Staying Calm for Make Way

[Heliodoro]

I’m really new to foxhunting, but I am also really enjoying it and so does my horse! I went hound jogging to start, then onto cubbing and now formal hunting has begun. My horse is also new to this, though we’ve done pretty much everything new together and he behaves nicely at shows and away from home, in a group or out by himself which is why I thought he’d be a good candidate. He’s a 9y/o TB gelding, fyi.

Our only issue is he’s usually pretty good for “Make Ways,” but if another horse starts getting wild, he loses his head for a moment until I either whack him hard enough with my crop, am able to circle or back him next to a sturdy tree. For example, Opening Day was Saturday, great morning, lots of foxes so circling was happening. First one, we were able to circle at a walk and then went along. Second one was along a field next to the woods and I backed him into the brush with no issues. MFH goes by and first flight, no issue. Someone then gets real close to a pony who kicks, a lot! Pony is stuck in kicking gear and other horses are getting a little rattled. Pony goes by and my horse decides he no longer wants to stand quietly. I manage to keep his rear end towards the brush and eventually, essentially in a tree (I was laying on his neck with a good size branch on my shoulder, but hey he was standing!).

So I know the obvious is to practice at home, but some days I end up going out alone. Any ideas/tips to get him to understand that standing is not such an evil thing? I try to give us some “wiggle room” when possible if we have to make way in the woods, so should he decide to scoot around I have some space. I’m not afraid of him hurting me or himself or just flat out bolting, I guess I’m just embarrassed more than anything!

Thanks!

[SLW]

It reads like you are doing everything correct to keep your horse under control and keep him from lashing out or bolting during those difficult moments. Being proactive to what sets him off is your best bet while you get more and more hunts under the belt.

My mare is new to hunting- has 3 short hunts under her belt along with hound exercises. Like your horse, the “make ways” or “reverse field” take her volume from a 5 to a 10. I’m afraid there is no substitute for what happens in group riding, especially hunting, than to ride in a group and practice those things. A few weeks back I found a hole in my mare during a regular trail ride and this was something she would encounter during hunting. Two days later a group of us met and we schooled her through the problem. I repeated it the next day with one riding buddy and that is now firmly behind us.

When I see the chance of a reverse field on a wooded trail I make sure to stay beside a steady eddie horse & give my mare half halts to keep her ears on me. Mainly it will take many hunts and patience to teach this. My last two hunting horses “got it” from the first hunt which was a gift. This mare will “get it” in time but she is going to make me teach it to her.

Good luck and have fun hunting!

[awm]

Hay Helio, did you have as many make ways during cubbing? Opening Day
at GVH is well known for lots of doubling back, esp. in the early part of the day!
The other Meets should be more straight forward—
Sounds like you are doing the right stuff, giving yourself some room to circle
is a good tactic. Don’t worry about causing a scene, we’ve all been there & the
nicer field members will tell you to jump in front of them if they see you’re having
a hard time! Your horse will keep getting better. One exercise while hacking with
others is pull-ups. The horse in front pulls to the side & halts while the others
walk by, you can work up to trotting & cantering. At the start of this evercise, you can turn your horse facing the others & work on joining back in the line on
your own terms!
I heard the pony incident was probably the rider on the horse’s own fault!
The pony was in the back, where he should be, WITH a red ribbon in his tail!
It would have been nice if the adult wasn’t so focused on keeping up—there’s
usually time to catch up! The kids need encouragement, not problems!!!
I’m the hound truck driver----don’t ride anymore but have been there!
Let me know who you are next time you’re out!
Ann