Slow pace

[Huntin_Fool]

Dear All,

I took my little 6yo OTTB horse out on hound exercise Monday. And I’m happy to report that he was good. BUT I did have an issue I’d love to get some feed back on.

When I took this horse to a lesson a couple of weeks ago, he felt like he was sucking back a bit. The trainer said this could lead to bucking etc. and we worked on a big forward trot. I worked on it and the next week he did have a much more forward trot and canter and we cantered, jumped a crossrail successfully, etc. I was happy. I also took the horse on a trail ride with a friend and noticed he sucked back then too. As in walked slowly and she had to stop to let us catch up more than once. I was trying to keep my leg light but there etc. I took him out on a trail by himself and he did walk sort of slowly but marched along pretty well.

So hound exercise no one shows up except one girl on an experienced horse and 3 greenies including mine. Usually at the first week of hound exercise we walk then build up to a trot the next week, etc. but for whatever reason the huntsman and first whipper in set off at a brisk trot that only got brisker. And we got left behind. Like 50 feet +. Several times we had to canter to catch up and the horse did this funny short rocking horse-y canter that he did the first lesson. The good part is that he didn’t seem all bent out of shape to be left. He didn’t’ like it when the other horses went around a curve and we couldn’t’ see them but he didn’t do anything bad.

When I saw all those green horses and only one old hand I got all bent and gave the horse a scant cc of ace just before I got on. And then of course thought for heaven’s sake that’s not gonna help-it takes too long to work. The horse was slow from the get-go so I don’t really think that was part of it. He wasn’t aced any other time I’ve ridden him.

Anyway, what do y’all think? I plan to go back out Saturday. Should I put tons of leg on him? I was giving him plenty of leg the whole exercise but I could always go bigger. Crop? I mean I don’t mind slow but I don’t want him to suddenly be bucking cause he’s not going forward?

Regards,
HuntinFool

[SLW]

For myself, I’ve never agreed that making a horse go faster will prevent it from bucking simply because look at any saddle or bareback bronc. Those entries are going forward and bucking. I admire the riders who do kick and gallop on through a bucking fit.

What you felt today at the canter does sound as though the horse was giving you a test. For sure carry a crop and use it if the horse is ignoring your leg.

What I do with a horse new to hunting or if my regular horse is quicker than I want is zig zag at a trot- 3 strides slightly right, 3 strides slightly left and so on. That makes my horse tune into me for direction and takes away the herd mentality of charging straight behind the horses in front of it.

A little ace can be a nice tool when introducing a horse to hunting. If it takes 2 or 3cc’s then IMO it’s not a horse that would be good to hunt- round peg, square hole. A 1/2cc or 1cc to take the edge off and make it so you don’t have to lope the horse for 20 minutes before the hunt can save wear and tear on the horse’s legs.

A good hunt friend is starting a new horse this year and we’ll stay well in the back, well off the pace, until she and the horse are ready for more. IMO a horse will always go faster in a hunt field so I spend as long as it takes to keep the horse slow and tuned into me. Always fun to see how everyone handles a new horse. Another member picked up an OTTB last Feb. She hilltopped the horse about 3 times then took her second field and hasn’t had a problem but she’s one hell of a rider.

Good luck!

[Trot_On]

I have an OTTB that did much the same thing in his first exposure to hounds and larger group riding. He did not have a great deal of experience on wooded trails or rougher terrain when I bought him, and while he was learning he would creep along. You could almost see the smoke coming out of his ears he was thinking so hard. As he gained more experience and looked his fill he lengthened his stride with just a little encouragement. While he was learning I would tell him “look and walk” and send him forward, but not obsess about stride length as long as he was going forward. We also had to canter to catch up during the first outing.

We hung out with the hill toppers while he figured things out, but I really like that if he has to go through something new he will look and think, rather then charge in and flail thru with his head in the air frantic to see the other horses. We had just made it to second field before a pasture injury cut our season short. Now that we are at the end of our rehab we have the opposite, whoo hoo mom lets go!!

It could be that your boy is a thinker and slows down to look around. He may have been waiting for you to tell him what to do, and you were light waiting for the possible turbo boost. Perhaps you can use those little canters as schooling, leg and soft supporting hands giving a clear direction what you want and the quality of the canter expected. Carrying the crop next time is a good idea. If you can ride with others, you can practice switching places so that he leads or follows, but always maintains a steady pace. Continue working in the ring to ensure he is obedient to your leg and aides. You certainly don’t want him behind your leg, but his hanging back could just be greenness in a new situation.

[Huntin_Fool]

Thank you both for the good advice! I hope that Saturday he is a bit more forward but still easy. He is very inexperienced over even slightly rough terrain-he just learned to cross an indention in the ground I would not dignify with the name ditch. Haha. We will work on responding to leg. Thanks again! HuntinFool

[jawa]

If he isn’t bothered by being left behind, count your lucky stars!!

At home do short stents of a forward walk, followed by his regular walk. Over time build up the distance/time spent at the forward walk. Same with trot and canter. You could do some cavalletti at home to work on lengthening of stride at the walk, then trot then canter.

Do lots of riding at home over terrain. Hills up/down and across to help build strength.

Be sure that his hooves are comfortable. Some will go REAL slow out of a ring to protect their soles.

Also be sure his saddle allows him to move comfortably. It may seem to fit him when he is standing still, but may pinch or bind when he uses himself. This can become more of a problem over terrain than in a manicured ring.

[rhymeswithfizz]

When I first started hunting my young OTTB, the best advice I got from the experienced folks out there was “Make him trot.” Rather than letting him canter, that is. It was EXCELLENT advice, because after implementing the we-only-get-to-trot rule, the little TB started developing a lovely long trot that kept improving over time. So it’s totally okay if his stride is somewhat short right now – it will get better, especially as he gets more confident over the terrain.

[Huntin_Fool]

Again, thanks for the good advice. I will try to make him trot really forward, and we did practice that. Another question-you know that stuff you put on their soles after a hard ride? Its clay like? Think that would help cushion his soles a bit? Or do you think a rock would instantly stick in the clay stuff and be worse? Thanks! Huntin’Fool

[jawa]

For the packing to stay in place, you really need a pad. If your horse isn’t conditioned to the footing, I would make sure to hilltop or to be able to hold back when the footing is not what your horse is used to.

If you have time ahead of the hunt, I would use a hoof hardening/drying agent to protect the hoof. You can use the packing ( Magic Cushion and the like) after the hunt if you’ve been over unusually rough terrain and need to stave off a stone bruise.

[gypsymare]

Lucky you! The horse that is OK getting left behind is a gem.

In my short stint in the endurance world I was taught to let the horse pick the gait, you pick the speed. He may not be all that comfortable in a long trot yet. If he needs to canter to keep up then let him canter. You refered to him as “little”. He might not have the stride to match the others, particularly over trappy new terrain. My OTTBs seem to be much more comfortable in a shortened canter than a fast trot until they have more experience.

[Huntin_Fool]

Well, Gypsymare, that is what I ended up doing. I got the same advice from a friend whose pretty much done it all and is an old fashioned sort of rider. Anyway, the next time he went out he was better. By the 3rd time he was keeping up fine. AND on the 4th hound exercise a horse blasted past bucking and all I got was a couple of scoot steps. So I’m really happy and am now posting to get some encouragement for our first cub hunt.

[jawa]

The advice to let them pick their gait can be helpful, especially for those that are a bit pokey. My newest TB is a bit slow, but prefers to canter rather than trot, so we canter…REALLY slowly. My older TB is a bit more forward. I generally prefer that he trots rather than canter. If he trots, I can press him for a spanking road trot rather than constantly tugging / half halting his canter.

I can’t wait to hear about your first cub hunt.

Happy Hunting!