middle of the season due to his sore back, but got back to hunting and ended the season hunting confidently in 2nd flight.
So…all that said…I plan on continuing to get him more fit and to work toward starting next season in 2nd flight, but being ready to move up to first. He jumps 2’6" easy peasy in the ring. So we will work on getting him used to coops and other hunt country type of jumps.
Lots to work on, so I’m sure I’ll stay busy.
We show the made hunters in the off season, and show and prep (x-c school, hunt trail rides, etc) the hunt prospects. It is a very busy time!
The season is over, but the work has just started. Hounds must be walked. Kennels must be cleaned, and there are hound shows to prepare for.
I ride my horses year round. I take lessons, and go on hunt trail rides and schooling sessions. Showing takes a back seat to farm work (I’ve got a small working farm). There’s just not enough hours in the day.
If you are looking to learn more about the hounds - ask if you can go hound walking. Doesn’t take much time out of your day and you’ll learn heaps about hunting.
And then there is puppy walking!! Oh joy!!
And point to point races and hunter paces and hunt trail rides…and and…building coops, fixing gate latches so you can open them from horse back…trail clearing…
If you want to be involved with the hunt, the season never ends.
… and the young stock to get-going!
I hunted my 3yo twice (baby stuff) the last two days of the season (she was a 110% rock star!) so now she gets to go back for flatwork (perfecting walk-canter departs) and hunt trail rides.
Two 2yearolds to get going fully. They both got 20 days of saddle/bridle/backing/ponying in early December but now they’re due under saddle for 30, building to a little trotting and a couple of 1/2 mile “trail rides.”
Sooooooooo much to do in “off-season” – mowing fields, hay-ing fields, as ^^ said, hound shows, horse shows, summer camp, bringing some puppies home for “walk”, digging in the garden!
The way I get through it is this – counting mounted hound-walking, we basically get to ‘ride to hounds’ mid-August thru April 1, so that’s 7 1/2 months! Frankly, the hunting season could almost be considered Time Off from the ^^^ other chores!
I’m still counting days though, until August!
Yup, repairing jumps and building more; trimming back branches and brambles and all the other hazards you noticed during the season but didn’t have time to fix; hunter paces; trail rides; mini trials; getting mileage on horses who need it and tuning up those who don’t; hound exercise; hound training…
Lessons, hunter paces, trail rides, hound walking, clinics, schooling shows, moonlight rides, horse swims, picnics on horseback, the fun never ends!!!
Trail rides and hacking out for my hunt horse, lessons and maybe some horse shows for my show horse, and defintiely shows for my up and coming 5 year old.
I find the “off” season way more busy than the season!
Spring hunter paces, hunt races, puppy show, trail ride organizing, horse shows, trail clearing, polo matches, volunteering at local events (a great way to get free schooling passes!), new member recruitment, etc! This year i’ve got the added challenge of trying to find a 2nd hunt horse, which feels like a full time job!
Seems like on any given day in the spring/summer there is at least 5 things I want to do! In the middle of January I am not quite so spoilt for choice!
I allow myself a week to withdraw from the wonderful routine of twice weekly hunting for 7 months. 
My mare is getting a well deserved two week break.
I do not show so I spend the off months trail riding with another completely different set of good friends and maybe hit a clinic or two. Otherwise it is puppy and hound walking and one hound show coming up in May so there are 6 puppies to get ready for that day.
I had to laugh at my partners reply to someone who asked him what he does during the off-season (he’s a huntsman, and Irish 
). Without a moment’s hesitation he said “oh I’ll just take the batteries out of the hounds and store them on the mantlepiece for the summer”.
There are trails to clear, new fixtures to cultivate, land-owners to schmooze, puppies to walk and horses to be legged up (consider some horse trials/combined training or hunter paces). Trailers and trucks to be maintained. Few of us wouldn’t benefit from lessons and those lucky few who might not can teach. Organize monthly get-togethers with other hunt members to keep morale up and make huge plans for the up coming season.
I plan on teaching one of my retired hunters to drive, and driving my pony. I’m also hosting a hunter pace in May so I have been working on that, planning the course and getting volunteers lined up. I also event in the Summer but I haven’t done much planning along those lines yet this year.
Now he is nice and fit - take your horse eventing. Lucinda does…but in her case, the other way round. Eventing was her priority.
