Hi all,
My 7 y.o. OTTB, who began eventing this year at PreNovice, and I have started hunting with a small farm pack. The staff generally consists of 5 and the field is generally 3-5 of us. The proximity to the staff and hounds is dictated by the level of riders and horses. Some days we have a young boy with us and other days we accomodate a green horse (there are two of us on green hunt horses). It works very well, as we can walk if need be or kick it up a notch if everyone is doing well.
My gelding is very, very brave. He has been completely unphased by all aspects of the Hunt. He hunted the first few times in a french link, loose ring snaffle (he goes xcountry in that bit), but we had a little trouble with brakes if we were all doing a hard gallop, so he now goes in a Wonder Bit, which is perfect. He is rateable with a 1/2 halt and moves nicely off the leg. He can get a little “racey” if we’re cantering in wide open fields, but a little stronger 1/2 halt and he gets his brain back. Really, he’s a fun ride.
Yesterday we rode pretty hard all day. Every single horse was ready to ROLL, so a good blow-out gallop was welcome.
Here’s the issue: My horse has an issue with things on the ground. He leaps over EVERYTHING if we’re trotting or cantering. Twice he has gotten me off by jumping a 4" stick like it was an 8’ Weldon’s Wall. I wouldn’t consider him green over fences as he is totally balanced and rhythmic over a xcourse of 2’9" fences and we tend to trail ride a good bit, both trotting and cantering over different types of terrain, including fallen logs, sticks, etc. He sees the sticks/tree roots and LEAPS over them like he is seriously jumping an 8’ fence. He goes STRAIGHT up and LAUNCHES himself over. I can get it to a manageable leap with good strong 1/2 halts, but sheesh, it’s a hard ride over the teeny sticks. He has a rather high opinion of his athletic prowess, so it could be he wants to call the shots and get an “A plus” for effort.
Is this a green hunt horse issue?
When you start a horse out hunting, do you vary the training with a slow walk/trot day and then step it up a notch with trotting/cantering/galloping and then have another slow day?
How long do you generally hunt a young horse before you incorporate fences?
Oh, and we are doing flatwork and hacking during the week when he’s not hunting.
Thanks in advance for any tips, ideas, thoughts on bringing along a green hunt horse. This is my personal horse who I intend to event and hunt as long as possible.
And maybe he’s not burned off that youthful energy yet. Bet he doesn’t do it after 3 hrs of hunting and miles of country. I swear they learn to conserve their energy…SOMETIMES…after they’ve hunted more. Is he overfit? Cooped up too much before hunting? Fed richly? Need some stronger tack? There can be other things you can do too. It’s a common occurrence; not really a problem. Rejoice that he’s going forward and doing what you’re asking him to do.