Oh, yeah, I remember back in the 70s, those of us who did basic dressage (well, because it is essential training for a well rounded horse), one friend in particular who competed in dressage- were told don’t do that, it will ruin those good show hunters. Sheesh.
During the WC in Wyoming, a 4th level dressage horse hunted with us. He was in full bridle, and very forward and enthusiastic- but I bet the next time he schools in the arena he will be better for the experience.
a shamless hijack (sort of) and also a brag
Ok, I am being a bad person, but although I am doing the above (hijacking and bragging) it is also relevant.
Everybody go look at my profile pic 
it’s from Closing Meet 3 weeks ago at the Florida Horse Park. That is my 5 yo homebred TB mare by Reputed Testamony. I killed myself with her from the time she was born doing the desensitizing and so on as the OP and J Swan mentioned, showing her in hand, doing undersaddle classes the whole bit to get her ready to hunt. She does very well at shows, she is a hack winner and has been ch or res of her division every time out. But she totally kicks a@# in the hunt field. SHe stands like a rock while the field gallops by, and could care less about hounds under her feet. We hunt with two hunts and whip in at one, and she acts like she was born to whip, she’s awesome. I’ve brought her along relatively slowly, when we ride in the field we go with the slower group, and it is really paying off. She stays where I put her. I just think the key is going slow and not rushing them with the hunting, it’s so easy to overface them and fry their brains, sometimes before you even leave the trailers.
and ps im really proud of the pic, it’s the first really nice one of us jumping something substantial
:lol::lol: Tell that to my horse. He does more dressage while hunting then he does when we’re working on DRESSAGE. His collection/extension/half pass/shoulder in and assortment of other lateral movements that I couldn’t name if I tried are all superb out in the hunt field. He simply prefers to dance right along at this point.:winkgrin: Hunting will ruin dressage? At training level? what a joke that is.
and you should be. It’s a REALLY nice pic! My event trainer has a log just like that on her XC course. Maybe this year I’ll have the balls to try it? :eek:
Looks like you have some nice territory down in FL.
Thanks Lookinsouth! I figured this was a good opportunity to (shamelessly) show it off
I still look at her and see the little newborn foal that I dried off and wonder what happened!
Our hunt has several really nice fixtures, they are all very different and most of them are great for young horses or horses or peeps that are inexperienced hunters. That picture was taken at the Florida Horse Park, which is also one of our fixtures. We just started there this season. It’s really nice to be able to ride there, and jump the jumps and stuff.
My first season? Half halt half halt shoulder in smile excuse me half half leg yield shoulder in excuse me I’m sorry smile half half circle half halt shoulder in excuse me, pardon me, smile, oh shit, sweet jesus, smile, shoulder in, haunches in, geez - if our dressage had ever been this good in the ring I’d never have left it…
Jaegermonster - that is simply too much horse for you. I would be glad to take her off your hands. 
That is a lovely photo!!! You have every right to brag!
I made a lot of mistakes my first season, attending high holy days was one of them. I’m thankful my horse is forgiving.
I really don’t think dressage ruins hunting. In fact, a well educated horse is a pleasure to ride. If I ever own one, that would be wonderful!:lol:
Thank you very much J Swan! She really is something isn’t she? I wonder if Denny will see this since his stallion is her daddy (I did email him the pic, but have not yet heard back). I am so proud of her, it took me 2 years to pick my stallion and all this time for her to grow up. Raising her has been very rewarding, for sure and a a constant learning experience.
And she is wearing her first brand new bridle, not a handmedown, of her very own, since I hope she is almost done growing for the most part. It’s her big girl flat hunting bridle (I got it a few weeks ago and i was so glad I had it when I saw the picture).
Most people can’t believe how quiet she is when they ask her age, and those that have known her since she was little just love her.
Bringing along a hunt horse is really fun!
Glad you think so - you’re welcome to take Bambam (soon to be 4) out cubbing this season!
I’ll stay back at the hound truck and drink. 
Awww Jaegermonster
She looks just like her Daddy.
I actually considered breeding to Reputed Testamony. Ended up breeding to a local Tb instead, I just wasn’t ready to try the shipped semen thing.
Hunting has actually improved my event horse’s dressage. He was usually in the middle of the pack in dressage. After Hunting just one season he was always in the top 3 after dressage and was Area IV Novice horse of the year with limited showing. He actually won a class of 30 in tough competition of expensive warmbloods. Oh and he’s just a stodgy old paint.
But hunting has really opened up his stride and built up his confidence. It has also made him much harder to distract in the dressage ring.
I have three hunt horses and they also event. None of them have set foot in the hunter ring however. Heck, I don’t even have a ring at home so all of my schooling is done either on the trails or in the neighbor’s dressage ring. I do have a grass field with some stadium jumps set up in it with some semblance of a course.
[QUOTE=lesson junkie;3121616]
How do you all start a young horse or quiet horse off the track?[/QUOTE]
As well as exposure to as many animals as possible (cows, sheep, goats, ponies, children, , etc.) I love to raise hound puppies in my barn because the horses seem much more able to watch 24 couple pour out of the kennels and they also seldom seem threatened by them on the ocassions they’re underfoot.
Before graduating to hound jogging I try to join up with friends to trail ride through the woods, practicing pull ups (where one horse must stop and stand while others pass) rating behind other horses with the goal of my horse learning to stop a horse’s length behind the horse in front, whether or not I ask, having others disappear around the corner without freaking, jumping logs in line, waiting while others jump, going through water, in and out of muck, sliding down long gullies, going up gullies without ending up on top of the horse in front of me, etc. etc. etc.
Many ottbs go through what I call the “wide open field syndrome” where all goes great until they lose the parameters of the woods and must deal with lots of wide open space and lots of other horses and hounds moving around. Hound jogging everyday can sometimes preempt that and exposure to large groups of horses by attending shows (which I seldom manage :(.)
I’ve had ottbs who have done all of the above pre hunting work and still froze at the kennels. I usually just wait until they’re ready to move forward. They’re having to put together all the pieces of all of their recent experiences and for some of them it just takes time. I think I could help mine through this time a little more if I became more involved in some form of lessons followed by application at a show or event. I’m trying to be better about that, but it’s often hard to find time… because I have to hunt :winkgrin:
Thanks PW, she really is maturing nicely. I didn’t do shipped semen either, I actually took the mare from N FL to Vermont and left her for 3 months to do live cover, the mare in the photo is JC registered. It was a long drive (and another one to go back and get the mare) but it was soooooo worth it.
I agree about hunting making them braver and steadier. She has no problem in the schooling area thanks to all that goes on in the hunt field
I don’t hunt but had the opportunity to ride 5 year old green hunt horses in Ireland last year. These horses were in training for the field. Their daily regimen included:
living in paddocks beside sheep (who were herded regularily by the border collies) and cattle since birth
started under saddle in same paddock
tacked up in a barnyard that had chickens, dogs, tractors etc. etc.
ponied through every terrain imaginable - forest, hills, beach, barnyard
ridden through every terrain listed above with 3 or more dogs on every ride…and these dogs leave the horses and show up unexpectedly…popping out from long field grass, barking, chasing whatever they see in the field etc
these horses all had eggbutt snaffles…nothing more severe
all around 16.3 - 17 h and could cover ground, but they all understood the meaning of staying behind the lead horse
None of these animals had ever seen an indoor arena or outdoor ring with jumps. It was all done outdoors on trail. The ponying taught them jumping over obstacles etc.
It was really neat.
my 2cents!
I like mileage, mileage, mileage! And exposure, exposure, exposure! The horse; not me you silly!!!
I need ideas on how to expose to cattle AND hounds. Separately of course! Mine have seen cattle but are scared when in closer proximity especially when the cattle come towards us.
I was able to bring one fieldhunter to the hunts kennels and put him in a stall across the aisle from the hounds and leave him a few hours here & there and THAT worked!
Wateryglen-I may get burned for this, and I’ll pin my ears and take it, but here’s what I’m doing. I have an OTTB I’m aiming for the hunt field this fall. He is pretty easy about everything but cows. I tried everything all fall and winter and wasn’t making much headway. Completely out of ideas-I aced him-1\2 cc-made all the difference. I used the ace 4 days in a row, and have had 3 rides since without it and he has continued to relax and not panic with the cows in sight. I’m not in love with this practice, but in this instance it has helped.
This horse panics at the cows-he trembles and bolts. When I take him to my trainer’s for a lesson he doesn’t act like that at all-he is very even and brave. He’s been around donkeys, geese, mares and foals, dogs, traffic, and he stays okay-it’s just the cows.
So-we’ll see if he keeps improving. If you don’t feel comfortble about that idea I’ll have to say I agree-but I felt like I had to try it. Good luck.
My neighbor gets a couple of steers every year and raises them up for dinner later.
When Jaeger was little he let me “borrow” one a few days a week to turn out with her. Eventually she was out with all four of them and they played together. Of course I stopped it when they got horns, but once we started on the trails and hunting moo cows were no big deal.
Maybe you have a neighbor or friend that would let you borrow one for awhile.
You can get a heifer at Marshall for about 80$, I think.
Raise it with the horses and then stuff your freezer with it this fall. You have pasture, right? Enough for grass fed beef?
My guy has never really gotten comfy around Herefords. Don’t know why. All the other breeds he’s ok with - he’s just got a thing about Herefords and never lets one of those get in a blind spot.
I see a Hereford in my future…
LouLove - my horses live like the ones you saw. Hopefully it will pay off with the youngster. We’ll see!
How could you eat your pets?!?!?! :eek:
My yearling and his best friend (an angus heifer across the fence) depart from their mutual grooming sessions to chase the garbage truck together on a bi-weekly basis. I’m sure if there wasn’t a fence keeping them in, they would be following it indefinitely. I wonder what they do when the mailman comes by? :lol:
I’m thinking Mark will be heartbroken when his girlfriend leaves to be packaged in plastic wrap. Maybe we can buy her from our neighbors.
oh, back on topic!
For starting new OTTBs hunting, I like to train by tying a rope to the end of a freight train and try to pull it to a stop when it’s going full speed.
:sigh: I’m going to start another thread to talk about this
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