Update Post #15 Looking at a new hunt horse this week . . .

[Foxglove]

Sounds fun and exciting, but I am a bit melancholy about it. My current hunt horse has been seen by two vets and both said it was time to find a new partner if I wanted to hunt weekly and do mounted archery in the summer. Bottom line, my current horse is no longer psychically able to continue with daily riding and the once a week fast pace of first flight. To hunt at all (hilltoppers) he needs medication (brochodilator). Both the regular vet and specialist said it was time to find another horse.

And I have --well --maybe. I saw a nice mare and rode her for a couple of hours yesterday. She’s sound, sane, and had lots of outdoor experience, although not on the hunt field (trail riding). The owner’s daughter is going to ride her on the hunt with me this week --her behavior to hounds and horses will make or break the deal --pending vet check. But the entire time I rode her, I was sad. I don’t WANT a new hunter --I want MY hunter. And yes, I know that all a horse needs to be happy is a green pasture, clean water, good care, and horse-friends, and my hunter won’t miss hunting one tiny bit --but I already miss him.

I try the new horse again on Friday, then she hunts out on Sunday. Sigh. I didn’t even ask what her name was.

[dynamite0319]

I had a similar experience last summer when I thought my 23yo QH just needed some hock injections and it turned out he was no longer rideable. I wasn’t at all prepared for the news and it hit me so hard. My sweet Mom let me borrow her delightful and sweet 5yo QH gelding for the hunt season and he was a perfect transition partner. He’s for sale now and I bought an OTTB to replace my old QH as my fox hunting partner.

It just takes some time to make the transition mentally. Best of luck and I hope she is “the one” for you!

[BeastieSlave]

It’s hard… It took me a long time to admit that my best boy was the horse for me. He has always been a wonderful horse and came right off the track easy and suitable for a child. I still sent him off to be sold twice before I admitted he was the horse for me.
I guess my point is, don’t feel that you have to have a lightning bolt moment that screams “this is the one!”. Sometimes it’s enough in the beginning to be comfortable and know the horse checks all the boxes. It probably took a long time for you and your old hunter to develop a strong bond. Time and shared experiences will help form a strong bond with the new horse.

[Foxglove]

Thanks, dynamite0319. I’m really trying to keep a positive outlook. It did take about two years before the current hunt horse and I actually hit it off (he was a reiner we bought for one of the kids, but turned out he hated kids --bite them and kick at them). So I tried him on the hunt field. That was one thing he did seem to do well --who knew he could jump? He and I have had many adventures in our 12 years together (we rode across MI two years ago, just to do it). He’s led the field, and was asked to lead the joint hunt two years ago. I am a retired master, it was an unexpected honor. I’d hoped that he and I would do ten more years and fade into the covert together . . .but that won’t be.

[dynamite0319]

@Foxglove my oldie (now retired) was a reiner!! We went to the AQHYA World Championships in reining in 1998! We started hunting together when he was 16 or 17 and he took to it immediately. He LOVED jumping and was quite scopey for a QH. I happened to look up his pedigree online this week and was surprised to see Man O War in his 4th generation! A new horse won’t replace your guy, but you will make new memories and cherish the old ones. These horses give us so much!

[Willesdon]

Tough one. But be fair to the new guy and don’t make comparisons . Look at it from the other side: the horse might end up thinking hunting - and you - are the best thing since sliced bread.

[Huntin_Pony]

Yes, it’s time for a new hunter, BUT I don’t believe for a minute that the old timer won’t miss hunting. I am in the very fortunate position of having more than one to hunt and the ones that stay home ABSOLUTELY know that they are missing the fun when I pull out with someone else in the trailer, wearing my kit.

I’m glad they enjoy their time with me that much!

Think how lucky your new horse will be to have such an exhilarating career with you.

Best of luck and happy hunting!

[Foxglove]

Dynomite --one of our cherished memories was riding in the Master’s Pocket when there was a “reverse field” on a very narrow trail. Riding behind me was one of those “Neigh-sayers” about the suitability of my (short, fat) reiner to ride where he and I did (as a retired MFH, I rode where I chose in the field, and often the master asked me to ride up with him). Anyway, “Reverse Field” was called and while the rider behind me struggled to maneuver his long lanky TB around on the trail, my QH did a rollback and was face to face with him before he could even start his turn. He was gracious enough to nod and say, “Nice turn.” LOL!

[xeroxchick]

Wow, our Reverse Field is different than that. Anyway, feel your pain. Last year when I was driving ten hours to try hunt horses a good friend with RA offered me her made Hunter on lease. Turned out to be a super situation and then let me buy her. So grateful. She worked out beautifully. I still miss hunting my catty 23 year old Appaloosa whom I hunted eleven seasons. He is happily semi retired on the farm, but still. . .miss himas a companion and I had SO much confidence in him. We did so many impossible things together first flight. Now am happy to go second flight, much to the dismay of my new mare.

[Foxglove]

Where I hunt at Battle Creek, there are some very narrow trails. When huntsman turns around, we do try to give way, but when there’s no place to go, a reverse field is called and everyone turns around following the last rider to a wider spot --how do you reverse field in GA?

[xeroxchick]

We ride forward to the spot where the first person turned around. That way the horses are all continually moving forward. Think of a ribbon fed around a pole. Especially good with young horses and keeping them forward rather than pivoting on the trail keeps horses from kicking or running thier hip into a leg, very painful. Not sure if I described that right. We have tight trails and heavy woods in a lot of areas.

[Foxglove]

xeroxchick --I understand Your description was clear. The mare I was looking at was not as advertised. I rode my old hunter out and had a blast for the last hunt. still looking for a new horse but not as frantically as before the end of season.

[Bogie]

It’s very hard to find a good hunt horse and sometimes even with the right horse, it can take some time to get them used to the idea of hunting. My first hunt horse loved hunting from Day 1. He died suddenly from a brain aneurysm when he was 19. I was pretty sure we would have a few more seasons left and was devastated. At the time I already owned an OTTB but I didn’t think he’d hunt well because he absolutely had to go first when in a group. He surprised me in a good way and while he’s always been a handful out hunting, turned into a good first flight/whip horse after hilltopping for a season.

About three years ago I started a friend’s horse in the hunt field as she was for sale. She was terrible, awful and did I say terrible? the first hunt but by the time i thought she was ready to sell, I liked her too much. My TB is 19 and had some soundness problems last year so I was glad to have her!

I hope you find your next partner soon. It takes a special kind of horse to be fun to hunt. I did see a nice one advertised near me if Massachusetts isn’t too far.

[ecileh]

@xeroxchick

We ride forward to the spot where the first person turned around. That way the horses are all continually moving forward. Think of a ribbon fed around a pole. Especially good with young horses and keeping them forward rather than pivoting on the trail keeps horses from kicking or running thier hip into a leg, very painful. Not sure if I described that right. We have tight trails and heavy woods in a lot of areas.

This is a “forward reverse” and what Foxglove was referring to is a “reverse field”.

[Foxglove]

Been scouring the area for a new hunt horse --and today I think I might have found not one but two prospects at the same stable. One is a 12 year old gelding, very nice; the other a 5 year old mare; also very nice but smaller than my current horse who is only 15 hh --she’s probably 14.2 --but not a big deal really since although I am tall, I am slight, and I don’t hunt to win appearance awards --I hunt to enjoy hunting. Since the mare is nicely put together, has a good big stride, she’d do. Problem with BOTH is they will sell at auction 4/27 . . .so now not only do I have to WAIT (I hate waiting when I really want something), I’ll have to be high bidder. Fortunately the stable is close by (1 hour) and has a “return for any reason within 7 days” policy on their horses sold at auction. In 7 days I’ll have the horse vet checked and take him/her out with the hunt (no hounds at this time of year), and run her by my granddaughter’s trainer to make sure we have a sane, sound horse. On 4/27 I’ll take my $ and a lawn chair and hope I’m high bidder. Oh, yeah, the horse shoer will check him/her out too because the LAST thing I want to hear for the next 20 years is, “I could have told you this horse had bad feet.” LOL. Kind of excited after the last horse was not as advertised or expected.

[Frosty_M]

This is so exciting! Can’t wait for play by play report! Auction is tomorrow!

[Foxglove]

Ooops, typed wrong date --4/29 --Saturday! Calling the auction today to make sure I know where to park my trailer --i"m that hopeful.

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

And???

[Foxglove]

Well, Jackie & Starlette, I was going to wait until tomorrow to post because THE HORSE I BOUGHT hasn’t passed his PPE or his trial by hunt club --the Ranch Horse Auction at Stoney Creek Quarter Horses was extremely exciting and sad at the same time. The owners had 27 horses to auction off. I was up a week earlier to try the ones that fit my needs. I’d decided to bid on two. One more was brought in from IA the night before the auction, so I had to try him the day of the auction. He was my number one choice until I rode him. Although he was quite nice, I felt he wasn’t for me --a little slow to respond to the leg, a little slow to respond to cues in general. He was 15 years old --about the time I quit training and figure they are done with learning --so didn’t feel I wanted to put any more $ into him training-wise. That left me with two horses to bid on. Fortunately they were auctioned in my order of preference, because I bought #6 just under my budget. He was the most perfect of the ones I tried. He’s home now, in my pasture (I’m keeping an eye on his green grass intake since he just came off hay). Tomorrow is his big day --he has to pass the vet check; then at 2 he’s going to the hunt club for a mock hunt with as many members as I can dig up. If goes pleasantly, he’ll be a keeper. Otherwise, I have a 7 day return on him. He’s got to hunt out well --don’t care if he jumps or not --just be quiet and pleasant. The auction was sad, though, because the owners clearly had gone to a lot of effort to offer these horses and buyers were not buying. Only about 3/4 sold. Not sure why --prices were reasonable --and the 7 day return for any reason sold me. Sad, too was the # 3 horse that I tried, came into the ring lame --he’d been kicked by another horse --no bids on him and yet until I rode him, and found him a little non-responsive, he was my first pick. Same line as my current horse. Tomorrow I"ll post an update and a picture --but if you are dying to see Z (my new horse’s name) look on Stoney Creek Quarter Horse facebook page at number #6. He’s handsome! Oh, and he’s been ridden English too. Another plus —j

[dynamite0319]

@Foxglove he IS handsome! Congrats! I hope vetting goes well! Lots of good foundation QH bloodlines. I bet he’s a joy to ride.
If I had been there I’m pretty sure I’d have taken Moon Beam home with me. What a cutey!